Page 102 of Country Vows

My mom tries to negotiate with him, but Tate doesn’t recant.

The front door closes and I think it’s over.

My heart rate picks up; adrenaline courses through my veins.

Gingerly, Tate returns to the dining room. His cheeks are flushed, the trembling in his hands has now worked its way up his arms. He grips his neck, not meeting my eyes fully. “Fuck. I, uh, didn’t mean for it to go that far. I just couldn’t sit there and listen to another second.” His face scrunches as he searches for the words. “But I won’t apologize for standing up for you.”

The dining table separates us, and I take slow steps to meet him on the other side.

Tate’s jaw ticks.

“You’ve never spoken to her like that before.” There’s a foot of space between us now, and I watch as the knot in his throat bobs up and down. “I always asked you not to.”

It’s now, just the two of us, that his composed demeanor slips. “And that was my first mistake in all of this falling apart. All I’ve ever wanted is to give you everything. I’ve never wanted anything in return, and yet you gave me the world, your love, your heart.” He jabs at his chest. “I became so obsessed with wanting to give you the perfect life, and when the opportunity came to give you so much more, I became greedy.”

He throws his arms out at the walls accusingly. “So, be mad at me for standing up to your parents. Shout at me. Kick me out. I don’t care, because I am done wanting to give you everything. I just want you, Tally Girl. I want my wife back.” Shoulders slumped, the weight of his confession hangs heavy. “What more can I do? Please tell me. Please. Because they’re gone, and I’m here. I’m here begging you to fall in love with me again. Give me one more chance.”

The strings of my heart pull tight, cutting off the blood flow to the rest of my body. My ears buzz. And I can’t do this anymore.

It’s agonizing.

The brave face I’ve slapped on cracks.

My stronghold fractures.

“I’ve never wanted everything,” I whisper. “I’ve only ever wanted you. Our life was perfect, and when you erased our memories with new ones, blindsiding me with gifts and extravagant surprises, I thought you were tired of it. Of me. You were the one constant in my life, and you were slipping away, searching for something new and exciting. I didn’t want to hold you back, and I just knew…” I clamp down on my bottom lip until pain blooms bright. “I sent you away because eventually, you were going to leave. It was supposed to be less painful if I was the one to push you away, but it hurt so much more. It killed me.” My watery gaze drags to the ceiling. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t pretend with you.”

Tate looks wrecked when I lower my eyes, his expression completely vacant.

And I realize he’s misunderstood me.

I stride forward until there’s no distance left. “I can’t pretend I’m not still in love with you.”

Then I do the one thing my body, mind, and soul are built to do. Sparks of silver and crystal dance in his blue irises as I close the final distance. I palm the sides of his face, crashing our mouths together.

Finally.

I tell him how I feel, how I’ve always felt with my actions. With the love radiating off me. It isn’t our first; I pray it isn’t our last, but it’s more powerful than all our kisses combined.