Page 39 of Beneath the Scars
“Michael.”
His tone makes me look him in the eyes.
“I couldn’t be happier for the two of you. There’s not a single other man on this Earth more perfect for Adalaide.”
Tears sting my eyes for the second time today. Who knew the Jackson boys would be my undoing? “Thanks. I hope I can make you proud.”
“You already do.” He gently taps my arm before leaving me to get my emotions under wraps. It’s a hell of a lot harder than it should be.
I thought I’d moved past needing the acceptance of our family. In fact, I would’ve told anyone that I was perfectly happy with my life and my place here.
Until Uncle Levi and Ryan just proved me a liar.
I hadn’t realized I’d been stuck on needing Addie’s family’s approval. I think I was holding back with her because I didn’t want to get my hopes up. There was a little voice in the back of my head that whispered,What if?
What if Ryan stopped talking to me because I betrayed his trust?
What if I caused a rift between Addie and her family?
What if Uncle Levi and Aunt Hope never spoke to me again?
With just a few words, Levi and Ryan have laid those fears to bed.
Once I’ve got my emotions in check, I walk down the hallway to where the whole family has piled onto the huge sectional in their living room.
Addie pulls back the blanket to show me they left a spot for me to join. I sit down and throw my arm across the back of the couch.
To my right, Vivi gasps. “Are you two a couple? Like for real this time?”
“What the hell does that mean?” Addie counters.
“We’ve all been waiting for this moment, and I thought maybe you’d get together when y’all were back in high school, but then nothing actually happened, so then I was sad, but nowwwww…”
“Jesus.” Addie rolls her eyes while I bark out a laugh. “Yes. Fine. We’re a couple, but I swear if you guys go and blab it to the family, I’ll punch you. We don’t need the whole world knowing we’re together. We’d like time to navigate this relationship on our own without any of you nosy Nellies getting in the middle of it.”
“But—”
Levi wraps a hand around Vivi’s mouth. “We promise not to say anything until you’re both ready to tell everyone.”
Vivi visibly deflates but nods her head.
Aunt Hope presses play, and the credits begin to roll. Adalaide lays her hands on top of the blanket before she leans over to put her head on my chest.
I fucking love her.
The way she’s accepted and accommodated my triggers without a single misstep is incredible. I’ve never met another woman like her. Even in the kink community, some of the subs have a hard time with the no-touching rule. They don’t purposely do it; they just don’t try to remember.
Addie is careful at all times.
I hate that she has to be, and I hope one day she won’t, but for now, while we’re still getting to know each other as more than friends, I appreciate the effort.
There’s got to be something I can do to show her what that means to me. She’s not materialistic—she’d much rather have something meaningful than something expensive. I love that about her, but it makes giving her gifts a whole lot more difficult. Maybe she’s an acts-of-service type of girl.
Dad taught me about love languages when I was a kid after I’d asked why he was always doing stuff for Mom.
I should already know this about Addie, but I made it my mission not to pay too close attention to her. If I had, I only would’ve fallen harder and ended up heartbroken. Now I’m suffering the consequences.
Since Ryan knows Addie and I are together, he can help me learn everything about her.
