Listen to Your Heart

Chapter Fourteen

*Very slight alluding to self-harm and light smut warning*

Walls were easier to erect than tear down. Don't let people in, don't get hurt. It was without pain or without complications, but Stefani hadn't listened to any of this. She loved with her entire heart, leaving it open to get shattered. She felt deeply, always had and probably always would.

Still, it was difficult to admit she needed people. She hated being perceived as someone who couldn't hold her own when she'd spent years painstakingly trying to prove the opposite.

Tonight was different.

The instant she'd opened the door to let him in, she'd lost it. Sobbed in his arms, let him cradle her, coddle her. He'd brought her over to the sofa and held her until her tears had quieted and she'd stopped shaking.

He'd come over without asking why and God...she'd never experienced that before, with anyone. She was used to being worshipped or controlled or envied by the man in her life but not unconditionally excepted, all of her.

Wiping her eyes, she softly told him of the events of the evening, pressing against him as closely as possible, his arms encircling her protectively. If It were anyone but Bradley, she realized, it would be borderline embarrassing, how she allowed Christian to treat her for so long.

"You know that nothing he said is remotely true, don't you?" He ran his hands down her damp cheeks tenderly, making their eyes meet. "Stef? Please tell me you know."

"That's the thing, B," she sniffed, "part of it is true, though. It must be. I cheated. I lied. I'm a fuck-up. How could anyone love that?"

"Look at me," Bradley requested urgently. To her utter shock, his blue orbs were stormy with tears. "He said all of that shit because he was trying to hurt you. He was pissed and he said the things he knew would do the most damage."

"Life imitating art, huh?" she smiled wryly.

"Stefani, sweetheart, I need you to listen to me, alright? Harder than you've ever listened to anything I've ever said to you before." He cupped her face in both hands, "you are the most loveable person I know. There's not a bone in your entire body that's unlovable. I wish you could see yourself how everyone else sees you...not just me."

"There's no excuse for what I did to him," she clutched a handful of his t-shirt, anchoring herself. "I can justify it a thousand ways and so can you, but it all comes down to the fact I should've broken it off a long time ago."

"I think you did what you had to do when the timing was right," he said simply, running his hands over her hair.

"He scared me," she admitted shakily. "When I looked into his eyes---they were so fucking vacant. Like he wasn't there. He's never laid a hand on me before but these past few weeks, I wouldn't have put it past him."

Bradley's expression darkened. "If he ever so much as laid a finger on you, Stef—" he tugged her closer to him.

"If you hadn't come, I think I may have—done something I'd regret. Took some shit or drank too much or I dunno, something else," she whispered into his chest. "I haven't thanked you for—"

"You never need to thank me." Kissing her temple, he studied her face, his eyes shining with so much adoration and love, it made her breath catch in her throat. "You are one of the strongest people I know, hands down. You're a badass," he chucked her under her chin as she laughed tearfully, "but it's okay to let someone take care of you too...to need someone."

She reached out to wipe his damp eyes, kissing his closed eyelids. "I need you, B."

"You've got me, Stefani." His voice was honey, and she let it drift over her, sending light into those dark places again. "Always."