Worth It (Damie)

Part 11

A/N: Hope you'll forgive me for the cliffhanger, and that this one brings you a chuckle or two! I owe you, haha... Enjoy, and thanks for the overwhelming support you continue to shower on me! Makes me the happiest writer ;) xo

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I finish cleaning the table and kitchen, doing the dishes and buying us both time to cool down. I need Dakota to know I'm truly sorry, and that I don't blame her for what happened. The heat of the moment swept us up, and it's time to backpedal out of the mud.

I turn off all the lights and make my way toward the bedroom, hoping with any luck that's where we'll be the rest of the night.

Zepp sits up and wags his tail when I enter. Dakota is facing away from me with a book in her hand. I scratch Zepp's head before changing out of my clothes. Dakota doesn't say a word while I strip down to my boxers. I sit on the edge to empty my pants pockets and still nothing. I would think she's asleep if she wasn't turning the pages of her novel.

Zepp lies back down on the floor at the foot of the bed when I roll toward her. I take a huge risk by snaking my arm around her waist to pull her closer.

"Stop," she says, trying to free herself, but I won't let her.

"Baby, let me talk."

She sets her book on the nightstand. "You can't cuddle your way into an apology right now."

I kiss the sweet spot behind her ear and she squirms. Works every damn time. "Can I kiss my way?"

She giggles, but uses both hands to loosen my grip. "Jamie, don't. Come on."

"My temptation is to make you laugh, I can't help it."

She rolls over to face me. I get lost in her baby blue gaze, forgetting every negative word we exchanged. All is right when she looks at me this way.

I tuck a hair behind her ear and she closes her eyes at my touch. "I'm sorry for what transpired. For taking my anger with Hayley out on you when it wasn't your fault. For raising my voice at you. But above all, for making you cry. I don't want to be responsible for your sadness. It's too heavy a load. Unless those tears come from laughing, I don't want to see them."

She sighs. "I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to throw your family in your face. We agreed to everything, I was just hurt you didn't trust my lunch with Nick was innocent. I'm sorry if I was insensitive to your feelings. We shouldn't try to outdo each other's pain."

I trail my fingertips across her shoulder. "The only thing that hurts me is knowing I hurt you. I love you, and hope you'll forgive me in time."

She looks at me and nods. "I didn't run."

I furrow my eyebrows, not following.

"To my house, I mean. That was your fear, wasn't it? Well, I stayed."

I bite my lip, relief washing over me. "We'll both stay and work things out, every time. Because I want this forever, and neither of us are perfect, but we can cross those bridges when we come to them."

She cups my hand to her cheek. "I don't want to be mad at you, Jamie. I hope you know how much I love you too, and it hurts to watch you question that, knowing I can't stop your insecurities. I try to prove my loyalty, and I hope someday it'll be enough for you."

I pull her closer before she starts crying again. "Sweetheart, you're more than enough. More than I deserve. Don't ever think that. I can't believe I've let you think that. You are my world, baby. I can't imagine life without you."