Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Her words squeeze my heart. She could so easily choose the path without me… “Isabella, I—”
“No.” She holds up a hand. “You said what you need to. Now let me finish. I sat up with Jen’s cat in my lap—Dude trapped me in a recliner for hours—and I thought through all my potential futures. Then I asked what would truly make me happy. Finally, I boiled down what upset me so much about that picture you sent. And I realized something. All my life, I’ve tried to be enough for the men around me. I wasn’t enough for my dad, and if he and I are going to resume any kind of relationship, we’ll have to work through that. God knows I wasn’t enough for Eric, and I can never be with someone who will manipulate, lie, and disrespect me again.”
Shit. “Isabella… Baby girl—”
“Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. As hard as it is, I have to shut the fuck up and let her speak. After everything I’ve done, it’s the very least I owe her. “Absolutely. Go on.”
If she refuses me, I’ll find out what she needs and give it to her until she finally says yes again.
“Answer one question for me.”
“Anything.”
“Am I enough for you?”
“Yes. Yes! I love you, exactly as you are. When we’re together, I’m not only a happier man, I’m a better man. Before you, I wouldn’t have felt a shred of compassion for Julia and Doug’s infertility. I wouldn’t have given a shit about anything except making them suffer. You changed me. You’re my everything.”
She sniffles. “After the way our marriage started, I don’t know how to believe that I’ll be enough for you.”
“You are. You always will be.” But I’ve said that. She needs to hear more. “How about I make you this promise? Every day, I’ll do my best to prove how much you mean to me—for the rest of my life. I’ll never stop. Ever. Even when you know you’re not only enough, but my whole world.”
Slowly, she nods, tears falling. Fists clenched, I hold my breath, wondering what the hell she’s thinking. What she’s deciding. My heart thuds. My palms sweat. I want to touch her, demand answers, make her promise she’ll give me another shot.
I can’t.
“Last night, I realized that I’ve always held back, been nice, and failed to rock the boat because I believed I wasn’t enough. I know better now. I need you to know it, too.”
Would my opinion matter if she didn’t see a future for us? “Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
“I won’t tolerate any more BS. If something upsets me, I’m going to say so. I’m going to insist things change until I don’t feel marginalized or shoved in a corner.”
“You should. And you should expect the people in your life to listen and compromise.”
“I do.” She blows out a deep breath as new tears tremble on her lashes. “But I also realized that I can’t see my future without you. You make me feel special and adored. Everything you crave is what I want, too—home, marriage, kids. That’s what I’ve been missing. Being your wife, even if the circumstances weren’t great, made me feel complete. I was upset when I found out about the picture because I took that to mean I wasn’t special to you, that I’d fallen for you when I was nothing but the means to an end.”
“No. Baby—”
“I knew not to expect more from my dad because he’d disillusioned me long ago. I wasn’t surprised when Eric treated me that way because he’d shown his true colors almost from the start, and I didn’t have the will or self-esteem to stop him. But I really thought you were different.”
“I am. Give me another chance to prove it, Isabella.” I squeeze her hands. “Give me a real chance to make you happy.”
“All right.”
My heart stops. “Y-yes? That’s it? No more pushback or fighting or…”
“None of that. I came here this morning, speech prepared, to tell you I intended to come home, be your wife, have your children, and live happily ever after because I love you.” Her tears begin flowing. “Believe me, I tried not to choose you. My mind told me to be smarter. But my heart decided for me. Because you showed me what being truly loved felt like—safe and accepted. I just needed to know that you valued me, too. I’ll give you my heart and my respect in return. If you want to share that life with me—”
“Yes. Fuck, yes. A million times, yes.” I sweep her off her feet and into my arms, then kiss her like she owns my heart, because she does. “I’d marry you again if I could.”
“You can…in a way.” From her coat pocket, she pulls her wedding ring, slides it into my palm, and holds out her hand. “Only speak vows to me this time if you mean it.”