easy and maybe you have some wounds that are still healing, but you’re smart and successful and confident—”
“I’m confident about business,” she corrected. “Not so much about personal things.”
“You love your brother and sister,” he continued. “And they love you. I could see that when I met Becca. You sacrificed a lot of your own life for them. I know you do care about people. I’ve seen it. Even with Bailey at work, helping her out. And I heard you took Isaiah and Hunter out for lunch to thank them for meeting a tough deadline. You do care.”
Her throat thickened. She nodded.
“Come on. Let’s go sit down and you can tell me all about it. See, this is me, working at a relationship.”
She huffed out a laugh and let him lead her over to the couch.
Snuggled in his arms, she told him the whole ugly story about her mom turning up, where she’d been, what she’d done. She told him how she felt, as much as she could name the feelings—anger, hurt, betrayal. And she cried. Having Levi’s arms around her, holding her as she sobbed, was the best feeling ever.
When the tears had slowed, she said, “The one good thing that came out of this is that I kind of warmed up to Viv.” She sank her teeth into her lip briefly. “She’s a nice person. I always felt guilty that I couldn’t love her. But I do like her, and I felt so bad for her when this happened…and I realized I wasn’t letting myself love her.”
“Aw, beautiful girl.” He kissed her hair and caressed her face. “See, you are smart.”
“I’ve been keeping my distance from my dad too, all these years. It hurt that he withdrew, but now I understand more about what he was going through. The police investigated him as a suspect at that time. I knew that, but it never really clicked with me how awful that must have been for him. We talked about a lot of stuff on the weekend, and weirdly, Mom turning up has actually brought our family closer together.”
“Are you going to see your mom?”
“Not right now.” She sighed. “At first I said no way, never. Viv told me I should just think about it. Take my time. So I will. I don’t know. I don’t know what my mother would say if I saw her. I know I probably need to forgive her and just move on, and I’m afraid if I don’t forgive her I’ll be stuck in this place—this angry, bitter place—forever. I don’t want to be like that.”
He nodded. “I can’t tell you what to do,” he murmured. “But whatever you want to do…I’m with you, baby. You have to know that.”
She shifted in his arms to look into his eyes. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed you until I screwed up and thought I lost you. I do need you, Levi. I could handle this all on my own…but it feels so good to know I don’t have to.”
“I wanted to be there for you. I hated that you were hurting and wouldn’t tell me.” He searched her face. “I was so fucking stupid, I didn’t realize that meant I love you. I’d do anything for you, anything to make you happy.”
She loved that. So much. Warmth filled her. “We can’t always be happy.”
“I guess that’s true. Life has ups and downs. My life has been easy and I guess that means I’m spoiled. As Madeleine so helpfully pointed out. But the bad shit maybe is easier when you have someone who’s got your back. I’ll always have your back, Sloane.”
“I know. I heard the reason you fought Scott is because he insulted me.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “You heard that?”
“Mmhmm. That was really nice, Levi.” She touched her fingertips to his stubbled jaw. “And I’ve got your back too. When The Hux talked to me about the fight, he asked if we’d made a big mistake hiring you. And I said no. Definitely, emphatically, no. You’re brilliant and talented.”
“You called him The Hux.” His lips curved.
“Yeah. I better be careful I don’t call him that to anyone else.”
“I love you so goddamn much.”
“I love you too.” They kissed again. “So. What were you bringing me?”
He grinned. “Well, first of all…Chuck. He missed you.”
“Aw. I missed him too.” She looked at Chuck, lying on his side on the rug, feet stretched out in front of him, snoring lightly. “I love that little