We park the car, and he comes around to open my door for me. I know without him telling me that he needs this. And for some reason, I don’t need to question it. His need to protect me doesn’t in any way mitigate who I am. I love this. I love us together. It’s so damn right, it’s a wonder how we functioned before.
“Harper,” Cy says, in the calm, steadfast way I’ve come to love. “Baby, it’s going to be okay.”
“Thank you,” I say simply, but I don’t tell him for what. It’s for everything. For understanding how hard this is for me. For understanding that I don’t know how Daniel will react, and that makes me nervous as fuck.
I take the balloons from his hand, and he holds the cake. Together, we walk around the parking lot toward the entrance.
I feel my body jolt when we round the corner. News crews, reporters with microphones, camera flashes, and questions thrown our way.
Oh, hell no.
Cy tenses beside me, and as he opens his mouth to speak, I talk first. “We’ve come to see my brother,” I say, my voice loud and clear. “We’re not here for questions or interviews. Please, give us some space.”
And it’s either my plaintive request or the terrifying glare Cy sends the nosy reporters and people who mull around us like buzzing bees, but they actually back off. The door to Daniel’s residence swings open, and Arianna stands in the doorway, shaking her head.
“Come in, come in,” she says. “He’s waiting. Ignore the stupidity out here.”
We wade through the throng of people that crowds us, and finally Cy’s had enough.
“Back up,” he thunders. And they do, like Moses parting the Red Sea.
“Good job,” I say approvingly, but he only grunts in return. He’s not amused by this.
We finally get to the door and Arianna ushers us in. Tears prick my eyes, and a lump rises in my throat just looking at her. It feels as if it’s been a decade.
“Arianna,” I whisper. “Oh, God, it’s good to see you.”
She grabs me around the neck so tightly I can’t breathe at first. “You, too. Oh my God, will he be happy to see you.” We finally pull away, and I gesture to Cy.
“This is Cy,” I say. “My fiancé.”
Her eyes widen and she flushes a little. I think it might be the first time I’ve seen her flush. I turn to Cy, and flash him a grin. I look at him as if I’m seeing him for the first time, like she is. He is insanely hot, and huge, and intimidating, all muscles and tats and strength. He grins back, and Arianna exhales.
“Well done, mama,” she whispers in my ear. “Well done.”
I smile at her, and my nose tingles a little. She approves of Cy, and that means so damn much to me.
She doesn’t know it yet, but that girl’s gonna be my maid of honor.
She leads us to the community room. Sunshine streams through the large windows, and someone’s playing jazz music in the background. I didn’t like coming here before. It made me nervous, and I always felt guilty that Daniel was here instead of with me, even though I know logically I couldn’t give him what he needed.
Daniel’s got his back to us, rocking a little in his chair, some kinda device in his hand. “He’s playing chess,” she says. “It’s his new obsession. When he can’t find anyone to play with in real life, he plays on his game.”
I nod, suddenly overcome with emotion. I don’t know why, but standing there in the community room, with Cy holding my hand, I feel the weight of all that I’ve lost. My mom and dad. My brother as a peer instead of the man who will always be childlike and dependent. And more. So much more.
Focus on what you’ve gained, I tell myself.
This beautiful, savage, devoted man.
A new sense of who I am and what I want from life.
A second chance at life.
“Daniel?” I say, but my voice comes out in a whisper, and he doesn’t hear me. I try to make my voice work, to speak louder, but I’m afraid I’m gonna lose my shit right here in the middle of the community room.
“Daniel.” Cy’s louder, deep voice carries more clearly than mine. Daniel looks up from his game and turns to look at me. I squeeze Cy’s hand to thank him for doing what I couldn’t. For support.
Daniel gets to his feet, his game clattering to the floor, and opens his arms up to me. He grins at me.
“Harper! You’re here!”
I run to him, throwing myself into his arms and holding him so tight he gasps.
“You missed me,” he says. “And you brought balloons! Who’s this guy?”
I’m laughing and crying, a ridiculous jumble of emotions. “This is Cy,” I say simply.