Rayna's heart fluttered a little at Deacon's smile and at the way he shyly admitted that their experience at the Bluebird had been pleasurable. It was something about the way he had been sure to include the fact that he was glad she had been with them that made her get the familiar feeling of joy in her heart that only a positive interaction with Deacon could produce. It was a welcome feeling. It was a feeling that she had spent so many years chasing.
If she was being honest, she had to admit that she had been struggling to remind herself of all the reasons that they were no good for each other ever since that night. Watching him with Maddie and enjoying time together as a family had been such a wonderful experience. When he acted like that, she knew that he was still the same man that she had fallen in love with all of those years ago. If only they didn't tear each other down so much then maybe they could actually be together without it ending in disaster. It was hard to keep a clear mind and remember all of the complications when he was right there in front of her sober, smiling, and looking as sexy as ever.
The way he was looking at her right now was not helping her very much in her attempts to remember. Even after all of the heartache they have caused each other, she can still see the way his eyes light up when he looks at her and it still makes her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. If there was one thing Deacon was good at it was making her feel special.
For a second, she is seized with an urge to admit her love for him right then and there but she suppresses it as best she can. Besides, he already knows, just like she already knows that he will always love her.
Sometimes it amazes her but the words that they wrote together over a decade ago still ring true today.
No one will ever love you like I do.
But as she thinks back, she realizes that she knew it even then. They are both fools for each other and they always will be. If the feeling hadn't faded throughout her marriage to another man, then it never would. She would just have to accept that. Even if they both moved on, they would never truly be over each other. They would always have to suppress that hope.