Part 20 (2/2)

I nod, letting him know we're good before turning my gaze back to the end of the bar, my heart dropping into my stomach when I realize she's no longer there. I look to Paxton who shrugs apologetically and gestures toward the door.

I immediately set off in that direction, ignoring the sound of Kimber calling my name behind me. I may have been able to kid myself into believing that I could live without Harlee, but after seeing her just moments ago, I realize how very wrong I was.

Not only can I not live without her, but I don't f.u.c.king want to.

I look left and then right, scanning the sidewalk the moment I step outside. Turning left when I don't see her anywhere. I quickly round the building, stopping dead in my tracks when I spot Harlee leaning against the wall, her gaze turned downward.

”I should never have pushed you away,” she says so quietly I don't know if she's talking to herself or if she's completely aware that I'm standing just feet from her.

”I messed things up so bad,” she chokes out, emotion clear in her voice.

If I didn't know any better I'd say she's talking to the wind, having still made no attempt to look my way.

”I'm so sorry.” When she finally looks up, her eyes are gla.s.sed over in tears, her expression pained. ”I'm so, so sorry, Gavin.” Her words slur slightly, giving away her clear intoxication.

”You're drunk.” It's a statement, not a question, my voice coming out a bit harsher than I really intend for it to.

”Maybe a little,” she admits. ”But if I wasn't I wouldn't have stopped here. I would have run away, left, too ashamed and embarra.s.sed to face you after the way I treated you.”

”You have nothing to be ashamed of.” I take a hesitant step forward. ”It's me that should be ashamed. I was completely out of line.”

”You were right.” She cuts me off, her gaze halting my movements.

”No, I wasn't.” I shake my head.

”You made me feel things I didn't know I could feel. It scared the s.h.i.+t out of me,” she admits. ”I didn't know how to handle those feelings. So I hid. I hid behind Bryan. I hid behind my fear. Even when I knew you were what I wanted, I couldn't make myself act on it. I couldn't take that final step, afraid that once I did, everything would fall apart. I was convinced you were in it for the chase, for the game. That once you had me, I mean really had me, you would no longer want me.”

”You couldn't have been more wrong,” I cut in, taking another step toward her, closing the distance between us to just a couple feet.

”I should have trusted you. I should have trusted us.” She wipes at a stray tear that escapes her eye.

”How I feel about you, it scared me too, Harlee. It f.u.c.king terrified me. It still does,” I admit. I should have given you the time you needed to work through your hesitation instead of forcing you into something you weren't ready for,” I add.

”But I was ready. I wanted to be with you from the moment I first saw you. I knew you were it. I think that's what scared me more than anything; how quickly I fell for you.” She lets out a slow breath. ”I was ready. I still am. But now it's too late.”

”Who said it's too late?” I can't help the smile that pulls at the corner of my mouth.

”You did,” she continues when she sees the confusion that crosses my face. ”You left. You didn't fight for me. You didn't call me. You made no attempt to contact me at all. If that doesn't tell me you're done, I don't know what would.” She swipes at another tear.

”I'm not done. Far from it.” I close the distance between us, taking her face in my hands. ”I was trying to respect your wishes, something I should have done from the very beginning. I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving you alone. Every single f.u.c.king day without you has been worse than the last. It gutted me to leave you that day. It f.u.c.king killed me to stay away from you. I love you, Harlee. So f.u.c.king much it hurts,” I breathe, pressing my mouth firmly to hers.

Her body relaxes against me as she melts into the kiss. Only seconds pa.s.s before her fingers find their normal spot, tangling in the back of my hair as she tightens her grip on me.

It feels so good to have her body pressed against mine again. To feel her bottom lip quiver as I slide my tongue into her mouth. To hear her soft moans as I kiss her harder, deeper, wanting to make sure she never has the power to walk away from me ever again.

”Say you're mine,” I speak against her lips. ”I need you to say it. I need you to mean it this time. I need you to be mine.”

”I was always yours.” Her response is instant.

A wide smile spreads across her beautiful face as her fingers tighten their grip on my hair, pulling my lips back down to hers.

Chapter Twenty-four.

Harlee Words simply cannot describe the way it feels to be back in Gavin's arms. To see him drop all his walls and let me see his true vulnerability. I don't think I realized just how much I hurt him by pus.h.i.+ng him away. Something I promise myself right here and now to never do again.

”I love you,” he breathes against my lips, resting his forehead against mine. ”Don't f.u.c.king break my heart again. I don't think it could take it.” He pulls back, his eyes locked firmly on mine.

”That goes for you, too.” I cup his cheek and lose myself in the depths of his blue eyes.

”We should probably head back inside,” I add on. ”I'm sure they are wondering where we disappeared to.” I refer to Kimber, Decklan, and Paxton who are still inside the bar.

”I could care less.” He drops a light kiss to my lips.

”You mean you couldn't care less?” I let out a small laugh. ”Saying you could care less means you could actually care less.”

”Yeah, that's what I said,” he laughs, the sound the most amazing thing I've ever heard.

”So you do care or you don't?” I can't quite keep up with what he's trying to say.

”I don't.”

”So then you couldn't care less.”

”That's what I said,” he teases.

”Okay.” I shake my head, knowing at this point he's purposely just trying to confuse me for his own amus.e.m.e.nt.

Glad to see some things never change.

”I'm more concerned about getting home and kicking Charlie's devious a.s.s to the curb so I can show my girlfriend just how f.u.c.king much I love her for the rest of the night.” He gives me a wicked smile, his eyes boring into mine.

”Your girlfriend huh?” I joke. ”She must be an incredible woman to have earned the t.i.tle of your girlfriend.”

”Oh, you have no idea. Not only is she the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes on, she also sucks a mean c.o.c.k.” He busts out laughing when my mouth drops open in shock.

”I cannot believe you just said that.” I shake my head on a laugh. ”Wait. Yes, I can.” I laugh harder.

”So is that a yes?” he asks, falling serious.

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