by Eden Proctor
“But it’s not more important than you. I can be there in thirty minutes,” Constance said.
“I’m good. Talk to you later, Constance,” Lexi said.
“Okay, Lex,” she said.
Lexi disconnected and almost gave in to the tears that threatened to overcome her. But she didn’t, and instead she squeezed her phone for a moment and then dropped it.
It had been two weeks since she’d talked to Eric, and it hadn’t gotten any easier. In fact, things had gotten harder.
Because as the days had passed, she’d had more time to notice how much Eric had filled her life. How a random text from him, watching a show together, or God, being in his bed, had become things that she relied on.
Loved.
Like she loved him.
Constance had been right. It had been arrogant and stupid of her to think that she wouldn’t fall for him.
But she couldn’t bring herself to regret what she had done. Because if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have known what it was like to have Eric, and she wouldn’t know what real love was.
She was hurting now, but she would heal. And maybe one day she and Eric really could be friends.
That would hurt, and either way, she knew that she would owe him forever, because he had taught her so much, and not just about sex, though it had been amazing. He had taught her that she deserved more, taught her to know what real love felt like.
A tear fell anyway, one half sadness, one half hope. She wiped it away and then pressed the power button to turn on her television.
It was almost time for their show.
She would probably end up crying all the way through it, but she needed to get back to normal, and this was the first step.
The commercials blathered on long and loud, but even through them, Lexi heard the knock at her door. She stood, smiling because she’d known she hadn’t convinced Constance. Her friend was probably there with wine and cookies because Constance really was the best.
She pulled open the door. “Constance, I told you I—”
She stopped abruptly and jumped when she looked at the person who stood in her hallway.
It wasn’t Constance.
It was Eric.
He wore a suit that looked a little more crumpled than usual, his face shadowed with stubble.
He was the most amazing thing she had ever seen.
“Eric. Surprised to see you here.”
“Our show comes on tonight,” he said.
He wouldn’t, would he? The thought that he would try to come here after what had happened and act like nothing had changed made her unspeakably furious.
“I’m sorry, I’m not up for visitors,” she said.
He stepped in anyway and closed the door behind him, and Lexi glared at him.
“Seriously, Eric. I’m not in the mood to talk,” she said.
He leaned against the door, looking heavy, weary.
“Can you listen then?” he said.
“I… Yes,” she finally settled on when she looked at him and saw something almost like anguish on his face.
“I shouldn’t have slept with you, Lexi,” he said.
She got angry again. “If you came to tell me how much you regret—”
He shook his head and then took two steps toward her, caught her face in his hands.
“I don’t regret it. I shouldn’t have done it, because I knew. I knew there was no way I could have you and keep my heart.”
“What?” she said, peering up at him.
“You know how I feel about love. You know I didn’t believe in it,” he said.
“Didn’t?” she asked.
“Didn’t. Then I met you. Somehow I knew it was over for me, but I tried to deny it. But then after I touched you, I couldn’t deny it.”
“What? What couldn’t you deny?” she said, her voice trembling. It was a miracle that she even managed to speak words. Her entire body was quivering with emotion.
“That I love you. With all my heart. I can’t let you go, Lex.”
“You… Love me?”
“I do. And I never want to let you go. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be what you want, what you need, but I can’t let you go, Lexi,” he said.
She stood, trying to absorb his words. Then, her words began tumbling out in a rush.
“I don’t need you to be anything. I don’t want anything but what you are. I love you too, Eric,” she said.
He looked at her for a moment, almost skeptical and then his face broke out into a smile.
“You do?”
“I do,” she said.
A moment later he pressed his lips against hers and kissed her.
Then he broke the kiss and stared down at her.
“I’m going to kiss you for the rest of our lives,” he whispered, his breath against her face.
“Is that all?” she asked.
“Not by a long shot,” he said.
Then, he kissed her again and peeled her clothes away.
She did the same as he moved her toward the bedroom.
They fell across the bed, Lexi under him, and she opened for him automatically.
Eric filled her in one stroke.
Lexi cried out, held onto Eric.
And as he pushed inside her, she opened her eyes, then leaned up and captured his lips with hers.
He kissed her, and then broke the kiss to stare out at her. “I love you, Lexi. Forever,” he said.
“I love you too, Eric,” she said.
He kissed her again, and then, together, they found their completion.
* * *
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