Page 85 of If You Loved Me

Chapter 36

Sarah

I woke up to the sound of rustling clothes. Blinking my eyes open, I looked around the dark space. The blinds in Ranger’s room were open, but no sun was shining through.

“What time is it?” I croaked, my throat dry from sleep.

Ranger came to my bedside. The mattress dipped with his weight as he sat next to me, stroking my hair away from my face. “Way too early for you to be up, sugar.” He pressed a kiss to my temple, his stubble scraped against my skin. “How’re you feeling?”

Slowly, I rose to my elbows and sat up against the pillows and headboard. Last night…my parents…Ranger and I storming out. Right. I was so distraught last night, that Ranger brought me back to his place. We didn’t say much, he just held me while I cried. I scrunched my face, feeling the remnants of dried tears from last night.

Where there was an ache in my chest last night, thismorning I felt only lightness. Almost like I cried all the tears I had left for my parents.

“I think last night was the last nail in the coffin for my parents and me. When I agreed for us to have dinner with them, I was hopeful that they might be trying to put their differences aside and get to know me for the woman I am now. But that was never their intention. All they wanted to do was trap me and you in their home so they could berate us.

“They’re never going to change. Now, I have to find a way to move forward and live a life without them in it.”

Shadows played across Ranger’s face. His brows were bunched together as he contemplated my thoughts. “Last night definitely wasn’t the outcome I wanted for you, but I think you’re right. You gave them one last shot and now you have closure.”

“Yeah,” I smiled. I wasn’t exactly sure if it was because I’d expelled most of my emotions last night, but I felt hopeful. Today was a brand new day. One I didn’t have to live feeling bogged down by the expectations of others. I could be myself, fully. I knew the pain of losing the relationship with my parents would come in waves, but right now I was empowered.

“I’m going to cook you breakfast.”

His face lit up despite the darkness of the room. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to sleep?”

“Yup! I’m sure.”

“Okay.” He scooped me up in his arms and led me out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

I held the large mixing bowl against my hip as I ran the hand mixer through the blueberry muffin batter until all the flour lumps were gone. Ranger sat at the kitchen island, a steaming mug of coffee in his hands as he watched me work.

“I know this is probably a given, but would you like to be my plus one to Willow and Johnny’s wedding?”

His grin was wide over the rim of his mug. “I was wondering if you were going to ask me or if you had some other guy in mind.”

I sat the bowl on the counter and looked at him. “I mean yeah, there’s this guy named Joey who I was thinking of asking.”

Ranger snickered.

“But I decided to choose you instead.”

“And why’s that?” he teased.

“Because you have bigger biceps.”

Porcelain hit the countertop when he put his mug down. Then he rose from the stool and started rounding the island. “Is that right?” he mused, eyes narrowing on me.

I bit my lower lip. “Mmhmm. Yours are way bigger.” He slinked towards me, movements slow and feline. “It was the obvious choice.” I shrugged, then he snatched me up into his arms sending me into a fit of giggles and squeals.

“Ranger!” I screeched, his hands digging into my sides afterhe plopped me on the kitchen counter. His tickle assaults kept coming, I could hardly breathe. And I loved every second of it because I knew we could joke about things. That no matter how protective he felt over me, he trusted that he was my person and there wasn’t anyone else in this world I wanted more than him.

I tried slapping his hands away, but it was no use. He was much stronger than me and I couldn’t say a word past the laughter that had my lungs burning.

Someone behind us cleared their throat. Ranger stopped moving his hands along my ribcage, his attention shifting to the person behind me. I looked over my shoulder to find Callie Rose and Miles standing in the kitchen entryway smirking at both of us. “Are we interrupting something?” Callie Rose asked.

I hopped off the counter and made sure my pajamas were covering everything.

“Nope!” My voice came out high-pitched. “I was just making everyone breakfast before you got started with your day.”

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