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Sincerity marks his gaze, his words softening. “That youalwaysbelonged to me.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Well, the way I see it, we’re gonna leave this diner, and maybe make it to Memphis before I pull over and beg you to give me head. Then we might make it into Arkansas before I need you in a bed.”

My face heats, the fire licking my neck and cheeks and into my core. “I mean, like where am I going to live? I don’t have a job? You live with your parents…. Do we have a plan? I’m having a baby in six months.”

Predatory green eyes glitter over my face, and even feet away, I can feel the exhale of his breath. The tension is thick when he whispers, “Weare having a baby.We are.”

I swallow and push through the emotions, nodding.

“I love you,” he says, the words spoken with so much sincerity I have no choice but to believe him. “And I know I pushed you away, and then demanded you choose me, but I couldn’t bear the thought of not having you any longer. My pride got in the way.”

Tears roll down my cheeks and I swipe them away, unwilling to accept that I’m an emotional shitshow.

“Darlin’.” His voice spans between us, rough and confused. His brow draws together. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just… emotional.” I want to go as far to tell him I’m scared. That I don’t know where this is going and I’m terrified to allow my heart to consume this again. What if he decides this is too much?

But he assures me with those pretty eyes. The sight of his endearing smile relaxes me. Studying his hands, I’m reminded of the gentle sweep of his knuckles on my cheek when he whispered he loved me. This guy, he’s only ever had my best interest in mind. He loves me. He wouldn’t hurt me in the ways Griff did.

He laughs, relaxing the slightest bit, but there’s still a prominent tension in his posture. His eyes hold a rare vulnerability. “Guess I should get used to that, huh?”

I nod, still crying.

The waitress returns with the check and napkins. “Ah, honey.” She rubs my back, tenderly smiling. “You need anything?”

“No, ma’am,” I tell her, wiping my nose. “Thank you.”

Jace pays for our meal and I’m surprised that I devoured most of my burger and fries. As Jace makes small talk with the waitress, I’m reminded of how sexy he is. Scruffy jaw, bright-green eyes, that white dress shirt unbuttoned enough I can see his collarbone and faint chest hair.

Okay, my sex drive has definitely returned.

Jace nods to the door. “You ready?”

I stand with him and his hand slides to my ass as we exit the diner, the warm night air assaulting us. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his side. His nose glides along my jaw, his warm breath on my neck. “We might not make it to Memphis before I—”

I twist and grab onto his shirt, cutting off his words as he watches me closely. “You read my mind.”

“We have forever,” he breathes into the shell of my ear. “I’ll hold your hand through it all, baby.”

PartFour

i will show her the flowers

and when she speaks of their beauty

i will point to the clouds—

everything grows from the things that fall and there

is nothing that the sun can’t heal.

FALLING

—Wilder

CHAPTER34