Page 88 of Make Me Bleed

When they finally end their embrace, all eyes turn to me, and I feel exposed.

“Abel…” Elise chokes out, and I lose it. Tears fill my eyes, and I rush forward and wrap my arms around her. She welcomes me easily, and I fall into her hug like I was always meant to.

“Hey, doc,” I sniffle against her, and she chuckles.

“Oh, how I’ve missed you!” she sing-songs and squeezes me so tightly, I can barely breathe, but that’s okay. I don’t mind.

“I’ve missed you,” I croak. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to tell you how much or what to do to?—”

“Abel, hush. There’s nothing you need to do or say. It’s okay. We’re here now, and that’s all that matters.” She runs her fingers through my still slightly damp hair as she hushes my hysterics. And it feels good. To be held by her. By a mom. By someone who cares like a mom.

I never had that before her, and I’ll never have another.

When we finally pull apart, I realize that the boys have left us alone in the kitchen, which I’m grateful for. I pull out a chair and take a seat. Elise gives me a small smile and follows suit. I clasp my hands in front of me and drop my head, unable to meet her eyes.

“I don’t know how to thank you for everything, but mostly, I don’t know how to apologize to you.”

“Abel—”

“No, please let me say this.”

“All right,” she concedes with a smile, and I nod, grateful.

“I didn’t have a choice. I know it seems like I did and that I made the wrong one, and maybe now, with hindsight being twenty-twenty and all that, but back then, it was the only choice I had, and I can’t regret it. It brought me to where I’m at now, and I love where I am.”

Elise nods, a small, painful smile gracing her face. It’s hard to see—the way stress has aged her in the last two years. I really hope it hasn’t been because of me.

“It was a really hard and confusing time for the both of us, but I understand. Right now, I’m just glad you’re okay. And that you’re here now.” She reaches across the table for my hand, and I give it to her.

With a small smile, I say, “Me, too.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I ask, brows drawn together.

“Coming back to him. He was lost without you.” My heart stutters hearing those words, and for a moment, I can’t really breathe.

“I was, too,” I croak.

Her eyes crinkle at the corners, and she tucks a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. “Good.”

“Are you talking about me?” Peris says as he stomps into the kitchen, Gabe on his heels.

“Nope.” I pop thep.“You wish, though.”

“I’m fucking starving,” Gabe says, following closely behind Peris as he opens the oven, and I snort. “It smells so good. Is it done?”

“Get off myass,” Peris snaps at Gabe, who retreats back a few steps. “Yes, it’s done.”

“Fuck yes!”

“Jesus!” Peris shouts as the ham wobbles in his hands. “Do youmind?!”

“Sorry!”

I look over at Elise, who’s already grinning back at me. “Boys,” I say, shaking my head. She snorts and tries to cover it with her hand, but Peris catches it right after he drops the pan on the stove top.

“What was that, runt?”