One Last Time(86)

“It took you three days. Three days that we knew it wasn’t me, but you didn’t even text me. Nothing until now? Why? What changed that made you decide I am worth fighting for?” I find myself inching closer to him.

His hand lifts, brushing against my cheek, leaving a burning streak in its wake. My lungs ache as he stares down at me. Noah has always taken my breath away, but right now, I feel as though I’m frozen. If I move just the slightest bit, I could crack.

“I didn’t know until about fourteen hours ago, and I was on a plane within an hour. So, I didn’t know.” Noah’s nose brushes against mine, and I breathe him in. “You’re worth everything. I’m a fool who doesn’t deserve a second chance, but I’m begging for one. Just this once, forgive me, and I’ll never hurt you again.”

I close my eyes, and a tear leaks out. Resisting Noah has never been something I’ve done. From the day I met him, he’s had a hold on me, and I don’t think I ever really had a choice in falling for him.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I murmur while moving my hands to his chest. “Just promise you won’t walk away.”

Noah’s hands cup my cheeks. “I promise. I don’t think I could survive it.”

Our eyes meet, and I see the regret he feels. “I know I can’t.”

“Forgive me,” he pleads. “Forgive me for being so stupid.”

“I did the second I saw you.”

It’s the truth. The instant our eyes met, my forgiveness was his. Noah is the man I love. He’s the one I want beside me, and even if he left, he came back, and I can’t endure the thought of giving up on a second chance.

Noah pulls me to him as his lips move closer. My fingers slide up his chest and around to the back of his neck. I hold on as our mouths find each other. He kisses me like a dying man who found a cure to save him. For the first time in three days, I’m able to breathe without pain in my chest. His tongue slides against mine, and I could cry.

Our lips break, and he presses his head to mine. “I didn’t know if I’d ever get to kiss you again,” he admits. “I would’ve never stopped trying to win you back.”

I wrap my arms around his waist, rest my head on his chest, and melt into his embrace. “You wouldn’t have had a hard fight.”

He rubs his fingers against my spine. “I love you, Kristin.”

“I love you,” I say, lifting my head to look into his eyes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

It still stings, and we still don’t know who did this, but he came back.

“I can’t fully blame you. If I didn’t know with absolute certainty I didn’t do it, I would have a hard time. This person went to a lot of trouble to make it look like I wrote that article.”

Noah brings his lips to mine several times before releasing me. “Do you know who did this yet?”

“No. The only proof we have is that it wasn’t any of my devices. There are still a lot of unanswered questions swirling around. Who else knows? How did they find out? And how did they know to use my information because I can’t tell if it was to destroy me or you? But Jackson is on his way with those answers, I hope,” I tell him.

This person is deeply entwined in both of our lives. There are names I refuse to entertain because I can’t fathom they would do something like this, but Noah and I don’t know a lot of mutual people.

“What did you tell the kids?” he asks.

“They’ve been with their father while I tried to pick up the pieces.”

Noah rubs his thumb against the top of my hand. “I’ll fix what I broke. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make you feel safe with me. You will never have to question how I feel, sweetheart. I love you with every piece of me, and I won’t doubt you.”

Catherine clears her throat as she opens the door. “You guys okay?”

Such a loaded question. But when I look in Noah’s eyes, I don’t have to think too hard. He’s here. He loves me. And he believes me.

I look back at her with a smile and then nod. “I think we’re going to be just fine.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Cat grins.

The door opens the rest of the way, revealing Jackson is standing right behind her. They both come inside, and Jackson doesn’t waste a second before asking, “Are you sure you want to know all of this?”

I look to Noah and then back to Jackson. “Not a doubt in my mind.”





Chapter Thirty-Five





Kristin





I’m physically shaking.

My hands are trembling so bad that Noah has to drive. Nothing should surprise me anymore, but this seems insane.

We sit outside the address, staring at the red door belonging to the person who Jackson claims his people traced the sender to.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“What choice do I have?” I ask, turning to look at Noah.

His eyes find mine, and he gives a sad smile. “We can move on. We can know what we know and be happy together. None of it changes how I feel about you.” He takes my hand.

I appreciate that he feels that way. God knows I was in no way prepared for the information Jackson gave me. It still doesn’t make sense. How did Scott even find out any of this? I’ve never breathed a word of Noah’s past. I thought the person behind everything was on Noah’s side, not mine.