Page 34

“That I’m not good enough for him... you’ve all seen him, he’s phenomenal.

Even you admitted how perfect Silas is, Em.

Doesn’t he deserve to be with someone as amazing as him?

What if him settling with me is just a step back from something better?

They said it themselves, and they’re right, I’m emotional baggage.

” I scrunch my nose and sniff as my emotions slowly take over.

“Jesus, I cried when I met his parents! If that isn’t a big enough clue that I don’t have all my shit together, then I don’t know what is.

Silas doesn’t deserve that in his life. He should be with someone who’s all put together, who’s in control of their life, and isn’t afraid of everything.

Someone who doesn’t let stupid shit like that fucking article ruin everything.

” My lips wobble as I let out my insecurities.

A lone tear rolls down my cheek while I try desperately to keep the others in.

“That’s bullshit, babe, and you know it. That man is crazy about you, and there’s no one on this planet better fitted for him than you!” Em says, annoyed with me. I get it, she’s angry that I would think so low of myself. I’m angry with myself, too.

Morgan squeezes my hand, making me turn to her. “Sweetie, she’s right. You are the best thing for Silas, I don’t doubt that for a second, and he knows it very well, too. Do you know why I came today?”

“Because Emma called you?” I say, confused by her question.

She smiles in response. “No, I came because Silas called me this morning. He was worried about how the article would affect you, and he knew you would eventually read it even though he told you not to. He hated the thought of you being alone after that but knew he couldn’t get out of his meetings with the sponsors today.

So he asked me to come spend the evening with you until he got home.

And given I bumped into Em on the way in, I’d guess he did the same with her, too.

” The look she gives me is filled with love.

“You see, Silas cares about you so deeply that his focus is only on you all the time, even for the little things. I get it, I really do. The first time I was mentioned in an article when Clay and I got together, it wasn’t pretty.

It nearly broke us because I couldn’t handle the pressure and all the nasty things that were being said about me.

” Morgan offers me a reassuring smile before continuing.

“Besides, at least your article was pretty innocent, mine was humiliating with all the things they dug up. They even mentioned the time I cheated on a math exam in high school! Who even needs to know that?” She giggles and sighs.

“You cheated on an exam!?” Emma yells, appalled with the information Morg just delivered.

“Yes, okay? I’m not the perfect little angel everyone sets me out to be.

” She shakes her head. “Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

You and Silas were made for each other. Everyone who has seen you two together knows it.

Even Mira brags nonstop about how wonderful her future daughter-in-law is. ”

Her last words make a smile bloom on my lips.

Mira, Silas’s mom, is truly amazing. Ever since I met her a month ago, we talk almost daily.

And we all get together at least once a week when Silas’s schedule permits it.

She even texted me this morning, telling me people were stupid and that she didn’t want anyone else for her boy but me.

It warmed my heart that she would reach out about that, but apparently it still wasn’t enough to convince me.

Even with Morgan and Emma’s words, it’s still hard to truly believe it.

Only one person can make that happen, make my mind and heart reconnect.

And he just stepped out of the elevator with Clay.

Silas enters the room, and his face falls the moment he sees me. He knows me, he knows I’m not handling this well. But with all the prying eyes, even if they’re our friends, I don’t want to have this talk with him right now. I get up from my spot on the floor and make my way to him.

“Oh, baby. I told you not to read it.” His hands wrap around my shoulders, nuzzling my face into his chest.

I clutch onto the front of his big sweater. “I’m okay, really. Everything is fine, we don’t need to talk about it right now. Let’s just enjoy our time with our friends while they’re here.” I beam up at him when he gives me a little wiggle room and hope my lies don’t show through.

I should’ve known better. Silas takes one look at my face, eyes roaming over every corner, then looks up behind me. Probably getting confirmation from the girls that I’m not, in fact, okay.

One second, my feet are touching the ground, and in the next, I’m hoisted into the air and thrown over my man’s shoulder. Oh, God! I’m not wearing any pants! I shriek and grab his back. “What the hell, Silas!?”

“Dude! seriously? I can see her ass!” That’s Clay. I can only imagine he’s either shaking his head or covering his eyes. Maybe both. Morgan and Emma are giggling beside him.

“Well, at least now you know what a great ass my girl has,” Silas says with a chuckle that I feel vibrate through his body.

“He doesn’t need to know anything about my ass!” I yell as I try to wiggle out of Silas’s hold.

He lifts his shoulder in one quick move, repositioning me, and slaps my ass hard. “Stop moving if you don’t want me to drop you. Now if you’ll all excuse me, I need to have a word with my girl. Shouldn’t take long. ”

“Take all the time you need, we’ll be here,” Emma calls out playfully.

He begins walking toward the staircase. My hair hangs down and falls in my face as I try to blow it away while fisting the back of his sweater. “Put me down, you neanderthal!” I bang against his rock hard back.

He takes the steps two at a time on his way up. “No, Cecilia. We’re talking about this,” he says as we make it to the top and head for the master suite.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now, Silas! Just put me down.” I’m getting aggravated.

He always needs to have his way, whether I like it or not. He opens the door to the room and walks over to the side of the bed, finally letting my feet touch the ground.

“Well, I said we are! So, you’re going to sit that pretty little ass of yours down and listen to what I have to say.” He crosses his arms over his chest and widens his stance, showing he won’t be backing down from this.

I shoot daggers at him with my eyes, then huff out before dropping my pretty little ass, as he called it, to the bed and cross my arms over my chest. I may have to sit here, but I don’t have to be happy about it.

Once he’s happy with my cooperation, he lowers himself to a squatting position and places his hands on my knees.

When I refuse to look into his eyes, afraid he’ll see all the emotions swirling through my mind, he grabs my chin tenderly and raises my head so that I have nowhere else to look but into his beautiful vibrant green eyes.

With a warm smile, he pours his heart out to me.

“I don’t care what people say, I don’t care what the media thinks they know.

All I care about is you , all I want is you .

I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night and wake up to your beautiful, stubborn head lying on my chest every morning.

I want to be the one you call when you’re having a bad day and hold you when you cry during sappy movies.

” He smiles tenderly when a wet giggle falls from my lips.

“I want to laugh with you in the shower when you get soap in my eye, and dance with you in the kitchen when no music’s playing. I want to argue with you about stupid stuff. And I even want to be with you when you don’t want to be around me.”

He releases my chin, wiping away my tears that have started falling. The lump in my throat is so big it’s impossible to speak. Somehow, he always knows exactly what to say. Always knows what I need when I need it.

“But right now, what I want most, Minnie, is for you to talk to me when something’s bothering you.

Because that’s what couples do when they love each other.

They communicate when there’s a problem.

And I know those comments made you feel like you aren’t enough, but that’s so far from the truth.

And if I have to remind you every day for the rest of our lives, I will.

Because you are, Minnie. You’re more than enough. ”

I sob quietly at his words. This man, I can’t with him. He’s everything I didn’t know I needed, and I never want to let go. He rises and picks me up into his arms, then sits down on the bed and repositions us so that I’m straddling his thighs.

“You love me?” I say, looking at his handsome face.

“Yes, Cecilia. I love you.” He kisses my lips lovingly, then hugs me to him. “Although, I’m a little upset that’s all you took from my speech.” He laughs against my hair.

“It’s not.”

“Good.” He sighs, and we both relax in each other’s hold.

“Silas?”

“Yeah, Minnie?”

I pull back from him, wanting him to see how much I mean what I’m about to say. I cup his cheek and smile as words I had never spoken fall from my lips. “I love you, too.” I feel my heart grow, beating louder. Beating only for Silas.

A breathtaking smile splits his face. His hand comes to my hair as he brings me in and makes love to my mouth with his own. Unspoken promises of loving each other forever floating around us.