Jeremy and Riley left us to our privacy and closed the bedroom door.

"Hey, Lori... sorry baby. Please don't cry. I'm just still fuming. Why would you leave me? Why wouldn't you answer my calls and texts? I was worried about you. A million things could happen to you, I care about you. You have to know that, okay?"

He pulled me into his embrace, I felt safe already. His warmth, his heartbeat, the smell of his expensive cologne. He felt like home. He smelled like home.

"I'm sorry. I should've texted you that I'm safe. I just... I just couldn't face you. I'm such a mess, I never have...