Lying Love (Lazy Love Book 3) (11 page)
Read Lying Love (Lazy Love Book 3) Online
Authors: Kirsten Osbourne
She waited until he was sitting beside her. “My
parents
have been trying to get us back together?” She couldn’t keep the shock from her voice.
“Your dad told me he could see we didn’t know how to really function apart, and he wanted you to be happy, so they were going to do everything they could to make it work for us.”
“Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “Your dad asked me not to. He told me if you thought they wanted us to get back together, you’d probably refuse. He even had your mother call to say we were spotted out together so it would sound like they didn’t think it was a good idea.”
Amber blinked a few times. “And did you really want to get back together? Did you ever want to marry me? Or were you just carried along by it all? Struck by gratitude toward my father?”
“I haven’t lied to you except by omission. I love you, Amber. I’ve loved you since I was a little boy, and while the love has grown and changed, it’s as strong as ever. I married you because I love you. I didn’t expect you to say yes when I asked, but I still wanted you to.”
“Really?”
He nodded, taking her hand in his. “I know what you heard must have sounded bad, but I’m telling you the truth. I won’t lie to you again, even if it is only by omission.”
Amber studied him for a moment, trying to decide if he was being totally honest with her. “I guess I wasn’t honest with you either.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t?”
“You asked me what happened to make me agree to marry you, and I made something up. I can’t even remember what I said.”
“What was the truth?” he asked softly, his gaze on hers.
She sighed. “After I left you on Saturday night, I called Valerie and May and we had lunch in Wiggieville on Sunday. I told them our situation, and that I wasn’t sure I could trust you. They both told me that if I threw away my chance at being married to the only man I’ve ever loved, I’d regret it.”
“Does that mean you love me again?”
She frowned at him. “That means I’ve never stopped. As angry as I was with you, as much as I hated you and wanted to hurt you for a little while, I loved you. I thought of you every day, and I’ve never been able to imagine living a happy life without you.”
He closed his eyes, obviously relieved by her words. “So you said yes because you love me?”
She nodded. “I wouldn’t marry someone I don’t love. That’s why I called it off with Brian. I couldn’t be married to a man I didn’t love.”
He pulled her to him and onto his lap. “Let’s never hide anything from each other again. Nothing that matters. I’ve been going through hell trying to figure out how I was going to make you fall in love with me again, and you loved me the whole time.” He hugged her close. “You are the wife I needed and the mother Nicki needs. Together, we’re going to be unstoppable.”
Amber felt tears prick her eyes as she buried her face in his neck. “I love you so much, John. I can’t believe I’ve wasted so many years missing you when I could have just called you and you’d have been there.”
“I think we both had a lot of growing up to do before we were ready for each other, but I’m glad we’ve done it.” His hand stroked over her back lovingly. “Now, do you remember what you said to me outside the steak place in Wiggieville?”
Amber shook her head. “No, what?”
“Shut up and kiss me!”
She laughed. “Gladly!”
A
mber looked
up from her Barbie party with Nicki, the third one they’d had that week, to see John smiling down at her. “You have some visitors.”
Amber got to her feet, her legs cramping because she’d been sitting on the floor for so long. “Who’s here?” She squeezed John’s hand as she walked past him into the living room.
Valerie and May were there with the babies in their car seats. “Jaron and Bobbette wanted to see their Auntie Amber.”
“Oh, I wanted to see them too! What have you guys been out doing today?” Amber leaned down and unbuckled Jaron from his car seat, picking him up. He was already six months old, and she didn’t feel she’d break him like she did every time she touched two-month-old Bobbi.
Nicki hurried into the room and knelt on the floor beside Bobbi. “I can’t wait ‘til you’re big. We’re going to play Barbies together every day!”
Amber carried Jaron over to the couch and sat down, knowing she didn’t need to invite her friends to sit with her. They were comfortable in her home. “He’s got four teeth! I can’t believe I didn’t know he has teeth!”
Valerie laughed. “You haven’t seen us since the break. We just got back in town yesterday.”
“How’s Rikki?” Amber asked the same thing every time Valerie went home to Wyoming.
“She’s happy. I’ve never seen my sister so happy, and I don’t mean just since the kidnapping. Being married has given her a confidence I’d never dreamed she’d have.”
Amber smiled. “I’m so glad!” She looked over at May. “How do you like being a mama?”
May smiled. “I love it. I hate that I’m not even writing half as much as I used to, but I wouldn’t trade little Bobbi for anything.”
“Do you ever regret letting Bob name her?”
Valerie stifled a laugh, but May shook her head. “Nope. It makes him happy, and really? That’s all I care about. I’m one of the founders of Team Bob after all.”
“I hope you don’t remind him of that very often.” Amber and Valerie exchanged a look. “He’s already gotten a big head since you two married.”
“I would never remind him of that!” May said. “In fact, every time he asks me to call him King Bob, I remind him that he’s just the court jester.”
