CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

TWO WEEKS LATER

 

When my mum told me her plan, I happily went along with it. More so to get her off my back, knowing she wasn’t going to drop it until I gave in.

It was supposed to be simple.

All I had to do was call Drake, explain, say I’m sorry and that I’m madly in love with him.

So I promised her I’d do it tomorrow.

And we know how well they turn out for me.

I got my phone out of my bag, all geared up to call him. But the minute I pressed my finger over the button to switch it on…

I dropped my phone back into my bag like it was on fire.

And then promised myself tomorrow.

Days went by, and before I knew it, a week did. Then another.

I’ve resigned myself to doing nothing. It’s pointless and too late to do anything.

I’m hopeless when it comes to love.

Even my dreams are screaming at me, reminding me of what a failure I’ve become. A little girl, one I’ve dreamt about for a while now, haunts me. She comes to me each night, crying and breaking my heart all over again. I’ve never met her, but my feelings for her, even when I wake up, are fervid. It’s scary how much I care for her.

Everyone’s been by every day to check in on me. I’ve worked from home most days, but others, I’ve left Alison and Catherine to deal with it.

I tried escaping to the cabin my family uses for the rangers, but with my brother and my pestering mum, I only lasted an hour before one of them showed up.

The one day I went, I walked to the meadow―a place special to Dean and Lola.

And in a meadow full of wild flowers, I picked up a lonesome dandelion. It reminded me much of myself, surrounded by a lot of people but feeling utterly alone.

I picked it up, closed my eyes and blew, wishing for a happily ever after.

The past few days though, I’ve managed to spend my time alone, sitting in the back of Lola’s book/coffee shop. The place totally rocks and is very chic. She has the bright sofas with different-coloured pillows cleaned every two weeks so they stay fresh and new and oh-so-comfy. They’re my favourite place to sit, and for the past two days I’ve hogged the entire sofa, not letting anyone sit beside me or on the sofa opposite.

If asking for them to move didn’t get them to go away, me glaring at them surely did.

Which is what I just finished doing to a couple who thought it was okay to disturb me whilst reading a favourite book of mine. No one should be disturbed whilst reading about sexy military men.

“Pagan, you really need to stop glaring at my customers. Even Lorelei is scared to come over and serve you. She’s also getting a lot of complaints.”

“I’m okay with getting up and getting my own drinks.” I smile. “And I’m not glaring, per se. I’m just encouraging them.” I shrug.

“Encouraging them to take their business elsewhere?”

Now I feel bad.

I look over to the door, and sure enough, the couple are grabbing their coats and leaving, clearly pissed. It’s pouring down rain, the skies dark. When I look back at Lola, guilt tugs at me.

“I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch. But in all fairness, I did ask you to have a ‘reserved’ post put on the table.”

“And I told you no,” she reminds me, her lips twitching.

“It would be so cool though. We could be like Friends, have our own table for the gang.” I beam, loving the idea.

“You kicked your brothers out when they tried to keep you company.” She takes a seat on the arm of the sofa.

I scoff, waving it off. “I was reading about Sawyer.”

She rolls her eyes. “If I think about the sign, will you back off my customers?”

“If you put the sign on the table, you wouldn’t need to worry about your customers,” I argue sweetly.

She sighs, shaking her head. “I’ll think about it. But please, just for today, let people at least sit opposite you. The storm is bad outside. They need somewhere to go.”

Since I love my sister-in-law, I’ll agree just this once. It’s a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things because I know she’ll give in where my sign is concerned… eventually.

The door jingles and she gives me a pointed look before turning to greet the customer. Only my name is shouted as soon as they step inside.

“Pagan! Pagan!”

Alison, soaking wet, rushes in, heading straight for me with a panicked look on her face.

“Oh my God, what’s wrong?” I ask, dropping my book on my seat as I shoot up, meeting her halfway.

“It’s—oh, my God, Pagan. Your flat,” she gasps, pointing behind her.

My pulse starts beating wildly. “What? What about my flat?”

Oh God, it better not be on fire.

Please no.

I have things that are unreplaceable in there.

“Flat,” she gasps, still pointing.

But I know Alison. If my flat were on fire, she’d already be dragging me across the road with buckets of water, not standing here leaving me in suspense.

I glance at Lola, who looks as confused as I am. “Breathe, Alison. Tell me what exactly has you freaked out.”

She breathes in, calming herself before looking me dead in the eye. “There are people taking your stuff, Pagan. I told them you weren’t moving or anything, but they told me to take it up with the boss. You aren’t moving, are you?”

“You’re moving?” Lola asks, hurt evident in her voice.

My eyes widen as I look between them. “No!” Then I run without thought until I get to the door, turning back when I realise they aren’t following. “Are you coming?”

Lola steps forward but Alison stops her, shaking her head. “It’s best if you deal with this. Go on.”

Shrugging it off, I open the door and race across the street in the pouring rain. I see removal men walking down the side alley with boxes and my anger surfaces.

“Hey! Hey, what are you doing with my things?” I yell at the nearest man, stepping in front of him.

He stares down at me, clearly not worried in the slightest that he’s taking my things against my will. “I’m just doing my job, miss. If you go upstairs, our boss can assist you.”

“Boss?”

“Yes, miss.”

“Stop calling me miss. I’m not a fucking teacher. Now go put my things back,” I snap, pointing towards my flat.

He shakes his head. “Our orders are to pack everything into the truck. If you’re worried we haven’t packed anything, don’t. We got everything but the furniture.”

Worried he hasn’t packed everything?

Has he lost his goddamn mind?

I growl and step forwards to take the box away from him. “My things aren’t going anywhere with you.”

He sighs like I’m annoying him. “Look, I don’t get paid by the hour, so if you could just let me do my job, that would be great.”

I notice three more men walking back into my flat. “Where are they going?”

“To get the rest of the stuff. There’re only a few boxes left, miss.”

I stomp on his foot, ignoring his hiss of pain and cursing as I march to the side entrance to my flat. There’s an entrance at the back of my office, which is the one I mostly use since I don’t like the alley, especially when it’s dark.

I take the stairs two at a time, then come to a full-blown stop when I reach the front door, my eyes fixated on the man sitting on my mini purple sofa, making the thing look even tinier.

“What?” Tears spring to my eyes and I pinch myself, making sure this isn’t some dream. “Ouch,” I gasp, and more tears fill my eyes.

It’s real.

Very real.

Drake Donovan is really sitting in my front room, leg crossed over his other knee as he eyes me with a devilish smirk.

“All done.”

What the…?

I spin around, coming face-to-face with Ada. “What?”

She grins. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m taking the boys out for something to eat before we head on. See if you in a few.”

“Take your time, Grams,” Drake orders, his voice raspy.

“Sure will. Got me some eye candy.”

Slowly, I turn back to the man of my dreams, my mouth opening and closing.

“Is this real?” I whisper.

His lips twitch as he stands, walking towards me. “You tell me. You’re the one who left me in the middle of a wedding―luckily not our own―and didn’t explain why or even say goodbye. So you tell me, Pagan Salvatore. Is this real?”

The heat in his tired eyes and the way his arms clench at his sides tell me it’s not about the situation, but about us. Vulnerability flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone within a second.

A tear slips free and he steps forward, wiping it away with his thumb before it can fall down my cheek.

“How?”

He smiles sadly, tucking my wet hair behind my ear. “It’s not the how you should be asking but the why. Why would I come all the way here, steal your things, and wait for you to come home?”

“Why?” I croak out, blinking back more tears that threaten to fall. I can barely see through them. I want to reach out and touch him, make sure this is real, that he is real.

He’s more beautiful than I remember. His hair is a lot shaggier, and he looks like he hasn’t shaved in a few days, but he’s still ruggedly handsome in the best kind of way.

Mine.

“Because six weeks ago, a woman walked in on me naked and molested me.”

Tears of laughter bubble free. “I didn’t molest you.”

My face heats at the reminder of our first encounter.

He smirks, stepping closer so our chests are touching, and looks down at me. “You did. But it wasn’t just that. It wasn’t that you assaulted me with a door, got itching powder on me, slapped me in the face or threw me in a pool. You walked into my life and gave it meaning, a purpose. I wake up every morning picturing your pretty face, go to sleep each night thinking about what you’re doing. You gave a man with no hope for a future a better one. You, Pagan Salvatore, gave me life. You became my life and without you, I don’t have any meaning, any hope or a purpose. Because my purpose in life is to love you. I love you, Pagan. I love you so much that the minute Aaron told me you left, I felt my heart break, truly break, for the first time in my life.”

Gobsmacked, I can only stare, tears trailing down my cheeks as I stumble forward, clutching his biceps.

His words….

“You love me?” I croak.

He loves me.

This can’t be real. It can’t. I feel like I’m floating underwater right now.

“With everything I am,” he tells me fiercely.

“But I left,” I choke out, gripping him tighter.

He laughs, and God, I’ve missed the sound so much it brings a fresh wave of tears. “Pagan, I tell you I love you and that’s all you can focus on? You should know me better. I was never going to let you go.”

“But… it’s been three weeks.”

He smiles, running his hand through my hair again before cupping my cheek. I lean into his touch, savouring it and hoping I never have to give it up again.

I’ve missed him so much.

And seeing him reminds me of the pain I’ve felt without having him in my life, in my arms.

“I had some plans I needed to take care of first.”

“What plans?” I’m still whispering, though I don’t know why. It could be because I’m scared if I talk too loud, then everything around me will come crashing down. I’m not ready for whatever this is to end.

“Well, I’m now owner of a medical practice and have three other doctors coming to work for me. I also bought a house.”

“You’re leaving?” My chest hurts and I sag forward, breathing deeply as I try not to collapse.

He shakes his head, wiping my tears once again. “Yeah.”

My heart drops and a sob breaks free as I try to pull away, but he tugs me against him. It feels good to be in his arms, but I know he’ll be gone again soon.

“Why did you come, then? Tell me you love me?” I cry, wishing he didn’t have such a tight hold on me. I’d punch him right now. Maybe even knee him the nuts.

I hate that I love him so much.

“I’m getting to that part.” He glances away for a second, seeming to think about his next words.

I stop struggling so I can narrow my eyes at him. “Get on with it, then.”

He chuckles at my sass, kissing the tip of my nose. I sigh, melting against him even though another part demands I run away again and hide.

“My practice is in town―” He starts to say something else, but he doesn’t get a chance when I push him away.

“What?” I screech, looking at him with wide eyes. “In this town? Here? Where I live?”

He laughs, moving to pull me back against him. I go because, well, the love of my life just told me he’ll be working in my town. Here. Where I can see him every day and…

“Why have you taken all my stuff?” I ask warily.

He laughs harder at my expression. “Because until the house sale goes through, I’ve rented it off the owners. We’re free to move in.”

“Move in?” I ask, confused.

“Yes, move in.”

“With my stuff?”

He nods, grinning. “You’re moving in with me.”

“Am I now?” I ask, biting back a smile because the idea of living with him excites me. “And when were you planning on telling me?”

“Right after I told you I loved you. But you wound me, baby. I came all this way―”

I launch myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing him, pouring all my love into it.

We moan, clinging to each other as he steps backwards, sitting on the couch. I straddle him, not wanting to break the kiss for a second.

But I do.

To tell him the one thing I wish I had told him all along.

“I love you, Drake. I love you so goddamn much. I’m sorr―”

“I love you too, Pagan. And I understand why you left. I wasn’t happy, but I understood. And it worked out in the end. Alison filled me in two weeks ago on why you weren’t returning my calls.”

“Alison,” I growl.

She’s no longer on best friend status.

For real this time.

He chuckles, pecking my lips before pulling back. “Don’t be mad. She helped me understand better.”

“How did you do all of this in two weeks though?” He looks sheepish as he turns away, not meeting my gaze. “What?” I ask, wishing I didn’t when he answers.

“Grams. It seems she planned this all along.”

“Elaborate,” I order, wondering how she could’ve foreseen this coming in the three weeks I was living with the Donovans.

He holds his hands up, his eyes twinkling. “Easy.” He grins. “It seems she knew you before you knew her.”

That’s all I’m going to get, really?

“Are you trying to annoy me?”

He shakes his head. “No, but you won’t believe me anyway.”

“Try me.”

“Okay,” he says, giving me a warning look. “She met you at a charity fundraiser last Christmas. It was a masquerade ball.”

My eyes widen because that ball was here, on my father’s property. We were raising money for a children’s hospital.

I try to think back, wondering if I met her, but I don’t recall ever bumping into anyone who remotely resembled Ada.

“I don’t remember seeing her there,” I tell him, still wary about the whole thing.

“She said she spoke to you for about an hour about the kind of work you do and what you liked to do in your free time. And she helped you spike your brother’s drink.”

Now I remember.

“Oh my God, that was Ada? I didn’t even know. She was talking to me for ages, following me around everywhere I went and asking questions, not just about the event but my personal life. I don’t understand though. What does this mean?”

I’m trying not to freak out, but how can I not?

She knew me this whole time and never said a thing.

Then I remember.

Drake opens his mouth to answer but I interrupt, wriggling on his lap and making him groan. “Oh my God. She made a comment one day down at the pool. She said, ‘It’s why I picked you.’ I never understood until it now. Well, I kind of do. I think. It still doesn’t really make sense.”

He shakes his head, not seeming surprised. “She planned for us to get together. She was going to set us up, but we set ourselves up. She didn’t need to lift a finger.”

I shake my head.

Devious woman.

“But how did she know I would leave?”

“She didn’t see that coming, so expect a telling off when you see her next. But she planned everything. It wasn’t until Alison called two weeks ago that we made a different plan.”

I smile, no longer mad at my best friend. How could I be when he’s here, beneath me? “What were the plans?”

“The first plan was to force you to love me back,” he chuckles.

“You never would’ve needed to force me. I thought you didn’t love me, and the thought of you rejecting me scared me.”

“Pagan, I fell in love with you the second you fell to your knees and touched my cock.”

My face heats as I giggle. “Typical man.”

He laughs, shrugging. “I didn’t realise what I felt for you until the moment we first kissed. I knew then that I’d never be able to live without you.”

“But you said you wanted three weeks with me, then agreed to walk away when it was over.”

He looks disappointed. “No, baby. You agreed to those terms. I just stood there and listened to you ramble on. I never agreed to anything. I knew I’d never let you go. I let you do what you needed to do to protect yourself.”

Shocked is an understatement. It also makes me love him more.

“And now you’re here? Really here? For good?”

“I’m not going anywhere. Grams had everything sorted but the house. She purchased the building for the clinic, even had investors lined up with other doctors ready to start work. She thought we’d want to invest in our own home, so she left that to me. With Alison’s help, we found the perfect home fifteen minutes from here.”

“Fifteen minutes?”

He smiles knowingly. “Yeah, there’s a house just on the outskirts of the bridge leading onto your parents’ property.”

I gasp, nearly falling backwards. “You bought Old Weller McDonald’s home? The big white one with pillars?”

“Jesus, is that his name?”

“Yes. He would never sell that property.”

Even as a girl, I pictured myself living in that home. It has decking at the front, with pillars at the top of the stairs leading to the front door that look amazing in the winter with decorations and lights on. The garden is massive, big enough to play five-a-side football and the kitchen… the kitchen is beautiful.

But he would never sell.

I should know. I tried asking on more than one occasion.

“He has. He’s signed the papers and everything. It wasn’t easy, but the second I told him who I was buying it for, he agreed. He told me you were the only person he’d ever consider selling it to. He’s moved to a retiring home where he can get around easier, said the stairs were doing his back in. He’s been there for a few months, just never had the heart to put the house on the market.”

My eyes water as I take his face in my hands. “This is really happening?”

I’m in awe, completely lost to the emotions swirling around inside me. Nothing feels real. Nothing but Drake beneath me.

“Yeah, baby. It took me three weeks but I’m finally here. With you. Where I belong.”

“A lot can happen in three weeks.” I nod, my double meaning subtle.

“Yeah, it can,” he replies softly.

“I love you,” I breathe against his lips. “So much.”

“Show me,” he says huskily, his eyes darkening.

I know that look.

It’s the one he gives me every time our clothes are about to come off.

I smile, running my finger down his chest before moving in and kissing below his ear. “Gladly,” I whisper, earning a deep growl from him. 

I’m ready to tease, but the minute he sees the gleam in my eyes, his hands are at my waist and he’s lifting me over his shoulder.

I squeal, laughing when he takes me to my room.

My old room.

Because now we’ll have our room, and I’ll get to spend every night making love to my man.

He pulls me down his body as we stand at the end of my bed. I sway towards him, not wanting to be apart for even a second.

“I’m going to love you for always, Pagan.”

“And I’ll love you forever, Drake.”