“Go,” she said. That hurt.

  “Gia, I’m here because I care about you, let me help you,” I told her as I was fighting back tears.

  “Go, Ethan. I don’t need your help,” she said. and I wanted her to remember what we had together and how we felt about each other.

  “Please, Gia. Remember…”

  “Remember what?” She jumped up off the couch and glared at me, crying. I was stunned. “Remember how we fucked all weekend just like you have with, oh, I don’t know, Ethan, how many other women exactly?” I deserved that.

  “Gia, it wasn’t like that with you. You know that,” I told her as the tears rolled down my face.

  “Ethan, you don’t even know me! All those years you’d supposedly seen me from a distance and wanted to get to know me, that wasn’t even me!” But I knew it really was. “That wasn’t the real me, the broken, fucked-up real me. That’s right, this is the real me!” She was going to open up to me now. “Is this what you want? I’ve been on that couch since you left yesterday. I sat here and drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and took sleeping pills all day just to get through the day!” Oh my God, Gia! Why would you? And then I got the answer, the truth she hadn’t wanted me to know. “That’s how I almost ended my life after I killed one of my babies, too! Is that ugly enough for you? How do you feel about me now, Ethan?” I was taking it all in. She tried to commit suicide because she thought she’d done something to hurt one of her babies, which I knew she didn’t because I’d seen her heart and it wasn’t capable of anything even close to that. It was full of empathy and forgiveness and love. My sweet Gia, you’ve opened up to me and now you’ll experience what unconditional love feels like.

  Our eyes were locked as I stood up and tried to take her hands. She wouldn’t let me but it was okay. I knew she didn’t think she deserved to be touched lovingly. “I love you, Gia.”

  “No. Please go.”

  “No. I won’t go,” I told her because I’d never do that to her again. “Did you hear what I said?” I was talking louder now so I could get my point across. “Did you hear me, Gia? I love you. I know you don’t want to hear it or believe it, but it’s true. Do you know how many other women I’ve said that to? None, Gia. None.” I should’ve said it yesterday in the shower, when I wanted to.

  She sat on the couch and put her head in her hands. I had to give her a moment to let it sink in. She’d told me what she thought was an ugly secret and I still felt the same about her. I knew she’d have a hard time believing it.

  Jo pulled me aside. “Ethan, I gotta hand it to you, you really came through for Gia. I can tell you truly do care and she’s never really had that in her life. Thank you for coming back, you may have just saved Gia’s life.” She hugged me.

  “I want to take care of her. I want to do everything I possibly can to help her deal with her past. I want to be her future,” I told Jo and we both turned and looked at Dana talking to Gia on the couch. Gia looked so fragile. I wanted to hold her so badly. I wanted to put her in the Chevy and take her home and spend the rest of my life giving her everything she wanted, needed, and deserved. But I knew she had a long road ahead getting the help she needed so she could accept those things.

  Dana was still beside Gia and Jo sat down on the other side of her. I sat on the floor in front of her. She kept her head down, looking at her hands. My beautiful, sweet Gia, what am I going to do with you? I smiled. She was a hot mess and I was in love with her. I hoped that she’d love me someday too, but not before she loved herself.

  Acknowledgements

  I want to thank everyone at Limitless Publishing! Jen, Jessica, and Dixie – you are all amazing women! Thank you Toni, my editor, you push me to do better and I love and appreciate that so much!

  Thank you Steve, Hunter, and Madison for keeping it real, I love you! Thanks to my friend Sherri for your excitement and encouragement, it never gets old, and neither do we! Thank you to my family, you’re the best, as good as it gets, I love you all.

  Finally, thanks to everyone who read this book, whether you liked it or not, whether I know you or not, it doesn’t matter, thank you for sharing this with me!

  About the Author

  Desiree Wilder was born in South Dakota and grew up in a small town where she thrived in school and developed a love for reading and writing. Her younger days were filled hanging out with her older brother and younger sister riding bikes, playing board games and watching General Hospital. As a teen she became less interested in learning academics and became more interested in learning how to get into mischief without getting caught.

  As an adult, Desiree loves cooking, shopping, reading, concert-going, camping and spending time with her crazy yet supportive family. She’d rather take the dirt road and crank up some eighty’s rock or some good ‘ol Hank Jr. than the paved fast track.

  Just recently she started writing and something inside her came alive. It fulfilled her and unexpectedly took over what had become a robotic daily routine. She is a hopeless romantic and believes in love at first sight. Nowadays you can catch her doing ‘research’ for her next book at a concert or getting inspired for her next leading man in the romantic comedy section!

  Facebook:

  www.facebook.com/desiree.wilder.56

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/DesireeWilder12

  Goodreads:

  www.goodreads.com/author/show/7144062.Desiree_Wilder

  Amazon Author Page:

  www.amazon.com/Desiree-Wilder/e/B00EA1N2MI

 

 

  Wilder, Desiree, Out of Control (Losing Control Series Book 2)

 

 

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