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“The last time I checked, family day is spending the time together,” I say while getting Kollie from Lionel. “Not leaving the mother behind and taking the little one shopping.”
Lionel must have turned off my alarm to let me sleep in. It was already past noon when I woke up and found myself alone. I want to call Lionel, but he doesn’t have his phone. So, I spent the last thirty minutes worrying.
What if he suddenly remembered everything? What if he took Kollie home because he was angry at me? Will I lose him and my daughter? I love Lionel, but I'll hate him if he takes Kollie from me.
I overthought everything. The lies haunted me again.
Lionel raises a shopping bag for a new laptop. “Didn’t I promise you a new one?”
“You should have told me,” I can hide my disappointment. Lionel’s eyebrows meet, telling me that he’s irritated. He always hates being accused of something he’s not. I quickly retract and explain, “You’re sick, Lionel. What if something happened to you in the middle of nowhere?”
“Put her to bed first. She’s been yawning in the cab,” Lionel tells me. The ends of his lips curve down while he tries not to frown.
Guilt strikes me when I look at Kollie. I have no reason to overreact over what Lionel did. My demons haunt me. I took Kollie away from him for more than four years. I'm afraid he'll do the same to me.
"I'm sorry," I say without looking at Lionel's face. I bring Kollie to her room.
"Good night, Daddy," Kollie's smile at Lionel melts my heart. She puts her thumb into her mouth and lays on her bed.
Lionel stands behind me and pulls me to his chest. “Nobody is taking her away.”
"I'm not saying you were. It's just...."
“You’re jealous I spent more time with her?” Lionel teases. “Kollie will be asleep for a few hours. So, I’m all yours, Mommy.”
I shriek when he suddenly lifts me off the floor. I cover my mouth to contain my giggle to avoid waking Kollie. Lionel kisses me the moment I drop my hands from my mouth.
"Should we continue where we stopped last night?" Lionel flashes a playful smile.
"Kollie's longest nap is only around an hour."
Lionel frowns for a moment but quickly exchanges it with a boyish smile. "Enough for a long shower, then."
I slide away from Lionel when we get out of Kollie's room. For a moment, I see the panic in his eyes. Like he also has something hidden from me. He covers his reaction with a charming smile.
"I need to tell you something, Lionel," I step back before he can pull me into his arms again. He needs to know the truth before we get drowned in lies and end up hurting each other. Or before his possible anger can turn into hatred.
Lionel walks to the shopping bag and takes something out. "There's something I need to tell you, too," he faces me with another handsome smile. "Marry me, Kayley."
The wind suddenly becomes too cold and slowly freezes me when a ring sparkles before my eyes. My heart is overjoyed; my mind is a mess. Lionel walks back to me and holds my bare hands. He knows! I don't have any rings on my fingers. Whether an engagement or wedding ring. He doesn't have any, either.
“I proposed without a ring, didn’t I?” Lionel kisses the back of my hands. I want to pull my hands away, but they don’t want to leave his palm. “But I’m making it right with you again. Marry me.”
“But aren’t we married?” I hold on to the lie.
“I may remember or not, but I still want to marry you,” Lionel slides the ring on my finger. “I will do right by you. No more taunting, mocking, or whatever hell I put you through.”
His words turn on the greediness in my heart. This man in front of me is the opposite of Lionel, who I love. Here. In this made-up world, he loves me back. If only there were a way to stay in this fantasy world.
“What did you want to say?”
I bury all my desire to confess the truth and walk back to the world of lies I help create for him. Lionel laughs when I jump and cling to him. "Forget about it. Let's skip to the good part."
This time, I gag his mouth with a kiss. Lionel swings me around and pushes me to the wall. He reaches for the door of Kollie's room and closes it while we ravage each other's mouths.
“Shower or here?”
“Wherever you want.” I kiss him and let him carry me anywhere he wants.
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