Page 117 of Perfect Assumption

“Because I’ve never felt anything close to the way I do about you. You are all the best parts of everything I didn’t know to wish for, Angel. And I’d be proud to introduce you to them.”

Her eyes soften. Brushing her lips against the stubble against my chin, “I’d like to think both of our families can see us, Ward.”

My lips curve. “Well, maybe not when I do this.” I bend at the knees and swoop her into my arms.

“Ward!” Angie screeches, pounding on my shoulder. “What about my tour? Don’t you want to check on the repairs?”

“Neither is going anywhere,” I assure her.

But my heart is. It just soared somewhere stratospheric due to the look in her eyes.

And I really don’t want it to come back down.

* * *

“There’ssomething profound about the moment your woman steps foot for the first time in your space and sees a side of you that you’re both proud and ashamed of,” I admit.

Angie’s propped next to me, lying on a pillow as I trail my fingers up and down her spine along the silky smooth skin of her back. Her brow furrows. “I still don’t get the shame. From what I got to see of it, it’s a lovely home—for a family of six.”

We both crack up. “That’s what I’m talking about. I had no need for a place this size. It’s ridiculously ostentatious,” I explain.

She shrugs. “So, sell it. Get something smaller that makes you happier.”

I roll to my side so I’m fully facing her. “I know I should, but…”

“But what?”

“This is going to sound stupid,” I mutter.

“Ward,” she warns.

“I feel like my dad’s making me do penance here. Like he’s saying, ‘Well, son. You bought it. Now you live in it.’”

“You’re right. That is stupid.”

“Thanks for the moral support there, love.” I flop over to my back to stare up at my eleven-foot ceiling.

She crawls over to sprawl across my chest. “Ward, your parentslovedyou. If you made a mistake, was there a time while they were alive they didn’t forgive you?”

I blink slowly as I feel like everything inside of me I’ve held as a guiding force for the last thirteen years begins to shift before the armor falls away. “Do you really believe that?”

Her eyes cloud with tears. “Oh, Ward. How would they not? Love doesn’t end because of death. All it’s doing is taking a break for a little while. At least that’s what Grandma used to say.”

I swallow over and over to keep the burning moisture trapped. But it’s no use. A path of salty liquid falls down my cheeks. “They would have loved you—just as much as I do.”

Angie doesn’t respond. Then again, she doesn’t need to. She just lays her head across the place that’s uniquely hers.

My heart.

And like that, we fall asleep not knowing that our love is about to be shaken in ways we never could have imagined.

* * *

My phone starts buzzing first.Almost immediately after, Angie’s starts pinging. I groan, “It’s a Saturday and it’s way too early. I officially declare this as a no-work zone.” I throw my arm over my eyes even as our phones dance on our respective nightstands.

Angie’s rolling away from me despite my best attempts to catch her. Reaching for her cell, she unlocks it to accept a call from Sula. “Too early,” she yawns.

“Get to a TV now, babe.” Sula’s voice, which I’ve heard be dramatic and outlandish, is inordinately quiet.