Page 88 of Make You Love Me
“It means I’m done with one-night stands and being alone on holidays. I deserve more. Iwantmore in my life.” I turn to Sydney. “Despite the rocky road you had to get here, I want what you have—unconditional love, someone to come home to, a family. And for the first time, I’m willing to face uncertainty and the unpleasant for a chance to have something amazing forever.”
Sydney places her hands on my elbows, tears welling. “Oh, sweetie. You don’t know how many times I’ve prayed to hear you say that. Not for you to want all those things for yourself because everyone’s version of happy and path to get there is different. And you needed to discover yours. But I’m so glad to hear you finally believe that youdeservemore than what you’ve allowed for yourself.” She touches my arm. “You, my dearest friend, deserve it all.”
Emotion lodges in my throat, and I tug her into a hug. “Thank you.” William joins in, wrapping his other arm around Sydney’sneck, and we relax into the best hug I’ve ever had. “I have a lot of making up to do first.”
“You’ll get there,” she says, drawing back and collecting William. I miss him already. “They do that,” she adds with a smile.
“Who does what?”
“Children. Whether you give birth to them or not, they have a way of filling your heart with a love you can’t get anywhere else. It’s indescribable, but once you feel it, you’ll never be the same.”
“I feel it,” I agree, threading my fingers through William’s thick curls.
“He’s quite the charmer…like his dad.” Shaking out of her memories, she wraps me in another embrace. “We’ll get out of your way so you can finish getting ready.”
“Ready? Oh, right. Henry.” I’d forgotten about sweet Henry. Walking Sydney and William to the door, I wave goodbye and wonder where to go from here.
???
When I slip into Jordan’s apartment hours later, I find the group cleaning up.
“Wow,” Quinton says, frozen where he stands with his arms full of uneaten snacks and his eyes locked on me. The others follow suit. Guess the back-of-the-closet dress and knee-high black boots were the right choice.
I dial up my best smile. “Looks like poker night was a success.”
“Jordan won, as usual,” Peter complains and drops his armload into the trash.
“He’s had a lot of practice.” I shift to find Jordan staring at me, his mouth gaping open. To remind him of the games we used to play, I peel out of my coat slowly and toss it over the back of the couch with a flip of my wrist. This dress hugs my body likeit was made for me, and by the way his eyes are taking it in, he agrees.
A heavy silence fills the room until Wes clears his throat. “We were planning to hit the new club down the street. Would you like to join us?”
“You’re going?” I ask Jordan, surprised to hear he’d want to go to a crowded dance club with his cast.
“No. Jordan declined,” Wes answers for him. “But since you were in the mood for going out, I thought I’d extend the offer.”
“Wes,” Jordan warns through gritted teeth.
“It’s fine, Jordan.” I stroll closer until there’s only a few feet and palpable tension between me and his friend. “I can take whatever he wants to throw at me. Go ahead, Wes. Say your peace.”
I hear feet shuffling behind me, Quinton and Peter getting a better view, no doubt. Jordan’s audible breathing nearby has me retreating and leaning casually against the back of the couch. I’m concerned about how this altercation may affect him.
“Choose your words carefully,” Jordan warns again.
Wes glares down his nose, his opinion of me deeply rooted already.
“I understand why you hate me,” I say to get it over with.
“Oh, yeah? Enlighten me.” He crosses his arms, smug danger hardening his features.
“I’ve hurt a friend of yours, and—”
“You did more than hurt him.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I spit back.
“Yeah. That’s the problem. You do whatever you want with no regard for him. You won’t meet a more loyal, nicer, or caring person—”
“Hey,” the other guys chime in, pretending to be offended.
