Page 48 of Leah

“I hate that I left—”

“You said that already—”

“I hate that you were with him—”

“Stop.”

“You told me you loved me once.”

My body tensed, and my heart picked up.

Was he seriously going there right now?

“Leah,” he pressed tightly, his eyes seeking the truth.

“I know I told you that,” I replied.

“I was your whole world.”

“Youwere, Carter.”

“And now?”

I exhaled slowly. “And now I’m a grown woman who doesn’t believe in fairy tales.”

That silenced him completely for several moments. I felt bad for saying it, but it was true. My faith had depleted itself, and it was interesting what happens when you stop hoping for things. Your skin thickens as you learn to adapt, and nothing hurts like it once did before.

“It’s never too late,” he then told me, in a low voice. “The past doesn’t have to stay in the past. It can be fixed, Leah.”

“Maybe,” I whispered, doubtfully.

“Not maybe. Every moment you get a chance to own up to your mistakes, to change, to tell someone that even if a lot of time has passed, your feelings haven’t gone.”

It was like listening to someone completely different.

Tentatively, he took my hand with his own. I don’t know why, but I let him. It felt so good feeling him again. He squeezed each finger like he used to before, all the while staring at me with this thoughtful, caring look that left me trapped in him.

“You’re different,” I found myself saying as a lump of emotion settled in my throat.

“Ifeeldifferent,” he replied softly. “I know what I want.”

Yeah, he was fucking with my head all of a sudden.

Could I seriously open up all those feelings I’d buried away for so long?

The thought terrified me, and yet a thrill shot through my system, reminding me howalivehe used to make me feel.

“You know what you want,” I said quietly, more to myself than him.

“Yeah,” he replied on a slow nod.

“And what do you want?”

He let go of my hand and I felt his hand trace up my arm. He left fire behind his touch, and I warmed as his fingers trailed my collarbone. All the while he stared at me as they inched up my throat and to my jawline.

“I want what I’m looking at,” he finally answered in a whisper. “And I’ll fight for her, no matter what. Because it’s not going to change. It’s not going to go away. Iwantyou. Not need, Leah.Want.”

I couldn’t respond.

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