Page 26 of The Last Love Story (Baker Girls #3)
Despite how cranky I was earlier, the afternoon recording really turned things around.
It also got my creative juices flowing, and after a bath, I sat down and typed a bit with my left hand.
It was arduous and didn’t last long because I didn’t want to cause issues with my left hand too, but it was something .
Justin went to shower after I took a bath, but the shower’s been off for a bit now, and I’m not sure where he is. Knowing him, he’s stealing more books off my computer. Not that I’m complaining. It was incredibly sweet and a lot of fun.
I still feel like I’m taking more than I’m giving in this relationship, but that’s just me.
“Well, I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Justin’s sharp voice rings out as he walks down the hall.
I’ve only ever heard that tone in his voice one other time. When that creep touched my ass in the bar the night we met.
He goes into the kitchen, body laced with tension, as I watch from the couch, unsure what I should do.
“This is exactly why I didn’t feel at home there anymore. I don’t—no. Frankly, I don’t care what you think. My life is my own. Feel free to respect that or get out of it.”
He slams his phone down on the counter, and I scramble off the couch and into the kitchen. He’s facing away from me, hand in his hair, so I walk over and rub my hand down his back.
He jumps at the touch, but then relaxes into it and slowly spins around. “Sorry.”
“For what?” I ask.
He waves toward his phone. “My parents… they just—” He growls. “I’m pissed, but you don’t need that.”
“Excuse me?” I press my fingers into his cheek, turning his head so I can meet his eyes.
“You can be here for me and help me and put up with my shitty attitude, but the second you’re a little upset, you apologize to me?
Try again. Feel whatever feelings you need to.
Better yet, let them out. Talk to me. You said this is what you signed up for, well, newsflash, you didn’t coerce me into it.
I signed up for it too. Let me help you. ”
His emotion-drenched eyes lock on mine, and slowly, he nods.
Taking his hand, I lead him over to the couch.
Once he’s sitting down, I curl up next to him.
“So, this is one of the getting to know you things we skipped over, but I think it’s important that we talk about it now. All you’ve really said is that you’re not close with your parents, and it would be toxic if you tried to be.”
He looks at me with soft eyes, then wraps his arm around me.
“When I left home for college in Chicago—where I met Devon and Kennedy—my parents made it a point to tell me over and over that I chose to leave our family behind. That was never my intention, but as idyllic and peaceful as our little town seemed, it was also small. I wanted to see the world. For some reason, my parents hated that.”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
“I understand why a bit more now. Because when I came home, searching for that same feeling of cozy small-town peace, it was harder to find because I saw the world differently. Maybe it wasn’t my town as a whole, but there are a subset of people there who are close-minded and downright hateful at times.
Unfortunately, my parents are a part of that. ”
“Were they always that way? ”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. To some degree, at least. From a distance, my relationship with my parents seemed fine.
They were always invested in local politics and involved with the church.
Though sometimes Mom was a little too involved with everyone else’s lives, I didn’t think much of it.
But when I got home, I saw a different side of them. ”
He sighs heavily.
“I made an effort to spend time with them, usually with a weekly dinner, but most of them were spent with my mom gossiping about someone in the church. Usually someone who needed love and support, not judgment. Dad wasn’t any better, mostly talking down about some group of people or another.
My mom was trying to control my life because she didn’t agree with most of my choices, and my dad was disgusted that I love romance and narrate romance.
He kept flipping between asking if I was gay or suggesting I have a porn addiction. ”
My brows shoot up. That’s horrible. And the absolute worst bullshit stereotype about the genre and people who enjoy it.
“Seeing them be so damn hateful ripped that feeling of home away. I grew to resent them for the way they treated people. The way they treated me. I went to say goodbye to them before the signing, since I knew I might not come back after, and there was an anti-trans sign in their yard. I drove around the block three times before I finally forced myself to park and go in, disgusted by that sign. And when I said something, all I got was a guilt trip about how the city changed me which led to a guilt trip about me leaving again. That phone call tonight was more of the same. When I see the relationship you have with your dad or Devon has with his parents—hell, the relationship I have with his parents—it kills me that I couldn’t have the same thing. ”
Leaning up, I kiss his cheek.
“Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry you have to deal with them because you deserve so much better. Just know if you ever want or need to go back there, I’ll be right by your side.”
He shakes his head .
“That’s the last thing I want. I don’t want to deal with them, and I have no desire for you to meet them because I’m not proud of them. And frankly, I’m worried they’ll be unkind to you. The last thing I ever want to do is put you in a situation to be hurt by anyone.”
My heart aches at his words, but for the first time, I understand what he’s getting out of this. He might not be able to put it into words, but this is what he’s been searching for. What he’s wanted. Support. A family. A home.
I’ll happily give him all of that.
“You’re not alone,” I whisper. “You have a beautiful friend group. They love you like a family should. But you also have me. I’m your family now too. And so is my dad. If you want that type of relationship with him, he’ll give it to you without a second thought.”
He tucks some hair behind my ear, looking at me reverently. “You have a beautiful heart, and you’re way too good for me.”
I stare up at him. “And I’ve spent the last week thinking you’re giving me more than I’m giving you. We’ve both been wrong.”
His eyes meet mine for another beat, then he softly nods, running his fingers up and down my arm.
I snuggle close and hand him the remote. “It’s Mandalorian time. I need to know what happens next, and you need to impress me with more random details.”
Some of the sadness washes away. “I’d be happy to.”
When our shows are done for the night, Justin turns off the TV and reaches for the pillows, to start making our bed, but I grab his hand.
“Actually, I was thinking I’d like to sleep in my room tonight. ”
His brows go up, then a touch of sadness ghosts his eyes.
I clear my throat and force myself to be a little vulnerable. He was so open with me earlier. If he says no, I’m strong enough to handle it.
“Um, would you sleep in there with me?”
His eyes lock on mine.
“Just in case I need… anything,” I whisper.
And just like that, the sadness is gone, and his eyes are bright again.
“If that’s where you want me, darlin’, that’s where I’ll be.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Okay. Good.”
While I get ready in the bathroom, Justin heads to my room, and when I walk in, I find the bed all set up with pillows to rest my arm on.
“I know you said your stuff is in the other bedside table, but I figured it was better to have your arm on the outside of the bed rather than the inside.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.”
He goes to get ready while I get settled in bed, and when he returns, he crawls into bed carefully, leaving space between us that feels cold and wrong.
Reaching over, I run my hand down his arm.
“You don’t have to be all stiff or keep space between us. No nuns are going to jump out of my closet and hit you with a ruler. We’ve been cuddled up on the couch all week. I can handle a little more.” I mash my lips together. “If you want.”
He gazes at me for a moment, then smiles softly and wraps an arm around me.
He doesn’t say anything, but I know what he’s thinking because it’s running through my mind too.
I could get used to this.