“Why are you denying your feelings for me?” Alec asked, cocking his head to the side. “Are you still that damn stubborn that you can’t just tell me you love me even though we both know it’s true?”
“You are so freaking arrogant, Alec Sinclair,” Noah growled before she could stop herself. “Why do you think I’m in love with you?” She could feel her frustration with him bubble to the surface, the fact that he wasn’t taking her feelings seriously. “What possibly gave you that impression?”
“Well, besides the fact that I am a pretty awesome guy,” he said, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before dropping his gaze to her, “I’m a good hockey player.” He stuck up a finger. “I’m fun to be around.” He stuck up another. “I’m good in the sack.” He grinned, as though he just made a joke and thought it was funny. “And I’d make a good boyfriend.”
“Do you even know how to be a boyfriend?” Noah asked, though her lips were doing the strangest thing by curling up just slightly. How she could possibly want to smile after everything, she had no idea, but here she was, the beginnings of one starting and staying on her face.
“I know how to be your boyfriend,” he said.
Noah closed her eyes and shook her head. As much as she didn’t want it to, her smile only widened. Her cheeks pinched – not because of any bruises or injuries – though when Aaron backhanded her, she knew that that would bruise – but because she was happy. Because she was smiling. To feel that after everything that had happened… it was nothing short of a miracle.
“You’re something else, Alec Sinclair,” she murmured, slowly opening her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
“Be mine,” he murmured. Without warning, he pulled her into his arms so he could rest his forehead on hers. He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and sighed in contentment. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you’ll be my girl.”
“I thought that was the worst thing that could happen to you,” she pointed out. “That you would tie yourself to the same girl every night. I distinctly remember you saying that back in high school.”
He opened his mouth to retort something. After a moment, he shut it instead. He cocked his head to the side and waited.
Noah let out a breath. There was a lot she had to atone for. She needed to fix Alec’s injuries. She needed to clean this house and pay for any damaged property. She had to say sorry to everyone Aaron hurt on her behalf, as a way to get to Noah – her mother being the most important person to start with.
But most importantly, Noah had to say sorry to herself. She had to forgive herself for staying with Aaron, for letting him control her life. She didn’t know any better, but now she did. And the first step towards forgiving herself was realizing she was worthy of love from a man who would never hurt her.
“I love you, Alec Sinclair,” she said, forcing herself to make eye contact so he would know she was serious.
He smiled – one of those beautiful smiles that lit up his entire face – and pulled her in for a kiss.
There was a lot she had to do to heal from the trauma and the pain she suffered, but already, she could feel the warm rays of hope encompass her. Noah knew she’d be okay on her own, but being with Alec would make everything that much better. And she deserved a better life.
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Acknowledgments
My family
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My friends
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Sarah Paige - for the amazing cover
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Theresa Schultz for your amazing edits!
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And last but not least, my readers
Rookies Say It Better: Book 2 in The Minor League Mayhem Series Page 13