Page 104 of Wild As Her

I look up from where I’m brushing Pesto. The second I see her face, I straighten.

She’s pale. Eyes wide. Like she’s been hit with something heavy and didn’t see it coming.

“Wilder?” I say gently, setting the brush down. “What happened?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Just stares at me. Searching. As if I’ve turned into someone she doesn’t recognize. Or maybe someone she’s seeing clearly for the first time.

“My mom came by Steamy Sips today,” she says, voice soft. Almost dazed. “Just now.”

I wipe my hands on my jeans, my heart thudding. “Yeah?”

“She… she brought me dinner.”

That makes me pause.

“She’s never done that,” Cami adds, blinking.

I swallow hard staying quiet.

“She said she was sorry.” Her voice cracks. “She said she’s not good at this, but she’s going to try. And then she said... she talked to you.”

Ah. There it is. I wondered if she’d tell her we talked. I nod once. “Yeah.”

Her lips press into a line, and she looks at me, confused. “Why?”

I shrug, but it’s not casual. Not even close. “Because I don't want you to hurt anymore.”

Her breath hitches.

“And I know what it feels like to grow up thinking you have to earn love,” I say, stepping closer. “And trying to be strong allthe damn time. But you shouldn’t have to fight that hard, Wilder.”

Her eyes shine. She blinks fast, like she’s mad at herself for crying. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know,” I say softly. “But I wanted to.”

Her chin trembles. “She said… you told her loving me is easy.”

“I did.”

“You said it’s like breathing.”

I nod again. “Because it is.”

A tear slips down her cheek. She swipes at it quickly, like she’s still trying to be tough. But her voice betrays her. “No one’s ever fought for me like that.”

I step in fully now, closing the space between us. I take her face in my hands, gentle but steady, like I’m holding something sacred. “I will,” I say. “Every damn day. Whether or not you let me in, Wilder, I’m gonna keep showing up. I’m gonna love you when you’re fiery and loud and when you’re quiet and scared. I’m gonna love you when you don’t think you deserve it and when you push me away and when you’re trying so damn hard not to need anyone. I'm going to do it even harder.”

She lets out a choked sound, half laugh, half sob, and then she kisses me. Hard. Desperate. Shaking. Like she’s trying to memorize this moment. Like she’s finally letting go of the weight she’s been carrying for years.

I kiss her back with everything I have. Every word I haven’t said. Every promise I’ve already made with my actions. Like sealing it all with this kiss.

When we break apart, she leans her forehead against mine. Her voice is barely a whisper. “Thank you.”

I close my eyes and smile. “You’re pretty damn easy to love, Wilder.”

She breathes out a laugh. “Still going to give you hell, Jessop."

“Wouldn't expect anything less.”

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