“You will?”
“I will.” Her lips brush lightly across mine. “We all make mistakes, Ronan. It’s how we handle them that’s the important part.”
My hand comes to her cheek. Her skin is soft. Satiny. I trace my thumb along the delicate line of her cheekbone. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“I know.” Her expression softens. “I care about you, too. A lot. And even when I was mad at you, I still hoped…”
“Hoped what?”
“That we could work things out.”
“We will.” Hoping it’s not too soon, I cover her lips with mine. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Angel stares at me for a moment before replying, “Just be honest with me.” Then she strokes my jaw. “I’m sorry, Ronan. For what happened to you. I’m just… really sorry.”
I hug her to me as hope sparks anew. “It’s okay. I’m just happy to be here with you.”
She regards me for a moment before climbing onto my lap and hugging me back. “Despite everything else,” she says close to my ear, “I’m happy to be here with you, too.”
CHAPTER 14
ANGEL
There’snothing to worry about.
Ronan said it. So did Enzo. Even Sage reassured me, promising to make sure the school resource officer stayed at the elementary school all day, just to be safe.
Logically, I know Haley’s fine. With all the security Ronan and his team arranged for her, she’s probably safer at school than anywhere else. And it’s better for her, really, to keep to her regular routine, rather than have her bouncing around Ronan’s house, peppering me with questions I can’t answer.
Questions like when the alleged leak in the basement will be fixed. When we’ll be able to go home. Why I’m not going to work today, like I usually do. If we’re staying at Ronan’s for good, just like her friend, Cala, did when she and her mom moved in with her mom’s boyfriend.
Plus, the Christmas performance is coming up—a modernized version ofA Christmas Carolbut with cute animals instead of ghosts—and Haley has one of the starring roles.Rehearsals are right after school, and according to Haley, they’reveryimportant.
Of course the drama club advisor would understand if I explained why Haley couldn’t go. But Haley’s just so excited about it, and I don’t want to ruin it for her.
Besides, Ronan promised she’d be safe.
And despite what happened the other night at the Winter Wonderland Walk, I still trust him. Now that I know what happened in his past, it makes sense why he reacted the way he did.
Does that make it okay? No.
Will I forgive him as readily if he does it again? Absolutely not.
I could be wrong. I could forgive Ronan and it could all blow up in my face, hurting Haley in the process. He could get jealous again. He could lie.
But when I think about how he opened up and told me about something that hurt him deeply, how sincere he was in his apology, how earnest he was when he asked for another chance… My heart tells me he won’t do it again.
I’m still going to be cautious because I have Haley to think about. If it were just me, that would be different. A betrayal might hurt, but I could handle it. But Haley’s already been deserted by one man. I don’t want it to happen again.
Except, do I really think Ronan would do that? When he’s done so much for Haley already? When I see the affection in his eyes whenever he looks at her? The pride when she accomplishes something? And he’s just sogoodwith her. He never gets annoyed by her silly jokes and non-stop chatter. When she has an idea, whether it’s building mini Mount Nilsson or having a marathon board game playing session, he’s all in. And I don’t think it’s because he’s trying to impress me. I think he truly enjoys spending time with her.
But that would make sense, wouldn’t it? I didn’t realize until I heard Ronan’s story that he actuallywantedkids. That he thought he was going to be a father and was thrilled about it. That he was heartbroken when it was taken away from him.
God. How terrible must that have been?
Just as it has every time I think about it, a lump comes to my throat.
The woman he married. Trusted. Cared deeply for. And she told him one of the worst lies I can think of. Not just that, but she told him he wasn’t enough.Ronan. One of the bravest and most generous men I’ve ever met. And she saidhewasn’t enough forher.