Souls Remember What Matters — Corey Gibson 22
Chapter 22 – Better
SERA
The ride home from Mary’s was quiet except for Luna’s sleepy chatter from her car seat. She was telling us about the story Vivienne had read to her while we were all talking downstairs, her little voice getting softer as exhaustion took over.
“And then the princess found her prince and they lived happily ever after,” Luna mumbled, her head dropping against the side of her seat.
I turned to look at her, my heart squeezing at how innocent she looked. How simple her world still was, where princesses always got their happy endings and love conquered everything.
“That sounds like a beautiful story, baby,” I whispered.
By the time we pulled into our driveway, Luna was completely asleep. Darius carried her inside, her little arms wrapped around his neck, her face peaceful against his shoulder. I followed behind them, my heels clicking on the hardwood as we made our way upstairs.
Watching Darius tuck Luna into bed, smoothing her hair back and pulling her favorite blanket up to her chin, made my chest ache. He was such a good father when he was present. When he wasn’t distracted by other things. Other people.
“Sweet dreams, princess,” he whispered, kissing her forehead softly.
I kissed her goodnight too, breathing in that sweet little–girl smell of strawberry shampoo and innocence. When we stepped out of her room and closed the door gently behind us, the hallway suddenly felt too small with both of us in it.
“Sera.” Darius’s voice was soft, careful. “Can we talk?”
My heart started beating faster. I’d been dreading this conversation all evening, ever since Cathy’s cruel words at dinner. Ever since I’d seen the way Darius had looked at me afterward, like he was seeing me clearly for the
first time.
“I’m tired, Darius. It’s been a long day.” I started walking toward our bedroom, but his hand caught my wrist gently.
“Please. Just for a few minutes.‘
The warmth of his fingers on my skin made me stop. I turned to face him, and the look in his green eyes made my breath catch. There was something different there. Something intense and focused that I hadn’t seen in
months.
“Don’t listen to anything Cathy said tonight,” he said, stepping closer. “She was drunk and cruel and completely out of line. None of what she said was true.”
“Wasn’t it?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “I am an orphan, Darius. I don’t have your family’s history or connections or-”
“Stop.” His other hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “You are my wife. You are Luna’s mother. You are the woman I married, Sera. And I intend to spend the rest of my life with you, no one
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else,” He pressed on, his tone serious yet genuine.
My throat got tight. “I know you only settled for me because Vivienne left, Darius…” I bit the inside of my cheek to stop my voice from breaking, “I know I will never be the woman you want.”
A strange glint flickered in his eyes. Pain, maybe. Or regret. “Is that what you think? That you are some consolation prize?”
I wanted to look away, but his hand on my face kept me still. “Sometimes.”
“God, Sera.” His voice was rough, broken. “I never imagined you felt this way, how could I have let you feel this way?”
Before I could answer, he was kissing me.
Not the gentle, polite kisses we’d shared recently. This was desperate, hungry, like he was trying to pour all his feelings into the contact between our lips. His hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head back so he could deepen the kiss, and I heard myself make a small sound of surprise.
When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said against my lips, his forehead pressed to mine. “Ever since that day in the bedroom when I kissed you. Was it because of that? Did I push too hard?”
My heart was racing so fast I thought it might burst out of my chest. Standing this close to him, feeling the heat radiating off his body, smelling his cologne, made it hard to think straight.
“I wasn’t avoiding you,” I lied, my voice barely a whisper.
“Yes, you were. Barely looking at me during dinner.” His hand slid down to my neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin there. “Talk to me, Sera. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m just tired,” I said again, but even I could hear how weak it sounded.
“That’s not it.” His green eyes searched my face, intense and focused in a way that made me feel exposed. “Is it because of Vivienne? Because of what happened that day?”
The mention of her name made my stomach clench. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“Then let’s not.” His voice got lower, rougher. “Let’s talk about us. About how I want things to be okay between us again and maybe…” His green orbs darkened, “Better.”
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