Page 332 of When We Fall: Part Two
“Are you mad at me?” Her voice shook.
“Never.” I kissed her gently. “I will never be mad about you loving. You were meant to.”
She relaxed against me, but she didn’t deny her love. It was OK. As long as I had her, I didn’t give a damn about anything else.
“Tell me about Dante,” I said.
“He’s strange.”
I let a small smile touch my lips. “He’s violent.”
“Did he really try to save you?”
“He did,” I said gently. “He is a monster, but he’s one of the good ones.”
“I think he is too.”
“Can I call you Ro?” I asked after a moment of silence. “I-I love Rosie, but I’m not him anymore. I want to call you Ro. RoRo. I-I’m struggling a lot with things,” I admitted. “I-I was raped in the underground. Everett…”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Call me whatever you want… Evan.”
I kissed her again, grateful she was mine.Fuck, how did I get so lucky?
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready,” she whispered against my lips.
“Thank you.” My throat was tight as I tried to hold back tears. “I-I’m not ready, but I wanted you to know how hard it’s been on me. I’m not the same guy?—”
She kissed my chest over my heart. “I know your heart. Your soul. I knowyou. I accept whoever you are now. Who you were then. Always.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I kissed her so deeply, she moaned softly for me, her hand cradling my face as her tongue danced with mine.
“Tomorrow you’ll be my wife,” I murmured, pecking her soft lips.
“You’ll be my husband.”
I smiled against her lips, feeling real happiness for the first time in what felt like forever.
After we married, I’d give her the best wedding present of all.
I couldn’t wait.
ONE HUNDRED FIVE
ROSALIE
Iwas living in a dream.
That’s what this had to be. I pinched myself as Jamie did my hair. She’d flown in this morning on short notice.
“This is so wild,” she said, placing a pretty, sparkly comb into my hair. “I can’t believe he’s here.”
“I know.” I tried not to cry so I wouldn’t ruin my makeup.
“Girl, I’m so happy for you.” She hugged me. “Like, unbelievably so.”
“I feel like I’m living in a dream. Am I really awake?”
“You really are.” Her eyes glistened as she stared back at me.
