Page 88 of Words We Didn't Say

I shrugged. “If I can deal with your leftover toast crumbs, so can my parents.”

Eden’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I meant.” She took a deep breath, trying to be brave, but spoke to the hands twisting her dress into a crinkled mess. “Mydaddyissues.”

I stomped down the anger exploding behind my carefully guarded expression. I hated her labelling herself because of her father’s abuse. She was strong. She’d achieved so much. But it wasn’t going to be an easy road to prove to her that not all men were like him. And that was okay. I was all in no matter how long it took.

“You know what?” I said. “Girls wouldn’t have any issues if their dads were good men who did the hard work. So, you’ve got some stuff you need help with, hey, guess what, so do the rest of us. Did you run away screaming when I told you how I coped—didn’t cope—when Mum got sick?”

She scoffed. “Of course not. You did the best you could.”

“And you are, too. The woman you are today is because of all your experiences, good and not so good.” I touched her cheek. Dropped a kiss there. “And I want it all, Denny Dee.”

She bit back a cautious smile. “All the drama?”

“Until the curtain’s called.”

“All my schemes?”

“I’ll hit play on your villain theme song.”

She covered her mouth with her hand, but the grin was there. The crinkles around her eyes were a dead giveaway. She’d hated the card I’d sent her all those months ago, but I honestly lovedher smile. I wished I could see it. Not just in that moment. Always.

“I…” Emotion gripped my throat. My breath was gone, stuck somewhere in lungs that didn’t work anymore, but the words were back, ready to burst out of me.

I love you.

Something achingly hopeful danced in Eden’s dark eyes, but if I finally said the words, there was no guarantee she’d whisper them back. Did that matter? Hadn’t I always wished I’d said the words sooner? What was I waiting for?

I took a deep breath. No stammering. All courage.

“I love you, Eden.”

“Y-Yeah?”

I nodded, and she…burst into tears.

“Shit!” I scrambled to my feet. “Shit!”

I bounced on the spot in a strange sort of dance to nowhere. Adrenaline pumped through my limbs. Run for help? Fight off…nothing? My brain was going haywire. Eden’s eyes lifted, helpless, tears dribbling down her cheeks, her hands flapping in a panic.

I dropped to my knees. “Your makeup.” I stuck my hands in my pocket and fumbled for a tissue.Nada.I bunched up the sleeve of my sweater and dabbed under her eyes. I tried to smile, but it probably wasn’t reassuring. It was twitchy, wobbly, all over the place. “This isn’t exactly the reaction a man hopes for when he says I love you.” I pressed the cotton against the wet spots on her cheeks.

“It’s the only one I can give at the moment,” she admitted in a quiet voice.

I hid my disappointment by kissing her temple. “I’ll take it.” It would’ve been great if she’d said it back, but I didn’t regret telling her how I felt. The words weren’t stuck inside meanymore. The tightness was gone from my chest. I could breathe again.

I picked up the gifts, stuck the fruit basket under my arm, and lobbed my free arm around Eden’s waist.

“I can walk,” she huffed.

“Yeah, but you’re a flight risk.” I chuckled. “And I like it when you’re beside me.”

Eden stuck close to me up the driveway and angled even closer when I rang the doorbell. I’d never pressed that doorbell in my entire life.

A shadow moved behind the door.

Mum was already there but desperately trying to hide her excitement. Another beat passed before the door flew open. My mother stood there, her smile almost a rictus grin, her entire body stiff. She’d promised not to overwhelm Eden, but I had a feeling everything we’d talked about on our phone call that morning was about to be forgotten.

“Zach and—” She pressed a hand to her heart. Oh no. She was already crying. All restraint evaporated. “Eden! It’s so wonderful to meet you!” She flung herself across the threshold and crushed my shocked girl in a hug. “You’re even more darling in person! So tall! No wonder you always look so lovely in all your photos.”

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