Saving Me

Freak-outs & Little White Lies

Stormy's POV:

Over breakfast, I thought about nothing but the dream I had last night. When I'd woken up this morning, it had been the first thing on my mind, leaving me wondering what the hell my subconscious was trying to tell me. But deep down, I already knew. The real question was—did I want my heart to believe it?

Was it possible that after surviving hell with Joel and living through a tornado that should've killed me, I was finally on the verge of finding the happiness I actually deserved? Were things with Matt really heading toward a future together—one that included a little boy with his hair and my eyes? Or was I just losing my mind?

No matter how hard I tried to talk myself out of it, I knew last night had changed something between us. Sure, we'd spent time together—both with and without Sadie—but last night was different. It was more than a weekend getaway. It might sound crazy, but it felt like the air between us had shifted. Like something had solidified as we made love well into the morning hours.

The problem was, I knew what I wanted. But the fear that Matt might want something different was playing hell on my nerves. What if this was just fun for him?

I mean, yeah, he was the one who put a label on what we were. But was he truly ready for it? After mourning the loss of his wife and child for so long, was he really ready to live again? Sadie already adored him. Windy and Steven thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. And don't even get me started on Mama—she was already planning a wedding, though she tried to act like she wasn't.

But what happens if he decides it's all moving too fast? What happens when he wants to get back into the dating world and see what he's missed out on as a single man? What do I tell Sadie when she cries at night, asking for him to sing to her? What do I tell Windy when she asks what happened to him? What do I tell Mama when she starts up about wanting more grandkids to spoil?

"Penny for your thoughts," Matt said, his hand landing on mine across the small table in our hotel room. My eyes shot up and locked with his. I saw the questions in them.

"Matt..." I started, then stopped. The words were there—sitting right on the tip of my tongue—but they just wouldn't come out. I swallowed hard, told myself to suck it up, and tried again. "Do you think things are moving too fast between us?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, sipping from his coffee mug.

"Well... um, don't take this the wrong way, and don't think I'm looking for excuses for this not to work—"

"Just spit it out, Storm. You can tell me anything," Matt said, cutting me off gently.

"Okay." I took a breath. "So, for ten years, you mourned the loss of your wife and child—two people who were your whole world and always will be. Then I come along, having survived something that should've killed me and my daughter. And I can't help but wonder... maybe you see Sadie and me as a replacement for what you lost. And if that's the case, then what happens when you're ready to date again? What if you want to sample everything the single life has to offer instead of staying with the girl you saved from her worst nightmare?"

"Where's all this coming from?" Matt asked, setting his mug on the table. One glance at his face, and I saw it—anger, hurt, confusion. A gut punch.

I didn't say anything right away, but his hand gently squeezed mine again, coaxing me to keep going. "What's going on in that pretty little head of yours, darlin'?"

"I care about you," I blurted. And just like that, I slapped a hand over my mouth, wishing the floor would open and swallow me whole.

"And I care about you," Matt said softly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him rise from the table. A moment later, his hands were on my arms, tugging me gently until I stood in front of him. He wrapped one arm low around my waist, pulling me flush against him, and with his other hand, he cupped my cheek. I leaned into his touch without thinking—it soothed the storm inside me.