Chapter 32

Peyton

Lisa had told me all about how she and Nolan were falling for one other, and if I was entirely honest with myself, I was relieved. Relieved that the two were happy, and that Nolan had moved on. We were never right for each other, and I knew he saw that now. She had initially been worried about my reaction, even though she knew about Rocky, I think she felt it was a bit weird she was dating my ex. But I was so happy for the both of them. They deserved each other, and I thought they would make a great couple.

The door to the room opened and I could see Rocky and his son—both looked happy, and no one was bleeding, so I guessed that whatever talk they had, had gone okay.

Nolan sent me a smile and Lisa got up to join him, "Now you two need a talk, we'll be in the cafeteria," she said, as they both headed out.

When I shut the door and looked at Rocky, he had a smile on his face, too. I smiled back, a bit confused, and frankly nervous to pick our conversation back up.

Not gonna lie, I wasn't sure I didn't completely imagine what he'd said to me before those doors burst open and interrupted us.

"Hey," I said quietly, stopping a few paces away.

"Hey, back." His voice rumbled from his chest, calm and quiet and masculine, and the way he looked at me, the way he smiled softly and held my gaze… It made my heart fill with longing for him.

"So, um…" But he reached forward and grabbed my hand before I could continue, tugging me closer until my body was flush with his. He curled one arm tight around my waist, and the palm of his other hand traced up to cup my cheek.

"So, um," he said with a widening grin, repeating my words back at me, before leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. "Move the rest of your shit into my house tomorrow, yeah?"

I blinked, staring straight at the scruff of his chin. "Huh?"

"Or the day after, if you need to rest. I guess I can wait one more day."

"Rocky," I tried to push away, but his arm around my waist wouldn't budge, and I just ended up leaning back. "Have you hit your head? You have a concussion, and nobody noticed? Fucking great."

He snorted with amusement and tucked my hair behind my ear. "Shut the fuck up and say yes to moving in with me already."

I tried to glare at him, I really fucking did, but my treacherous lips tugged into a smile. "You didn't ask."

"I said yeah like this," He wiggled his finger like a conductor's stick in an upward tick. "Yeah? See, that's a question."

I burst out laughing. "Fuck off!"

"Move in." He tugged me closer, and slipped his fingers back into my hair. "Officially. Please."

My laughter died, and I bit my lip. "Rocky, can you see why I would be extremely fucking confused right now?"

His smile slipped, and he looked down with a small sigh.

"The last I heard from you, over and over in fact, was that we couldn't be a thing. You went from not wanting me, to suddenly—"

"I always wanted you, Peyton," he interrupted firmly, his hazel eyes serious when they reconnected with mine. "A little fucking too much. That was my problem."

"But Nolan—"

"Is a big boy," he finished for me, "and he'll be fine. You once said it didn't have to be a choice between you or him, and you were right. It was never a choice. I never had a choice. You made your mark on my heart the moment you barged into my life, with your big red hair and your spitfire temper. I fell for you so hard and so fast, I couldn't even see it."

My heart stuttered in my chest, and I felt tears burn the back of my eyes as I stared up at him. "Are you sure?" I whispered.

Because I couldn't quite believe it, that anyone would say words so beautiful to me, about me. Let alone this big, perfect hunk of a man who'd put his own happiness and safety second for the ones he cared for. I wasn't sure I was even worthy of words like that.

"You're beautiful, Peyton," he said earnestly. "Body and mind, heart, and soul. I've never loved any woman the way I love you. I was just too fucking stupid to realize it."

"Rocky, I…" I tried to put to words all the emotions that were bubbling up within me, but I was struggling to breathe past the burning in my throat. "Nobody's ever—"

His brows furrowed, and he leaned down. "Fuck everyone who isn't you or me, right now," he growled. "I love you. Move in with me. Say yes, make me the happiest man in the fucking world and let me look after you and our baby. Please, Peyton. I've never begged for a woman, but I'm begging now. If any part of you still wants me after the shit I've put you through… Please."

"I do still want you," I said, my voice shaky, and I found I had to hold tight against his vest just to feel grounded. "And I… I forgive you."

His grin was so wide and so brilliant, I couldn't help but smile back, even as my tears finally spilled over and down my cheeks.

"I didn't apologize yet."

I rolled my eyes and slapped his chest. "You're such a jerk."

The next thing I knew, his lips were crushed against me, his tongue slicking against mine in a claiming, brutal dance so full of passion and love, all I could do was melt into it. When he finally pulled back, my eyes took a few seconds before they would open, and he stroked my cheek.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he whispered. "I was careless with your heart, and I hurt you. I promise you now, that will never happen again. Not for as long as I live."

"I love you, Rocky." My voice wavered with emotion. "I love you so much, it scares me. But…"

"No buts. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter."

"But, Rocky." I leaned back just enough to look at him clearly, so he could see how serious I was. "I have no life at all at the moment. No job. No real home. Barely any belongings. I'm probably in debt by now after all this time with no income and rent still to catch up on and I'm pregnant. I just… What do I have to bring to this relationship?"

"You." He gave me another fierce, brief kiss. "You are enough, Peyton. All I need is you. All I want is you." And then he pressed a softer kiss to my forehead so gentle, that more tears slipped down my cheeks. "You need to find a job and get back on your feet? Okay. You can do that with me. I love you, and I want you to have every fucking thing in this world that you want because you deserve it. All I want is to be there at your side as you discover your future. Our future and the future for our child. That's all."

Against my will a pathetic little hiccup escaped me, and I buried my face in his neck to hide my stupid tears. But he didn't seem to be judging me. Both his arms wrapped around me tight, and I felt his lips press to the crown of my head.

"Ready to go home?" he asked, and I squeezed my arms around his waist.

"Absolutely."

I'd lived in plenty of places in my life, but only one place I'd ever truly called home. That was Aunt Myra's house, and I'd always been so grateful to have that memory in my heart.

But now I had hope, a tender, blossoming feeling blooming in my chest, telling me I could have that again and more. I had the man I loved, a family of my own, and I had a new home.

Right by Rocky's side.