Page 122 of Boomer
Taylor turned, fully expecting another round of reasons and resistance from her mother. But what she saw instead unraveled her.
A look of defeat. Not anger. Not even disappointment. Just the quiet devastation of a woman who'd already lost one child and was now standing on the edge of losing her second.
Her father reached out and took Gretchen's hand, brought it to his mouth in a soft, reverent kiss.
"Gretchen," he said gently. "Let the girl go. Let her be happy. Let her take him. Let us honor our son...our daughter...and our grandson with our love. We’re not losing her."
Her mother's face crumpled just slightly. A hairline fracture.
"You sentimental old fool," she whispered. But she let herself be pulled into his arms.
That was all. No declarations. No permissions. Just that.
Taylor stepped forward. The courtyard suddenly felt so quiet, like the world was holding its breath. Boomer looked up at her, eyes rimmed red, jaw tight, as if bracing for impact.
She didn’t stop walking until she was right in front of him. She set her hand gently on his chest, just above his heart. She had done her soul searching, and she knew that Ansel belonged with her, regardless of what happened with Boomer. Her parents had sensed it, knew it, too, so what had just happened had been nothing more than silent understanding between them.
She was his to raise per her brother’s wishes. Emil forgave her for her own human failing, and in that realization, her guilt dissipated, replaced with determination. She would fulfill that for Emil and give Ansel not only every scrap of memory about his father, but shepherd him toward what made him whole.I love you, Emil. Thank you for trusting me with him.
She spoke, telling him how she felt. “I know what you’re willing to give up for me, and I am so moved by that, but I’ve turned everything down, not for just you or Ansel, but for me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want you, Carter. All of you. The failings. The grief. The guilt. The pain. But you know what else? I wantyou. Your love. Your heart.You.I willneversettle for anything less. The stuff you think you can’t tell me? That’s theexactshit I want you to unload. I will never let you down. You have my heart. You haveallof me.
“I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to finally let yoube therefor me. When you went back to Virginia Beach, I was devastated. I thought maybe I hadn’t made myself clear enough about how I feel. About how much you mean to me. I would die for you. Iwould give upeverythingfor you. You think you’re not worthy of my love? Well, I’ve spent every day thinking I wasn’t worthy ofyours.So you see…we’re both wrong. We’re not perfect. But we try. We live. Welove.That’s all there is for me. So please…tell me you love me. I’m strong enough tohearit, and you already know I’m strong enough toreturnit.”
Boomer looked at her. Crushed. Wrecked. Devastated. Tears rolling down his cheeks.
Her heart soared because that meant she’d gotten through to him.
He was shaking. His eyes were shining, tears clinging to his lashes. That beautiful jaw was clenched so hard it looked carved from granite, and she wanted to kiss him.Fuckhim. Take him over and over again because that was the only way she’d survive the next few seconds.
Her voice came low and wild. “Lila… I feel sorry for her. She lost you, not because she wasn’t strong enough, but because you’ve always been mine. She lost you the momentyoulost yourself. Butme? Holding you will never be a burden. You goddamn better understand this right now.I. Will. Always. Love. You.No. Matter. What.”
She grabbed two fistfuls of his shirt and shook him, hard. “So, give me yoursoul,Carter.
Lay it in my hands, and I swear to you I willcherishit for the rest of my life.”
He fell to his knees.
His chest heaved with the force of it, shoulders caving, face contorted like something had justshatteredinside him.
“Taylor…” he whispered. “Take my soul. Takeallof it.” His voice broke. “I’ve got no more defenses left against you.Fuck,Red. I’m done. I’ve been yours from the beginning. It’s just taken me this long to see my own worth.”
She knelt down to him, pressed her face against his.
“Mike…Mike saved me so I could haveyou.So, I could have Ansel. This life. ThisloveI’ve wanted for so long, but never thought I deserved.” His hands fisted in the fabric of her shirt like she was the only thing keeping him grounded. “I’ve never said it out loud. Not like this. But what you’re asking for?” His voice cracked on the next breath. “I give it.I give youeverything.My body. My soul into those beautiful, capable hands.Yours.That’s where I want to be. That’s where I want toremain.Goddammit, Taylor, I fucking love you so deeply, together is all there is for me.” He met her gaze head-on.
Her breath caught. "I was afraid I’d give too much of myself away," she said. "But now I know...love given only comes back so much fuller."
Boomer swallowed hard. His hands trembled when he cupped her jaw. "You were never too much," he said hoarsely. "You were everything."
Her throat closed. She leaned in until their foreheads touched, whispering. "Me and Ansel. We're yours." He pulled her in without words, and this time, Taylor didn’t hold back. She had a life to claim, and she was claiming it now. “What’s the weather like in Virginia Beach?” she asked with a chuckle.
“Who gives a fuck? You and Ansel will be there. That’s all that matters.”
EPILOGUE
The closet doorstuck like always. Breakneck muttered under his breath, set his shoulder against the warped frame, and gave it a shove. The door groaned open.
“Top shelf,” his mother called from the kitchen. “Box labeled Xmas Decor. It’s red.”
