Page 106 of Unbidden

He goes to pull it back, but I don’t let him go. He stops immediately, settling closer to me. “I lost it. I couldn’t stand the thought of what they did to you. Sterling called me telling me he was bringing you here. He said it had something to do with Tinsley and to find her. I wanted to come straight here, but he promised he would stay with you. He said something about Asher Evans being involved. So, when I found Tinsley at your place, I made sure she was safe and then rushed over here with your family in tow. By then, Sterling had been arrested as a suspect and you were out cold. They said you might not wake for hours, so I stayed. The longer I stayed, the more I remembered that you hated me. I didn’t think you would want me here, so I left Tinsley and Keaton with you. Let’s just say my fists also wanted to have a conversation with Asher. They also won.”

I smile softly at the memory of me saying similar words to him when he asked me about Asher that night.

“You didn’t have to do that. What if you get into trouble?”

He gives me his signature panty-melting smirk. “I’m a Yates. There’s no trouble I can’t get myself out of.”

I burst out laughing, enjoying the completely normal feeling of this moment. Once the laughter dies down, my mind starts overanalyzing again.

“Why are you here, Reed?” I whisper softly.

“Tinsley said you asked for me. You wanted me here, so I’m here.”

My heart aches to believe the words, but my mind reminds me that he lied once before.

“No more games, Reed. I can’t take it. I’m going to ask again, and I want you to tell me the truth. Why are you here?”

He reaches up and brushes a hand down the side of my face. “I’m here because I want to be. I had to see if you were okay with my own two eyes. When Tins called and said you asked for me, I didn’t hesitate. I jumped in the car and came straight here. You’d fallen asleep at that point, so I’ve been sitting here since. Visiting hours ended hours ago, so I sent Tinsley home with Keaton and refused to leave. I’ve been quiet, so the nurses let me stay.”

Of course it has nothing to do with the charm and all the smiles I’m sure he throws their way.

I ponder his words before blurting, “I heard you with your dad that morning after we, um… yeah.”

He looks startled, and my heart drops. He meant it.

“What do you mean, you heard us?”

“I heard you in the kitchen. He said a bunch of horrible things about my mother, about me. You didn’t disagree with him. Worse, you agreed with him. Were you just using me?”

The question that’s been plaguing me for weeks finally leaves my lips.

“No. You misunderstood. My father is a complete asshole who thinks he can control this family. He lost that right long ago. I would have argued with him, but it’s pointless. I was so busy thinking about rushing back to you that I mumbled a yes to whatever he said just to get him to shut up. Then I got back to my room and you were gone. The next day, you said all of those things, so I thought you changed your mind. I thought you didn’t want me anymore. I realized after you disappeared that I needed you in my life. When I told my father to kick rocks, he lost it. He told me the whole sordid history with your mother—through biased eyes, of course. I told him I didn’t care what happened with him and her. The past has no bearing on our future together.”

My heart starts pounding as his words sink in. “What future?”

“You. It’s you. Somehow you worked your way into my heart. I wanted to beat you down and break you, but you’re resilient. You have strength that no one else at Brighton will ever know. I thought you were here to scam the Davenports, but then you stood up for Tinsley and Poppy. You wouldn’t back down no matter what we threw at you. Each time you fought back, I wanted you even more. It wasn’t until much later that I realized that I didn’t want to break you. I wanted to keep you. I wanted you by my side as my queen. You want to know what my future is? Ruling this world with you by my side. As long as we have that, we can weather any storm.”

My heart stops at his admission. He didn’t lie. He didn’t use me.

But how do I know this is the truth?

My response stumbles out of me. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything unless it’s yes.” His thumb gently strokes my hand.

“I need time. This is too much right now. I can barely focus on your words, let alone decide how I feel.”

He stands, leaning over to kiss my forehead. “Take as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here waiting.”

I smile at him, wishing it was true. Would he wait? How long would I even need before I could trust him again?

My eyes start to droop as fatigue sets in.

“Sleep, sweetheart. I’ll keep watch and chase your nightmares away.”

I relish the feeling of Reed gently caressing my hair as I fall asleep.

∞∞∞

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