Page 90 of Absolution

Reese: I can’t believe you won’t talk to him.

Scarlet: I’ve said it all.

Scarlet: How’s Emmie?

Reese: She’s great. Already asleep.

Reese: Talk to him.

Scarlet: No. Good night.

Reese: You’re impossible.

“It takes one to know one.” I sneer at my phone before tossing it onto the bed. If she only knew what I’ve been through, she’d understand why being with him is impossible.

“Scarlet.” I jump out of my skin from the sound of his voice. Are you kidding me, he’s still here. I stare at the door, wanting to ask him to go but needing him to stay. My heart betrays me.

“What?” I ease over to the door, pressing my ear against it.

“I’m not leaving. I’ll be sitting in the hallway, against this door, until you open it and talk to me.”

“Haven’t we said enough? We’ve caused each other enough pain to last two lifetimes. And as much as I hate to say it, it’s time to stop trying. To stop hurting each other. To stop the pain.” Creed often talks of the hell he went through in that hole. Right now, I’m in agony with a gaping hole ripped through me.

“Maybe.” I hold my breath when he’s quiet for a minute. “So, I’ll be here when you have something else to say.”

I release it with a heavy sigh. “You might be waiting for a while.”

“I used to think I had endured a hell like no other, then I spent this week without you. So, I’ll sit here for as long as it takes. Loving you for as long as I can. Because I just don’t work without you, Scar. I can’t live knowing you and Emmie are out here with me loving you the way you both deserve to be loved.”

I slide down the door, propping my back against it. “Why? Why would you do this, Creed? When I finally find the courage to let you go.”

“You’ve shown me what my life was supposed to be, and I want it all. When I think of you, I see beyond what I am. There’s a past, the present, and our future.”

“And yet, it’s still not enough. You say I give you hope when I have none. You see a forever, and I can’t see beyond today.” My heart stops, and I catch my breath. “Love should never feel this way, remember?”

“No, it shouldn’t.”

I press my hand to the door, needing to feel his warmth. “You see, the hurt we’ve caused the other has robbed us of knowing how it should be.”

“It will always be just like this,” he pushes a piece of paper under the door. “open it.”

I pick it up, doing as asked. My vision blurs as I stare at the words. My voice breaks as I read them aloud. “I love you.”

“I need you to read those words every time you think we can’t do this, when we argue, and make love. The millionth time, I leave my socks on the family room floor. When I forget to put the seat down, no matter how well-raised I was. But most of all, I will remind you of those words when you wake, sleep, eat, work, and breathe because that’s how many times in a day that I’ll be saying it.”

This man. I reach for the handle, pulling it open to find him sitting just where he said he’d be… waiting on me. “You will not leave the seat up, or I’ll send you home to your momma.”

“Is this a deal-breaker, I need to know the specifics.”

“Pretty much, but I will sweeten the offer with five extra socks on the floor before I become livid.”

He bites his lip, stoking the fire that’s burned for him all these years, as he considers my proposal. He sits upon his knees, facing me as he pulls a ring from his pocket.

“Marry me, Scarlet. If for no other reason but to argue with me until forever and then we’ll start over. But please, marry me most of all because you love me, and you want to chase forever with me.”

“As long as you promise to never forget me again.” I peek up at him, trying not to giggle. Doc lays by his side, throwing shade at me with the world’s best sad puppy eyes.

“Never.” His arms wrap around me, dragging me to him. His lips press against mine, reclaiming what has always been his.