Page 390 of One More Kiss

His jaw clenches as does the grip he has on his drink, the only indication he’s listening.

“I stepped in before I knew what the hell I was doing, pretending to be her boyfriend so the guy would fuck off. After that, I wanted to make sure she’d get home safe. That was all that was. But I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want more.” I turn to face him, my eyes boring into the side of his face. “I’d always wanted more with her. Since the moment you introduced me to her, I had wanted her. I had watched you with the girl of my dreams for a year and a half. Stood by your side when you fucked it all up. And then there she was, and I couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. It wasn’t meant to go anywhere. It wasn’t meant to be a thing. But then she cut her hand and—”

“Enough,” he growls, twisting to glare at me.

I reach for my refill and polish it off. “What do you want me to say? I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to betray you. I’ve been sick with guilt over it since that night. But I couldn’t stay away from her either.”

“I was in love with her.”

“No, you weren’t. If you were in love with her, you’d never have fucked someone else because the idea of someone else wouldn’t have occurred to you.”

“You think you understand how everyone works, huh? It’s just that simple to say, right? I couldn’t have loved her because I fucked someone else? You know nothing.”

“Liam, I love you. You’re my brother. My best friend. But you need to think this shit through a bit. You cheated and then you let her break up with you without ever trying to win her back. You date women all the fucking time. Proclaim yourself to be in love with a new woman at least once every six months until she goes and does something that inevitably turns you off or you get spooked. This is not like that for me. Delaney is not like that for me. I have a son. I don’t fuck around with feelings. Would I have ever done any of this with her, risked my relationship with you, if she wasn’t the one? I fucking love her. I have loved her for years when I could not have her. And I can’t give her up now. I can’t do it. So I’m hoping you won’t ask me to. I’m hoping that over time you’ll grow to accept this, and we can all move on.”

I stand, pulling out my wallet and dumping a bunch of cash on the bar to cover my drinks and whatever he orders tonight.

“I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. Just as I can’t lose her.”

I slap his back and head for the door. Feeling lighter than I have in the five or so weeks Delaney and I have been sneaking around. But still, part of me can’t help but feel twisted up and sick. That is until I feel his arms wrap around my chest from behind.

“I hate you for what you did. For being with her while lying and hiding it from me. But I love you and I want you to be happy.”

I turn and embrace my brother. “Thank you.”

I give him a squeeze and then he releases me, going back to the bar without another word. It’s not there yet. It will take time. But he’s telling me with that, he’ll come around. It’s more than I could ever have asked for.

Exiting the bar and during my whole drive home, I’m smiling like a stupid idiot. My chest is lighter than it has been… well, ever. I’ve never experienced this sense of completion. This feeling of being whole. Having everything I could ever want or need. And when I get home, toss my keys in the dish on the table, and climb the stairs, I find exactly that.

Everything I could ever want or need, right here in one place.

Delaney is in Knox’s bed, lying beside him, both of them watching something on his tablet. And for a moment, I stand here observing them, unable to move or breathe past this incredible feeling that’s swelling in my chest. This. This is my home.

He’s not saying anything, but he’s allowing her here in his room with him. Even when he’s sick and vulnerable. It’s more for him than his mother has ever done and the desire to ask her to be that, to be his stepmother, is enormous.

But I keep my mouth shut.

We’re certainly not there yet. But one day. One day we will be.

Slipping off my shoes, I enter the room and crawl right into bed, directly between them. Knox barely acknowledges I’m here, but I wrap my arm around him, turning his body so he’s tucked into my side. Then I do the same with Delaney, who has questions all over her face. I give her a reassuring smile and kiss her nose.

“How are you feeling?” I ask Knox, kissing the top of his head.

He doesn’t answer.

“Do you remember Delaney?”

He nods his head against me.

“She’s going to be part of our lives again. Only instead of being Uncle Liam’s girlfriend, she’s mine. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes.”

A smile lights up my face and I can’t help but squeeze them both.

“I love you, Knox. Sorry I didn’t pick you up when you got sick at school.”

He doesn’t respond, but I don’t expect him to. Delaney reaches over, playing softly with his hair. I have no idea how much time passes, but eventually, Knox falls asleep, and then Delaney and I slip out of his room so he can rest.

I tell her about my conversation with Liam as I make us both some dinner. Knox eventually wakes up, and after sipping on some broth and giving him a bath, I tuck him back into bed and then Delaney and I do the same. We shower and then climb into bed together. I make love to her. Hands clasped. Eyes locked. Buried inside her as deep as I can go. Knowing that there is no more hiding. No more sneaking around.

This is real. And it’s forever.

The End.

---