Finally Mine (Benevolence, #2)

by Lucy Score

There were people in this world who couldn’t feel big unless they were making someone else feel small.

“Today you’re not a victim. Today you’re a survivor.”

She needed time. Time to herself, to heal. He’d be patient. Just as he’d been since high school.

He was ready for the rest of his life to begin. He wanted the wife, the family, the backyard barbecues. He wanted neighbor kids playing capture the flag in his backyard. And he wanted every last one of those things with Gloria Parker.

“Life moves pretty fast. There’s not a lot of room for coulda, shoulda, woulda.”

“You know the saying: Bros don’t let other bros date psychos.”

“I’m actually not familiar with that one. Is there some kind of test I have to take?”

“So, how long have you been into Gloria?”

“Since I heard her sing in the high school musical.”

“How did handsome football star Aldo not win the girl?” Harper asked. His life’s regret. “I never took the shot,” he said with a sad shake of his head. “Maybe now you can pull the trigger,” Harper said, elbowing him. “I like the way you think, Harper.”

“Maybe he’s finally going to see that happily ever after.” “Let’s hope there’s one for all of us,” Gloria said wistfully. “Sweetheart, I can guarantee it,”

“Gloria, it’s okay if you don’t want a ride home. I’ll walk you home, tell you you’re the prettiest woman I’ve seen in my life, and make sure you get inside safely. We can drive or walk. The choice is yours.”

Aldo for the win.

“We’re deploying soon.” In two weeks. Which was why he needed Gloria to know where he stood. He wasn’t letting another decade go by without telling her how he felt.

“I think we should get married,” he decided.

“I’m serious,” he insisted. “Just, maybe spend the next six months thinking about it, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll do that,”

“Speaking of women,” Luke said, suddenly chipper. “Harper seems to think you have a thing for Gloria.”

“She’s not wrong.”

“You’ve always had a thing for anything with a nice pair of legs and big brown ...

“Where do you think I got...

“So, if you’ve been carrying this torch since high school, how is Glenn still alive?”

“I ask myself that every day.

“I had an ulterior motive for asking you here,” he confessed.

“I’m leaving in a week,”

I’d like to date you, Gloria.”

“Sure. See, I’ve had a crush on you for a touch over a decade. And I didn’t make my move for a variety of reasons. But I’ve never stopped crushing on

you. So, when I get back in six months, I’d like to take you out.”

“You want to go on a date with me in...

“I can see I’ve swept you off your feet.”

“Talk to yourself like you’re your own best friend and those other voices will leave you alone.”

“You know, I was thinking,”

“If we’re going to go out on a date when you come back, shouldn’t we make sure

that we’re…you know”—she gave a little shrug, a tilt of her head— “compatible.”

“Imagine a six-month build-up and then we have our first kiss.”

“And it sucks.”

“Excuse me. Aldo Moretta doesn’t suck at kissing.” “Well, I wouldn’t know that. Now, would I?”

“I can’t have you worrying about a kiss for six months.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Hey, one more thing,” he said, picking his way carefully out of the flower bed. “What’s that?” “If you date…” She cocked her head, listening. “Just try not to fall in love.”

“Be beautiful. Be fun. Be busy. Be excited. Be you. Everyone else will eventually catch up. You just have to give them something else to see.”

She examined the other plants in the room. Had Aldo purchased an entire garden center’s worth of plants just to give her something to water?

A little romantic. She’d offered to water his plants, after all. Had he really wanted her in his house that much?

“Gloria deserves a man who is going to look at her like she is the best thing in his life for the rest of hers,”

“That’s smart. So you’re funny and smart. And your cookies are okay. As long as you’re not some kind of crazy bridezilla or an alcoholic asshole or some horny one-night stand kinda gal, you have my blessing to date my Aldo.”

He was home and alive. But he wasn’t whole. And she deserved someone who could protect her. That man was no longer him.

“Oh, no. Oh, sweetie. What’s wrong? Is it his leg?”

“No. I’ve never seen a sexier amputee. But he’s different.”

I want to be my own damn hero. It would be a nice change from being my own biggest problem.

I don’t even know what I think about myself. Am I smart? Am I organized? Am I a good person? Or am I just a collection of all the damage I’ve allowed someone to do to me?