“I’m sorry, Nico. I’m so, so sorry.” She was all-out crying, and I hated it.
“Stop,” I said as I dropped to my knees next to her. “I’m being an asshole and you don’t deserve that.” Her head swiveled slowly my direction, and I cradled her face in my hands. With gloved fingers, I wiped her tears and kissed over the wet trails.
“I wanted to be a better person by the time you got back. I didn’t want to be the broken shell I was before. I hated that woman. I wanted you to know that when I was with you, it was because we needed to be connected, not because I needed control. I wanted you to be happy you were having a baby with me. I wanted to benormal,” she cried, and my heart ached. This beautiful woman should never have to cry unless it was from happiness. She deserved everything good in the world—the best of everything. Though I knew that wasn’t me, I remained there and selfishly kissed away her tears.
The sounds of the night wrapped us in their folds as I kneeled on the hard concrete and rested my forehead to hers. My gloved hands gripped her hair.
“You aren’t broken, baby. You might be bent, but you’re far from broken. You are the strongest woman I know. And you’re right—if I’d known about the baby, come hell or high water, I’d have been home. But know this—I’m here now, and we’re going to figure this shit out, because I’m not keeping my mouth shut anymore. You’re mine, Jazzy. You hear me?Mine.”
She brushed the side of her nose against mine, and I nuzzled hers before brushing a kiss softly against her lips.
One way or another, I had to find a way to make this shit work, because I was never letting her go again.