He nodded. “Yeah. But I remember the rest, too. All of it. Every second of the time we were together.” He was quiet for a few moments, and then he swallowed, and spoke again. “That last night we were together? I know I said a lot of cruel shit. Shit I didn’t mean. I was trying to push you away, and then…when you were gone, really gone, and I’d realized what I’d done…”
She looked up at him, brushing her fingers across his lips. “Shh. It’s okay.”
He pulled her hand away gently, and shook his head. “No. It’s not. Let me say this. I need to say this.”
“Alright.”
“I’m so sorry, Angel. I have so much to be sorry for. I’ve missed you so much.” His hand came up, and cupped the side of her face, tilting her head back. His thumb brushed over her lips, and then his mouth descended to hers.
The kiss was soft, gentle, exploratory. Two lovers coming together after what felt like a lifetime apart. And yet, at the same time, it felt like they’d never been apart. She clung to him, never wanting the kiss to end. Surrendering to his mouth, silently letting him know she wanted more.
He felt her reaction, picked up on her silent cues the way males had read females since the beginning of time. His arms pulled her closer as his mouth delved deeper. He felt her body press against him. Soft, curvy female against hard, taught muscles. She felt so good in his arms. Too good, and the bed was too close. Another minute and he’d have her pushed down on it. He raised his head, pulling away from her mouth reluctantly, and leaned his forehead against hers. He took a shaky breath, and looked down into her eyes. “I should probably go. Okay?”
Angel pulled back. “Yes. Of course.”
He walked over to the bed TJ was laying on, and leaned over him, kissing him on the forehead, then he stood looking down at him. “This test I need?”
“Yes?”
“Where do I go?” he asked, looking back at her.
She smiled, and turned to pull the paperwork out of her bag. She handed it to him. “Just call that number, and tell them you want to be tested for that case. All Melissa’s information is on it.”
Cole took it, and nodded. He stepped toward the door, and opened it.
Angel followed him.
He paused in the doorway, and looked back at her. Reaching up, he touched her cheek, and said, “That morning, when you woke up alone…I should have never left your side.” Then he leaned down, and kissed her softly.
When he lifted his head, Angel looked up into his eyes a moment.
And then he turned, and left.
*****
Three days later, Angel was back at home, when she got the call. She clutched the receiver to her ear as she heard the news. The hospital in California had confirmed Cole was a match.
Angel put her hand to her mouth, sank to her knees, and burst into tears.
TJ, who was playing on the floor with his cars, came running over when he saw his momma crying. “Momma, what’s wrong? What’s wrong, Momma?”
She couldn’t speak. She just shook her head, and pulled him into her arms, and rocked him, crying.
Chapter Thirteen
Angel sat at the kitchen table with Natalie. She checked the clock for the tenth time.
“Will you stop checking the time every minute. He’ll be here soon,” Natalie said, sipping on her coffee.
“I know. I know.” Angel took a deep breath. It had been almost two weeks since she’d last seen him.
“So, you never really told me much about what happened when you went out there,” Natalie remarked.
Angle looked down at the kitchen table, and shrugged. “I wasn’t there that long. I flew in, and flew out.”
“Angel.” Her aunt wasn’t buying it. “This is me you’re talking to.”
“What are you asking?”
“Do you still have feelings for him?
Angel looked away. “I don’t know. The man I knew three years ago…” She shook her head. “I’m not sure he’s that man now.”
Natalie nodded, trying to understand. “You know, when you came back from California three years ago, and you moved in here with me,, I never asked you, but I always wondered why you didn’t go home to your father.”
Angel shrugged. “Because of Kathy. I never liked her, and she never liked me.”
“I never did understand why your father married her. She was so different from my sister.”