Harleigh
My mind was reeling.
Nix was here.
He had come for me. Today. And last year when I’d been ripped from my home by my father.
I’d spent all this time believing the boy I loved more than anything had abandoned me. Betrayed me. But it was my father who’d betrayed me. The man who had discarded my mother so cruelly, had screwed me over in ways I couldn’t comprehend.
I’d almost…
God, I couldn’t even think the words, let alone say them.
“How are you feeling?” Celeste asked me, sympathy shining in her eyes.
“I’m okay.”
I wasn’t really, not deep down, but being here wrapped in Nix’s arms, eased some of the nervous energy bouncing around in my stomach.
Pushing myself into a sitting position, I buried myself into his side. “Where is everyone?” I asked.
“In the kitchen. Poor Nate is trying to keep the peace,” Celeste said.
Nix went rigid at the mention of Nate, and I peeked up at him. “He’s just a friend.”
“We’ll see.”
A faint smile traced my lips. It was silly. I wasn’t supposed to like the possessive edge to his words. But I did. It had been so long since I’d been the center of his world, I wanted to bask in it.
“I think they were going to order pizza. Are you hungry?”
“I don’t think I can eat,” I said. “But maybe we should go and see them. I feel like I owe Nate an apology.”
“You don’t owe Miller a damn thing.”
“Nix.” I laid my hand on his chest and brought my face level to his. “It’s okay.”
A bitter laugh rumbled in his throat. “Nothing about this is okay, B.”
“I’m going to give the two of you some space,” Celeste said. “But I’m sure everyone would like to see you with their own eyes, Harleigh.”
“We’ll be right there.” I flashed her an appreciative smile, and she left. The click of the door echoing through the silence.
“Nix,” I said, sliding my fingers along his jaw. “Look at me.” His eyes slowly lifted to mine, simmering with pure agony. “I’m okay.”
“Fuck that, Birdie. You’re not—”
“Shh.” Pressing my finger to his lips, I silenced him. “I know we need to talk. I know there’s so much we need to figure out. But right now, I want us to go and see our friends and apologize. Can we do that?”
His body trembled beneath my touch as if it was taking everything inside of him not to break. His hand flexed against the side of my neck, his deft fingers threading into my hair and holding me there. “Ten fucking months, B.” Nix exhaled a long, pained breath and I felt it all the way down to my soul.
So much hurt.
So many lies.
So much deception.
But we’d found our way back together. Despite the odds, we were here.