eyelids fluttered several times. Her heart ached with every beat and every second that had passed since she’d confessed. Stevie had told him the truth about why she left and of her feelings. She loved Julian more. It was that simple. She had never felt as free as she did when she was with him. Charles saved her. Julian freed her. There was a difference. And throughout the years, she had been in denial over whose love she wanted more.
I want Julian’s.
“You said you wanted to know what it felt like for me to tell you that I love you. What do you feel?” she asked.
He had let out a lengthy breath before he pulled her hands from his face. Stevie’s arms fell to the side of her body as he turned and unlocked the apartment door. Then he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. She cringed at the loud sound and she felt the sobs build inside her chest. All she could do to hold them and her tears back was clench her fists. But it was no use. The sobs escaped and the tears flowed. A pain she hadn’t felt since the miscarriage unfurled within her. Starting in the pit of her stomach, it spread heat towards her heart.
There was no doubting that she deserved it. She had hurt him, and he didn’t even know the entire truth. Her confession came years too late. Her love not enough. Stevie took a step forward and then another. When she was halfway towards the elevator, her phone rang. The sound of birds chirping filled the quiet hallway. Reaching behind her, Stevie pulled out her phone from her back pocket to see Julian’s name on her screen. With a shaky hand, she picked up the call and placed the earpiece to her ear.
“I had to see it,” he said. That was when she heard an apartment door open and close behind her.
She shut her eyes tightly and let the tears fall. “See what?”
“Your desperation… Your love,” he breathed. “Turn around, Stephanie.”
And when she did, she was greeted with the most loving smile she had ever seen. The gentleness in those light blues mended that little crack of doubt in her heart. “How does it feel to know that I love you?” she asked, slightly terrified. Then she hung up their call and returned her phone to her pocket. Julian lowered his from his ear and held it tightly.
“When I find the words to describe it, I’ll let you know. It’s the most incredible feeling. I’m scared that I won’t know what to do with it,” he confessed.
Stevie smiled and then cleared her cheeks of tears. “They’re words. You’re describing.”
“They’re not the words. I’ll find them. And they’ll be perfect. But until then, I’m going to feel your love. I’m going to cherish and embrace it because I never believed you could truly love me,” he said.
Just his words were enough to warm her chest, make the ache slightly bearable. The whole truth hadn’t been expressed. Just one more and she’d be clean of her lies and of her secrets. But for now, she’d be selfish enough to have his love. However, her conscience screamed at her to tell him. Her conscience also scolded her for admitting her love when all she’d do was hurt him in the end. Stevie pushed the small voice in her head to the furthest depths of her heart. After a few short breaths, she closed the distance between Julian and her.
The closeness of his body sped up her heart, and his gaze on her inflamed it. No one looked at her the way Julian did. It was as if he saw a good person within her, and when they were together, she believed it.
“I love you, Julian. I’m so sorry it took me this long to tell you,” she said, peeking up at him through her lashes.
His arms quickly wrapped around her, and he pulled her into his hard chest. This she knew was home. The feel of him safely around her. She knew she’d never find someone who could make her so terrified of love again. And Stevie knew she’d never find anyone who could love all her scars like he did.
“Julian,” she mumbled into his chest.
“Uh-huh,” he responded.
Stevie’s hands were on his hips, and she pushed back slightly to look at him. “Stay with me this weekend. I know you have to go to work tomorrow, but I’m hoping you’d rather spend