Page 103 of The Curveball

She kisses my cheek, my jaw, my neck, peppering me in kisses until she meets my eye. “I don’t want space from you. Never from you.”

“Where did you go?” I tap the side of her head, and she holds my hand there, understanding.

“I used to have severe trigger points after what happened. I’d panic, sort of spin out of control, like I was suffocating. I had to leave last night because I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t breathe seeing him again, seeing you like that.” She hangs her head. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you, Griff.”

“Birdie,” I whisper. “Don’t apologize to me. You’re here now.” I tighten my hold around her waist. “I never wanted you to hurt, that was the last thing I wanted. Please believe me when I tell you, I didn’t hit Clay.”

“I know. I wish I knew it sooner, but I know now.” She leverages off my lap and settles next to me, her fingers laced with mine. “I hate to admit I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt. It . . . it set me off.”

I press a kiss to her temple. “I put him on a security list, they knew not to admit the guy. I don’t know how he got in, but I told him to leave. Calmly. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t have him in the same building anymore.”

She smiles and kisses the corner of my mouth. “I like your protective side, but when I get triggered like that I can’t think.”

“You had to deal with it after the banquet?” She nods. I pull her close again. “Birdie, I would’ve been there for you. Iwantto be there. You’ve seen me go inside my head.”

“I know, but I wasn’t clear, Griff. Like I said, I thought you’d hurt him, and I needed to get out of there. I woke up feeling better, a little clearer. You’re not a liar, Griffin Marks. I trust you, and I was right. Dax and I were able to get the security footage. It proves everything, and trust me, Pierson Co. is very aware that there will be consequences if they pursue any charges against you.”

“Birdie,” I say, grinning. “Did you fight for me?”

“I did.” She hugs my neck again. “I always will.”

“We don’t do this again, okay?” I hold her face in my palms. “We talk, got it? I’ll talk to you when I want to close off, and you’ll talk to me when you can’t breathe.”

She blinks and a few more tears drip onto her cheeks. “Deal, Marks.”

“Did you get my messages?”

“I did. Before I could come here, I had to do something. Something I think will help me keep my end of the deal.” She tells me about her decision to speak to a therapist again to help with the memories and the panic.

“I thought I had the techniques to keep me out of the spiral, but I think I might need some more help,” she admits.

“I’m so on board, Birdie,” I tell her. “I’ll even go with you if you ever need me to.”

“You say good things, Marks.” She gives me a watery smile. “I don’t know how I held off from you for so long.”

“I really don’t know either. I’m pretty incredible.”

She laughs when I nip at her neck, then rests her head on my shoulder.

“I love you, Wren.” I kiss her forehead. “And you know what?”

“What?”

I smile, tipping her chin so her lips hover close to mine. “I’m going to marry you someday.”

Wren laughs. “Nope. Still not a good proposal.”

“Woman. You can’t have everything exactly how you want.”

She laughs, pinches my chest once, then kisses me.

This kiss is a promise. The sort of kiss that talks of anniversaries, of picket fences, and little feet running around. The kind of kiss that tells me it’s only a matter of time before this woman is mine forever.

CHAPTER33

WREN

A week later,life is calmer.