Page 91 of The Devil's Tattoo
“What did he say to you tonight? Why was he eventhere?”
Remembering how Jason had approached me, saying he missed what we had, I shuddered. “He wantedmeback.”
“What theactualfuck?”
“He didn’t admit to it, but something must’ve gone wrong with his marriage. He must’ve seen how well I was doing now and wanted to crawl back. You know, the whole victim messed up mentality. Maybe he wanted to take advantage. I’d never let him. Not after whathedid.”
“Zoe,” Will murmured, holding me close. “God, your resolve is so bloody strong. I feel like a coward nexttoyou.”
“I was a coward,” I said. “For two years, I was hiding myself away in fear of what people would think about me. Then Dee got me to play in this silly band called The Devil’s Tattoo. Somewhere along the way, I decided to live again, but even then, it wasn’t right,notyet.”
Will pressed his lips to my forehead, fingers trembling against the skin of mycheek.
I wasn’t quite finished yet. “How the hell does someone recover from that kind of betrayal? I never did. I realize that now. I’m sorry I ran off that day.I’m sorry.” I couldn’t help the tears that began to stream frommyeyes.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Zoe.Nothing.”
“Ipanicked.”
Will let out a long, shaky breath and pressed his lips against my forehead again. “I wish I could take it away. I want to make itbetter.”
“Did you mean it? What you said before?” Iwhispered.
He cupped my chin and drew my tear-stained face to his. “I love you, Zoe Granger. I don’t even know how that’s possible, but I do. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid I’d scareyouaway.”
“I never thought I’d be able to let anyone else in,” I said carefully. “But you walked in with your infuriatingly sexy stubble and turned me upside down. You scared meshitless.”
“If it’s any consolation, I felt exactly thesameway.”
“Then,” I whispered, “you tookitaway.”
He gazed at me with hope in his eyes, and my heart flip-flopped like it did the first time he’d spoken to me. “Zoe, tell me I haven’t fuckedthisup.”
“You really are a class A jerk, Will Strickland.” After what we’d been through, he still hesitated. I captured his mouth with mine and kissed him, taking control. “You’remine.”
He had me on my back a second later, a knee pressing between my legs. “If I’m yours, then you’remine.” He kissed me long and slow, his tongue teasing mine, and it was full of everything he felt for me. Everything fell away, and it was just himandme.
The cold packet of peas was back against my face, and instantly, it cooled everything else downaswell.
“How’s your hand?” he asked, pulling it up to his mouth, lips brushing against my tenderknuckles.
“Sore.”
“You have a mean righthook,Zo.”
“I never knew.” I pulled my hand away and pressed it against the top of thefrozenpeas.
“Do you think it might bebroken?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I think it’s just gonna bruise alittle.”
“Damn.” He sighed. “You have an awesome new guitar toplay,too.”
For the first time in days, I smiled a genuine smile. It would take a little time, but somehow, I knew we were going to be okay.Helovedme.
“We’re going to Europe in two weeks,” Will said, suddenly serious. “I’ll be gone almost threemonths.”
“I know.” And I didn’t like it one bit, but maybe time apart would dousgood.
