by Bella Court
"Remember how you told me that you thought you loved me? And that you weren't sure what love really was and maybe you'd never felt it, but what we had was the closest thing to it? And that you didn't want me to tell you I loved you until I could back it up with my actions?"
"Yeah."
"I love you. And if I don't, well, this is the closest thing to it that I've ever gotten."
It was all too much for her to process at the moment, but she was getting the gist of what he was saying. She wasn't sure how she felt. Angry that he had made her wait for so long mired in her own misery. Happy that he had finally grown as a man and gotten his act together. Overwhelmed that he was finally saying the words she had been yearning to hear all her life.
"You're not getting me back that easily. Do you know how miserable I've been these past few months?" she demanded, as his other hand snaked around her waist.
"As miserable as I've been?" he guessed, pulling her closer, while she pulled away.
"Worse. I thought you had given up on me. I thought you decided I wasn't worth it.” She leaned back, as he moved forward.
"I would never."
"I gained ten pounds eating junk food–”
"You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"I cried myself to sleep–”
"It's not going to ever happen again."
"You're going to have to work to get my trust back."
"Did I ever really have it in the first place?" he deadpanned, pulling her to him so that she was flush against him, the moistness on his bare chest soaking through her large t-shirt.
"Kind of,” she said breathlessly, her body moulding to the hard planes of his chest.
"See? You never really opened up yourself to me either. I had to pry it out of you."
"I'll work on that, but the point is, so what if you dissolved your old company, you're still going to put me second to your new one," Kristen argued, his hands still firm on her waist, as she rocked away from him.
"I've learned my lesson that my job isn't everything. I'm putting the people that matter in my life first from now on."
"Does that include me?" By this time, she was lying on her back on her couch, and Connor was hovering over her, his lips just inches from her own.
"You're at the top of the list." He brushed his lips against hers, soft and rough, a contradiction that made her shiver.
"I'm sorry for being an asshole, Kristen. I'm sorry for making you cry, I'm sorry for taking so long to let you know how much I care for you, and a million other things that I've done and will do in the future,” he said his words against the skin of her neck, kissing and caressing her delicate collar bones.
She reached up and gave his lips a quick kiss before saying, "I'm sorry about the way we met, about being a bitch to you, about shutting you out time and time again, and I'm sorry for probably being a bitch later on in the future, as well."
Then, she gave him the brightest smile that showed all of her happiness. "I can't believe you gave up your company for me…kinda."
"Me neither."
"I'm worth it,” Kristen said smugly, a cheeky smile playing on her lips, her legs wrapping around Connor's waist.
"We're worth it," he corrected, before his lips finally met hers.
Kristen knew the price of holding onto pain for too long. The day she had finally let go, she was able to open up her heart to Connor. Connor–who would bring her happiness, and a hopeful future.
And lots of great sex, of course.