She opened her eyes, looking up at him. His eyes had so much love, so much meaning, and she knew what he was talking about. “That you’re not going anywhere.”
“Exactly. So do me a favor and make the same promise. If you want to, that is,” he added and she just stared at him. Of course, she wanted this. Him. She was just scared.
“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t break up with you. When I got here, I thought I would figure it out. And, yeah, it’s only been a day, but all I wanted was you—to call you and tell you so that we could figure it out. I shouldn’t have run from you, but to you.”
He smiled against her lips. “And I would have caught you. I would have hugged you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her, nuzzling his nose into her neck. “And I would have told you I love you, that we’ve got this.”
“I know. I was just so scared.”
“You don’t have to be scared, because I will help fight those demons. Fight Rick. He can’t beat us if we stand together,” he said, pulling back to look at her. “You are my slice of heaven, Lucy, and the thought of not having you is what terrifies me.”
“Me too.”
“So no more disappearing acts, okay?” he said, kissing her nose, and she smiled.
“I can make sure that never happens again.” He smiled back as he dropped his mouth to hers, kissing her ever so slowly, her toes curling in the sand. She had missed him so damn much, and she was pretty sure that his kisses and hugs were what she lived for. As he pulled back, looking down at her, he shook his head. Moving her hand up to his face, she touched him softly, her thumb gliding along his cheek as she held his gaze.
“I’m just so scared, Benji,” she whispered and he kissed her forehead. “I don’t want anything to hurt you. You’ve had enough hurt.”
“The only thing that can hurt me is losing you and Angie. Remember that.”
She smiled, her eyes glossing over. “I hit him. Like, legit slammed my fist into his face because of what he was saying about you.”
Benji’s body started to shake with his laughter. “I’m jealous.”
She smiled against his chest. “I just got so mad, and I couldn’t believe the rage that filled me.”
“Probably the same rage that filled me when you wouldn’t tell me what was wrong.”
She chanced a glance at him and he was looking at her, his eyes filled with the hurt she’d caused. “I’m sorry.”
Cupping her face, he smiled before moving his nose with hers. “Forgiven.”
She inhaled and then let it out, shaking her head. “No normal man would stick around for this crazy train.”
“Lucy, I’m not normal, and I love crazy,” he said and she grinned.
That was one of the first things he had ever said to Angie.
“What are we going to do?”
He smiled. “Don’t you worry. I’ve got a plan.”
Melting against his chest, she felt her tears start to fall. “Will we be okay?”
He smiled, his eyes burning into hers. “More than okay. We’re going to be great.”
It was a promise.
One she knew he would keep.
With Angie in the back of the Jeep he had rented when he came to Florida a few days before, Benji was all smiles as he drove to his destination. The sun was shining, the clouds were fluffy, the sky was blue, and Benji felt fucking good. The happiest and the most relaxed he had felt in years. After telling Lucy everything that Mark had told him, she’d finally smiled. He knew the stress she was feeling was gone, and she was ready to fight. He just wished she had done all that before. He wished she’d come to him, but that woman never did anything easy. She always wanted to do things the hard way, but even she knew that had to change.
She needed him as much as he needed her.
From that moment on, though, their vacation had been great. He had spent his time on the beach with his girls, lazily lying around—well, when Angie let him. And when Lucy had to go work, he and Angie would explore the city of Ft. Lauderdale. He felt a little outnumbered with all the ladies since Jace had been off kicking ass at the All-Star Game and was awarded MVP, but Benji wouldn’t change a thing.
He was too fucking happy. Too excited.
But even with the amazing week, he was ready to make it even better. He wanted to end this trip with a bang, so when they got home and faced Rick, Lucy would do it with nothing but a smile.
Yup, he was ready.
Singing along with Adele and Angie, Benji belted out the song at the top of his lungs as Angie matched him with full hand movements and lots of fist pumps. She was a nut, but she was his nut. His sunshine.
When they reached their destination, he parked and shut the car off, much to Angie’s protestation. “Benji! I was getting down.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he laughed, getting out. “Come on. I want to talk to you.”
“To me? Ooh, ice cream!” she gushed as she hopped out the side like he did.