"Come kiss me and be sure to show up tomorrow." Mackenzie moves her lips like a fish.
Boone eases over, pressing his mouth to hers. "You'll never get rid of me like that again, woman."
"C'mere sleepy girl, let momma love you." Boone leans closer so Mackenzie can kiss Rumor. "Keep my side of the bed warm. I love you, Boo Baby."
"Love you, Momma." Rumor runs her hand over Max's cheek. "I love you, Baby Max."
Boone presses his lips to Max's head. "Me too, Maximus Boone."
"Love y'all." Ridge takes my hand, holding the door for all of us. "We'll walk out with y'all."
"Thank you." Boone smiles, turning at the last minute to blow a kiss to Mackenzie. "I love you, Kenzie. More than life."
"I love you, Boone. More than life." She tilts her head, glowing with love.
I sigh heavily, laying my hand over my racing heart. "How did I not see that you two were so in love when we were in high school?"
"You were focused elsewhere." Boone inclines his head.
I cross my eyes. "True!"
"Gosh, I hate leaving her." Boone rubs Rumor's back.
"Don't." Ridge brings us to a halt. "We'll take her. You missed everything with her, don't hesitate this time."
I grin lopsidedly. "He's right, Boone."
"Are you two sure? I don't want to impose." He wavers, knowing his heart is torn.
Ridge slips Rumor from his arms, nodding. "We've got her."
"You know he's got her, go." I grin.
"Man..." Boone's eyes glisten. "I couldn't ask for a better best friend. Thank you."
He kisses Rumor and jogs back to Mackenzie's room. Ridge turns to me, his brows pulled low. I know what he's going to say before he can utter a word.
"Don't! We have plenty of time, and it's what friends do."
"It's what you do when you love someone, you're there for them. I'm so sorry, I wasn't there for you." His face is wrought with emotion, sending chills over me.
I nod, sliding my arm around his waist. "Come on, let's go home."
"You have no idea how those words just made me feel." Ridge lays his arm over my shoulder.
Damn, if this doesn't feel right. I cling to his side as he holds Rumor with one arm and me in the other. It's as if he's made to do this, to be here with me.
As if on cue, my stomach knots again, reminding me of why I don't deserve him. Although I believe we deserve a second chance, I also realize we may never get it.
The doors open to the parking lot and a chill creeps over me. I shudder, not from the cold, but with the thought of what it may bring with it. Then again, I already know.
When we reach his truck, I open the door for him to sit Rumor inside and buckle the sleeping beauty in.
"She's too big to carry, but I've done it for years and can't bring myself to stop. Unlike Boone." He mumbles.
I pull my brows low. "What do you mean?"
"He never got to carry her until last year. I sent him plenty of pictures and stories, but he missed everything." He shrugs, shutting the door after I back away.
"I can't imagine how hard that must've been for you both."
"I had it easy." Ridge gazes at me, drawing me deeper in. "Boone lived for years knowing Rumor was his, but with nothing to prove it. He watched another man raise his daughter and couldn't do a damn thing about it. I don't think I could ever do that again to anyone."
"I'm sorry."
He pulls me to his chest, wrapping me up. "No need to apologize, you didn't know. Besides, that's not the entire story, there's so much more to it."
I press into Ridge, molding myself to his body until our hearts set a pace with one another. My chest tightens as his warmth overtakes the darkness in my soul.
Here, I'm safe and happy but still feel so far away from him. I know I should tell him everything and I will. For years I dreamed of being back in his arms, I just need to be here a little longer.
"I wasn't with you, that's all I know."
"You'll never be without me again." He murmurs through my hair, sending chills over me.
I pull away, as guilt gnaws at my resolve, eating every ounce of happiness. "I've heard that before, and I get it. We were young and dumb, but you shouldn't make promises you can't keep."
"So, you agree? We're no good together."
I glare at him, taking another step away. "I didn't say that at all, but apparently you're thinking it."
"I'm stating the obvious! You refuse to tell me what's going on, knowing how I feel about the fact that I've continuously let you down. I can't think of another reason for you to keep anything from me."
"There's a helluva lot more going on here than what you think of yourself, Ridge! That’s what you think of yourself, I've never put that on you and won't." I pound my chest, not sure if I'm trying to jumpstart the truth or my heart. "This is my truth! Mine! And it's so goddamned fucked up, even I can't face it."
"Then tell me and let me help you! I want to be here for you!" He throws his hands in the air. "The fuck you think I’ve been doing Harper. Trying to absolve my sins? I'm trying to love you, despite my own damn demons."
"The truth is this is bigger than even I can comprehend. I'm not even sure I want to." I drop my head, letting the tears fall.
"Have you considered I might have the answer?"
I reach for the door, wanting to jump in and get away, but I don't know from what. "I have, and I'm afraid it'll be for the best."
"So, why wouldn't you want it?" His frown deepens, pulling his brows low.
"I don't know," I yank on the handle. "probably because I know one of us wouldn't deserve it."
He slams the door shut. "You're maddening, Harper but being without you all of this time has been nothing less than a death sentence to my soul."
"Is it too much for me to ask you to leave all of this alone? To just be happy and here, in this moment together?" My stomach churns, making me nauseous with every word.
His shoulders slump, signaling his defeat. "I'll give you more time, but there's gonna come a day that you have to face this with or without me."
"Take me home." I gaze up into his eyes, praying he'll do as I ask and pleading for a short reprieve from my own mind.
Harper sits across from me staring out the window, I can only imagine what she's thinking, I know I can't stop myself from running every scenario that's ever existed through my thoughts and mind.
She has a death grip on my hand; she hasn't released mine from the minute I buckled my seat belt. It's as if I'm her lifeline and she's afraid what will happen if the connection breaks.
How can I ever get her to trust me with everything if she's so terrified, I'll jump ship at the first sign of a wave? Hell, from the moment she left with Weston, I've been nothing more than a shipwreck myself.
"Ya know, the last time you held on to me this tight, you were hangin' on for dear life at the treehouse." I grin at her when she rolls her eyes.