Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,138
you are, but the asshole broke up with you. Let him worry about his own life.”
“We were never actually dating so technically he didn’t break up with me,” Addison said.
There was a knock on her door and Harper frowned at her through the screen. “Jesus, I swear you have the worst security in your apartment building. What’s the use of having a locked lobby if anyone can just stroll on in? Are you expecting someone?”
Addison picked up her phone and walked toward the door. “You’ve been living in New York for too long, Harper. I ordered a pizza because I’m too depressed to cook.”
She opened the door with her free hand. “Thank you so…”
“Addison? What’s wrong?” Harper peered at her through her phone screen. “Why are you so pale? Who’s at the door? What’s going on?”
Addison turned the phone until it was pointed at the door.
“Oh look, it’s the asshole,” Harper said. “What the fuck do you want, Preacher?”
“Harper, stop.” Addison turned the phone back to face her. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Make him beg for forgiveness!” Harper hollered before Addison could hit the end button.
She shoved her phone into her pocket as Preacher stepped into her apartment. There was a bandage on his right forearm, and she said, “What happened to your arm?”
“New tattoo,” he said. “Nix did it for me tonight after the shop closed.”
“Oh.”
There was an awkward silence and she said, “My mom called this morning. She told me that you helped Daniel last night. Thank you.”
“Your parents are really nice,” he said.
“They’re amazing. Are you here to tell me how nice my parents are?”
“No,” he said. “I screwed up and I’m sorry. I love you, Addison.”
She blinked at him before pulling at the friendship bracelets around her wrist. “I – what did you just say?”
“I love you. I feel like I’m actually a good man when I’m with you. You help me to be a good man. I know I’m not perfect but being with you makes me think maybe I’m not such a fuck up, after all.” He peeled back the bandage covering his arm and she stared at the ink, fresh new shock pouring through her.
“Is that… oh my god, did you…” She stared at her name written in a script font on Preacher’s forearm. “Preacher… what did you do?”
“I got your name tattooed on my arm because even if you don’t want to be with me anymore, I’ll never stop wanting you. I’ll never stop loving you. You’ll always be mine, Sunshine, and I want everyone in this fucking town to know it. I love you.”
She stared at her name on his arm before lifting her gaze to his. The warmth and the love in his dark eyes made tears slide down her cheeks. “I love you too, Simon.”
She could see the relief sliding over his body, feel it in the way he crushed her to him when she threw her arms around him. He kissed her face and mouth repeatedly before resting his forehead against hers. “I love you, Sunshine. I won’t ever let you go again.”
Epilogue
“Sunshine, I’m home.”
“In the kitchen,” she called. God, would she ever get tired of hearing Preacher say he was home? She suspected not. Sure, he’d only moved in two weeks ago, but holy crap, it’d been the best two weeks of her life.
“How was your day?” Preacher slid his arms around her and nuzzled her throat just above the pearls.
“Good. Busy. The kids were super hyper today. How was your day?” She traced her name on his forearm.
“Not bad. Finished up Rick’s tattoo. It looks good.”
“I bet it looks amazing.” She stirred the sauce in the pot.
“That smells really good,” he said.
“Thanks. It should be ready in about ten minutes. Guess what?” She turned in his arms and kissed his broad chest.
“What’s that?”
“You and I are no longer the gossip of the town.”
“You’re kidding me,” Preacher said. “It’s only been a couple of weeks. I figured they’d be talking about us for a good six months.”
“Something juicier has pushed us right off the gossip map,” Addison said.
“Oh yeah? You gonna tell me what it is or just keep looking like the cat who swallowed the canary?”
She giggled. “I’ll tell you, but you can’t judge me for how mean I’m being about this or how happy it makes me.”
“Sunshine, this is a judgment free zone, you know that.”
“You know how Harrison told me he and Crystal weren’t together anymore?”