Raising Bethany

Chapter fifteen

MEGAN'S POV

"How was your first day back at work?" Ryan asks me as we laid down on the couch together. It was currently 8:00 pm. Beth was already in bed and I was exhausted.

"It was good. Beck and I had to go interview an eyewitness from the bank robbery that occurred a few days ago."

"They still haven't caught those guys?" Ryan asks.

I shake my head.

"Well I'm-" Before he could finish his sentence his phone rings.

"Hello?" He speaks. "This is him, may I ask who's calling?"

It stays quiet for a few moments but continues rubbing his hands through my hair.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

His hands stop. I look up at him confused as a smile spreads across his face. I sit up and face him. "What?" I mouth. He looks over at me and smiles bigger.

"Thank you so much. Yes. Of course. Thank you!" He says excitedly before hanging up.

"What's going on?" I smile.

He stays quiet and I shake him with anticipation. "Ryan what?" I laugh.

"I passed!" He shouts.

My eyes widen and my smile gets bigger. "You passed?"

He shakes his head. "I passed my EPPP!" He shouts before pulling me into a passionate and loving kiss.

He pulls away and I smile widely at him.

"I love you." He says, exhilarated.

My hearts stops and my smile fades. I had been completely caught off guard.

His smile fades and he looks at me softly. He grabs my hand and stares into my eyes. "I love you Megan."

I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. I didn't know what to do.

"And it's okay if you don't love me right now. I know you've been through a lot and it's not easy for you to open up and let your guard down but I need you to know that I am deeply in love with you and I am not going anywhere." He says softly.

Still in a state of shock I just nod softly. It's not that I didn't want to hear this. I did. I just wasn't sure I had expected to hear it and I knew I couldn't say it back. At least not now.

"I like you so much." I say softly.

He smiles. "And that's enough for now." He gently pulls me into another kiss. This one softer than the last. It was gentle and delicate and felt as if his lips were expressing how much love he had for me. Almost as if he was showing me how much love I deserved.

We broke away after a few moments as he looked over at me lustfully. He stood up, picked me up and carried me up the stairs to my room.

That night was a night I'd probably never forget because it was different than any other night we had ever had. Every touch, every kiss, every breath was gentle and soft and each thing seemed to be filled with so much love. He kissed me as if he needed to breathe and I was his oxygen. He touched me as if he had never touched me before. It was all so much and it scared the hell out of me and also filled me with warmth and tenderness and I couldn't tell which feelings overwhelmed me most.

***

Four days later

"Grandma!" Bethany squeals as my mom opens the door.

Her smile widens as she looks down at her enthusiastic granddaughter, revealing wrinkles in the corner of her mouth.

"Bethany James is that you?" She pushes her glasses up closer to her face.