Standing at the base of the wooden stairs leading up to the front door, I watched her. The sadness and intensity in her eyes hit me from there. She watched people walking to the boardwalk, and I watched her.

The knife to my chest replayed over and over like a horror movie, the tears in her eyes as she once again begged me to believe her. I squeezed my eyes shut. It had taken longer than I’d expected to get everything finalized. Between Franklin and Randolph donating their time, it was finally done.

I needed to do this for her, needed to do it for me, to show her there were no more strings, no more places to hide.

Opening the front door, Ford clapped me on the back. “She’s out on the balcony. I made sure she didn’t try to sneak out.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed his hand, turning it up and hooking ours together then thumping him on the back. My stomach leapt for my throat, a nervous energy traveling through my body.

I stepped out onto the small balcony. That guy Noah was there, but the angry, clawed monster didn’t appear in my chest this time. I didn’t have to worry about him. I knew that so deep in my bones it might as well have been molecular, and it wasn’t because he didn’t want her. Who wouldn’t have wanted her? It was because I knew her, all of her, now, all the reasons she’d pretended over the years, all the reasons she felt she couldn’t give all of herself to me. Her loyalty came at the expense of everything. She’d never start anything with a guy like Noah after what we’d been through, not surrounded by the Kings.

“Do you mind giving us a minute, Noah?” I didn’t spare him another glance. My gaze was locked to her startled one. The slight edges of fear there tore at my soul. I never wanted even a hint of uncertainty when she was around me.

“I only came to get my car. Mak’s got my keys. I’m leaving as soon as I can get them.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Protection mode—and why shouldn’t she go there? Had there ever been anyone she thought could protect her? All of her? I’d hoped it was me, but my own bullshit had blinded even me to her pain.

“I know. I asked her to take them.”

Surprise creased her brow. “What? Why?” She set her cup on the railing behind her.

“Because I wanted to make sure you were still here.”

“Why would you do that?” Her shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped in closer, shutting the door behind me. Distant laughter and muted whoops melded with the dull throb of the music inside.

“So I could apologize.”

She dropped her gaze.

“You didn’t tell me about the deal with my parents because you were trying to protect me, weren’t you?”

She ducked her head.

“I was bitching and moaning about their calls and messages, but you knew I was enjoying them.”

“I didn’t want to ruin that for you.” Her words came out small and tight, like she was breathing through a straw. “I knew how much you’d always wanted that. And I was ashamed of the deal I’d struck with them.” She peered up at me. “Lying to you was never anything I wanted to do. It was the last thing I wanted, but I didn’t know how to tell you the truth without ruining the new relationship you were building.” She stared at the center of my chest. “And without telling you about my dad. I’d tried hard to hide that part away from you. When they told me the first time to break up with you, I told them no. Never. But when everything happened with my dad…and they made sure Alyson wouldn’t get taken away...” Her voice cracked and she sniffled.

“I know. I don’t blame you for taking their deal. They can manipulate just about anyone. They only started speaking to me and wanting to spend time together because my dad is running for governor and having an estranged son wouldn’t look good for his campaign.”

Her head snapped up and she looked at me with a burning fire in her eyes. “What?!” Damn, I loved her—ready to go to the mat for me even after I’d kicked her out.

“Yeah, parents of the year.”

“I’m sorry. I wanted it to be real. I hoped they’d changed and it was the real deal for you, and for them.”

“And I’m sorry about your dad.” That fact that he’d ended up back in the hospital and I hadn’t been there for her would haunt me.

Her eyes got wide.

“Mak told me. I can’t imagine what that was like for you, but I’m glad he’s getting the help he needs.”

She dragged her fingers through her hair. “He is.” The deep sadness poured from her.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you.” When Mak had filled me in the previous day, I’d had to stop myself from hopping in my car and driving straight to Avery’s place—partially because I didn’t have a car anymore, but also because I didn’t want to show up with half-assed promises. This needed more.

Her head jerked back. Staring at the space between us, she shrugged. “I’m used to dealing with this stuff on my own.”

“But you shouldn’t have to.”

“I’m sorry I lied. You can’t know how sorry I am.”

“Shhh.” I pressed my fingers against her lips, those full, pink lips I’d missed every minute of every day we were apart even when I’d told myself I didn’t. “I can know because I’m just as sorry. Believing what we had was made up was a hell of a lot easier than knowing it was real. I’ve been running away from real feelings for so long, and turning them into a mirage is so much easier than facing the truth.”

“What truth?” Her words were a whisper caught on the wind.

I rubbed my clammy hands against my pant legs.

“I never stopped loving you. Even when I hated you with all of my being, even when I hated myself for it and wished I could carve my heart out of my chest, I still loved you.” Her warm, smooth skin glided under my fingertips. I tilted her head, drawing her mouth closer to mine.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes catching the traces of tears. They glistened in the light. I’d have given anything for her to never spill them again, no tears of sadness.

“We keep hurting each other, keep proving we can’t work.”

“No!” I grabbed her shoulders. “We’re the only thing that does work, the only thing I keep coming back to. You’re the constant in my life, in my heart, my everything. I need you, Avery. I love you. I have never stopped and will never stop loving you as long as I’m still breathing.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. I ran my thumb against her cheek, cupping the side of her face and brushing them away.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Em—”

“I can’t go back to being the shell I was without you for the past four years and for the past week. I won’t.” My hands shook as I caressed her face.

Her eyes opened, so beautiful and full of love, vulnerable and strong all at once. Her chin quivered.

I dragged my thumb across her lip, the lips I’d dreamed of and that seemed to be the only balm against the crushing loneliness. The memory of their pink softness had protected me from so many nights alone.

“It’s been less than a week, Avery. I can’t do it.”

She shook her head. “Emmett—” Tears brimmed in her eyes as she wrapped her fingers around the lapel of my jacket.

“Less than a week and I’m already seeing you everywhere, longing for you at night. I didn’t want to be that guy anymore, broken and alone, but it’s not just about needing someone. I want you. I want to be the one with you by my side.”

“I want that too.” Her words made me want to climb up and yell it from the rooftop. “I’ve never stopped loving you.” She gazed up into my eyes, all of her love and fear radiating off of her.

“There’s something I need to tell you.” I shoved my hand into my pocket. My fingers wrapped around the box I’d traveled with for so many years, and this was the closest it had felt to right. Tugging it out of my pocket, I ran my fingers over the velvet finish.

Her eyes got wide. She dropped her hands and backed up a step.

“I’m not asking you tonight, but I need you to know I will ask you. Now isn’t the right time. There are too many things we both need to fix, but this ring in here is yours.”

She stood in stunned silence, staring back at me.

“It’s always been yours, and it always will be yours. I’m not going to say the words, but I want you to be my wife, and I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”

“Yes.” It was a whisper so faint the wind nearly carried it away.

“What?”

“I’ve said no more times than I can count because I was always afraid of what it might mean for you and for me, but I’m not scared anymore. I’ve lived without you for too long. I don’t want to anymore. So, yes. Whenever you ask the question, my answer is yes.”

“You haven’t even seen the ring yet.” I pulled at the top of the box.

Her hand covered mine. “I don’t need to see it. I know why I’m in this, and it sure as hell isn’t for the ring—or the penthouse, or Percy’s makeover, or whatever else you’ve tried to buy me since the day I met you.”

I winced. “That’s probably a good thing, because there’s something I have to tell you.”

Her eyebrows scrunched up.

“I got you something.”

“There’s nothing I need, really. I’ll figure things out on my own.”

Brushing her hair back from her face, I stared into her eyes. “I have no doubt in my mind that you could, but I thought this might help you take the next step toward your future.”

From my inside jacket pocket, I tugged out the folded stack of papers. The ink had barely been dry on everything when I’d made it to the house. “This is for you.”

She hesitated before taking the documents from my hand.

“Holy shit!”