Page 137 of When the Storm Breaks
“Don’t say that,” she said. “It’s not true. We’re perfect for each other.”
“What about your mom?” My gaze swung to her, my eyes narrowed. “Do you think she’d feel the same way? How do you think she’d feel if she knew that her daughter was in love with the enemy?”
“My mom is gone. And you’re not the enemy. It wasn’t your fault and I was wrong to act like it was. It was the initial shock. But you were just a kid, Brody. An innocent kid who wasn’t responsible for what that man did.”
I shook my head, disputing that. “I look just like him. Every time you look at me, it will be a reminder of what you lost. I can’t expect you to live with something like that.”
“When I look at you, I don’t see him. I see Brody McCallister. A good man. An amazing father. A man who speaks his own truth and is always there for the people he loves and cares about. You never let me down, Brody. I trusted you—trustyou—with my life.”
I rubbed my hand over my chest. “I lied to you.”
“No. You didn’t lie. You just … you didn’t want to be associated with that monster. And I get it now. He’s dead to you. What he did has nothing to do with us. You deserve good things, Brody. You are the best man I’ve ever known. The most honest and true and strong. And I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.”
“You had every right to act that way.”
“I love you, Brody. I don’t want to lose you again. Please tell me there’s still a chance for us. Tell me you’re still willing to fight for me. To be by my side when I need someone to lean on. Tell me you’re still that man.”
“I fucked everything up for you. How can you still want me?” It shocked me that she could still think she wanted me, despite everything that had come out about me. Despite all the pain I’d caused her, she still wanted me.
She rounded the island and came to stand next to me. “How could I not?” She cradled my face in her hands and her grays locked on my browns. Unshed tears glittered in her eyes. “You’re my one true love. We were always destined to be together. Our paths were always meant to cross.”
I wrapped my hands around her wrists and lowered her hands, clasping them in mine. “Shy… our lives are too different. Even if we’re able to get past what happened that night, there’s no way to make this work.”
She yanked her hands out of mine and crossed her arms over her chest. “I never took you for a coward.”
“I’m being realistic.”
“That’s such bullshit. Where’s the man who promised to fight for me, regardless of the odds?” She threw up her hands. “This is just like that day at the airport. You’re letting me go without a fight.”
She stomped away, her movements jerky as she turned off the heat under the pot then spun around to face me, her eyes narrowed. She pointed her finger at me. “You are a big fat coward.”
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. She glared at me. That made me laugh harder. She was so small and angry, and reminded me of one of those cartoon characters with the smoke coming out of their ears.
“What are you laughing at?”
I shook my head and tried to control my laughter. Didn’t think she’d appreciate the cartoon reference. “You.”
“I wasn’t being funny.”
I stopped and took a breath. “I know.”
“What are you so scared of, Brody?”
I tugged my bottom lip between my teeth then I gave her an honest answer. “Losing you again. Not sure my heart could handle that.”
“Oh Brody,” she breathed. And then she began crying. There were no onions to blame her tears on this time.
I tossed the bag of frozen peas aside and went to stand in front of her. Then I gathered her into my arms and she clung to me like she was afraid I’d disappear if she didn’t hold on tight enough.
“Don’t let me go,” she said, her voice muffled.
She pulled back a little and lifted her face to mine. I wiped away the tears with the pads of my thumbs. She was so fucking beautiful. Strong and true and fierce. But our love made us vulnerable. True bravery had nothing to do with looking your opponent in the eye before you knocked him to the ground and pummeled him with your fists. True bravery was looking into the eyes of the woman you loved and promising them forever. Despite the odds stacked against you, you’d be willing to risk it all for one more day, one more year, or if you got really lucky, an entire lifetime.
“I won’t. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll make it work. I promise, we’ll figure it out.”
“Maw Maw said there’d be a lot of storms in our way. The journey won’t always be easy.” She was testing me now, wanting to see if I had what it took to be the man for her.
“We’ll ride out the storms.” I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, the backs of my fingers brushing over her jaw. “Come out on the other side.”
