Page 97 of More than Paper

“They won’t?”

I’m already hailing a cab. “No, doll.”

“Where are we going?”

“Back to your place, unless you want to come to Noah’s with me?”

“Won’t they wonder where you are if you are at my place?”

The cab pulls up, and I open the door. “No one is keeping track of me. Get in.”

She gets in, and I follow, crushing my lips into hers the moment I tell the cabbie where to take us.

“It’s too much torture not being able to kiss you in public,” I say between kisses.

“I know.”

“Let’s stop pretending, then.”

She freezes and pushes her head to mine, closing her eyes.

Crap. What did I say now?

“Doll, what’s wrong.”

“You’re married. All your friends know you are,” she whispers.

“Yes, and they know the entire story. No one is going to judge you or us.”

She blinks as a tear slips down her cheeks.

I take a deep breath and kiss it. “I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you. What do I have to do so we can get past this?”

“I don’t know. I want to. You don’t know how badly I want to move forward, but I don’t know how.”

Okay. This is progress. At least she’s talking to me about it again.

I pull her into my chest and kiss her head. Since we’re in a cab, I murmur to her, “Nothing has changed. The only woman I’ve ever loved is you. We can have a great life together. Move to New York, and we’ll figure this out.”

She doesn’t say anything, and another tear falls, crushing my soul further.

The cab pulls up to her building, and we get out. Saying nothing, we make our way into her apartment, and I lead her over to the couch then guide her onto my lap. “I love you.”

“I know you do.”

“Do you still love me?” My pulse beats in my neck, scared of what she might say.

“Yes,” she whispers.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. If I could turn back time, I would. But I can’t change that.”

“I know you’re sorry. And I believe you. I forgive you for not telling me sooner.”

She forgives me?

“You do?”

“Yes. I could have told you what I was doing all those months. Then you wouldn’t have questioned my love or commitment to you.”

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