Author's Notes: Alright, I decided to divide this chapter into 2 parts. But, I'm already half way done with the 2nd part so it will be up soon! 2 more chapters left! (The 2nd part to this chapter and then the epilogue).
Please let me know what you think by leaving a review!
Enjoy!
Chapter 25: I've Missed You
Much to Dylan's relief, not even so much as a peep radiates from upstairs since he had helped his little brother drift to sleep a few hours ago. He couldn't help but check in on Norman about an hour ago, only to find him sleeping soundly with no distress written on his face.
As the night continues Dylan struggles to keep his eyes open while Emma remains focused on the computer screen, continuing her diligence in finding some sort of solution for Norman. Meticulous fingertips quickly pressing against the keyboard surprisingly lull Dylan to close his eyes and eventually drift to sleep.
Emma dares to look to her right, catching a glimpse of a sleeping Dylan. Before turning back to the computer screen, Emma takes another look. A smile forms on her lips as she takes in the sleeping form of her boyfriend. Finally Dylan looks calm and relaxed, something she hasn't seen in a while.
Suddenly, an idea pops in Emma's mind. Quickly Emma turns her focus back to the computer and starts do to do a little investigation. Sure, she should feel guilty about snooping around his laptop but that's just a nagging thought in the back of her mind. Not able to break her habit of what she calls investigating, definitely not being nosey which Dylan labels it, Emma continues to navigate around her boyfriend's computer.
Feeling slightly unsatisfied with what she has or rather hasn't found, Emma's about to give up until she sees something interesting about Dylan's itunes folder. When she looks in his general library, it's pretty much what she's expected. Songs from bands like System of the Down, Volbeat and Five Finger Death Punch come to no surprise to Emma. However, in a separate playlist also saved in Dylan's itunes is labeled "ED".
As an "investigator," she clicks on the file. What comes up is surprising, but at the same time makes her heart melt. Clearly, it's all of her favorite songs. The Fray, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi and even her secret obsession of Jonas Brothers are all listed in front of her. It's the cutest thing, and so genuine of a thought that it brings tears to her eyes. This was never supposed to be found, which makes the notion even sweeter.
With another brief glance next to her, Emma sees Dylan is still asleep so she decides to continue looking through his computer. She reluctantly closes the itunes folder and searches a little deeper, finding a file with Dylan's business plan. There she reads through his impressive plan to expand his business to Seattle, which causes her to beam internally. Emma knows she's the reason for choosing that city and it makes her incredibly happy to know, she has always been in his mind.
Closing out the business file, Emma notices a secret folder labeled simply "E." Of course without hesitation, Emma clicks on the file causing a letter to immediately pop on the screen. The letter is addressed to her.
Tears drop to her cheeks, unable to control her emotions as she reads the words carefully written on the document. The words are perfection, dripping with vulnerability and affection. It makes her think, how could she ever doubt his love for her?
All of a sudden, Emma hears a shuffling noise from her side. In an instant Emma uses her fingertips of one hand to dry her eyes and the other to close the document, immediately pulling up the last internet page she was viewing.
With a small sniffle, Emma begun to once again study the important information until she hears a quiet voice break the silence.
Dylan yawns, stretching his arms above his head and his legs out in front of him. "Emma? Oh shit, I fell asleep." He remarks quietly, in a groggy voice. "How long was out for?"
"Umm… Only for a short while." Emma answers, actively trying to avoid making eye contact while staring at the screen. She can't let him figure out she had been crying.
Adjusting his tired body in the chair, Dylan moves closer to the table and rests his elbows on the table top. "Hey." He leans in toward Emma and squints his eyes, focusing intensely at the side of her face. "What's wrong?"
Emma's fingers shake a bit on the keyboard, but she continues to try to hide her reddened and teary eyes. "I don't know what you mean?"
"Your eyes are red and kind of glossy." Dylan shifts his body again to fully face her and reach out with an arm to touch her cheek with a gentle caress. "I know you Emma. Did I do something?"
She stops her movements and places her hand on his, closing her eyes briefly while reveling in his closeness. After a deep breath, Emma turns to make eye contact with him and clasps his hand in hers while dropping it from her face to her knee. Technically he did do something, something wonderful but she can't admit that. "Oh no, of course not. I'm just tired."
Dylan narrows his eyes at her, skeptical on what she is actually saying is true. "Are you sure? Because I know this isn't the night we thought it would be. It's my fault," he lowers his chin to focusing on their tangled fingers.
Squeezing his hand a little tighter, Emma leans in closer and bends her neck to try to meet his eye line. She gives a sincere smile and then slowly raises her head, hoping Dylan would follow her actions so they would be once again sitting upright. He does, returning the smile. "Honestly, it doesn't matter where I am tonight. I'm with you and that is all that matters to me."
Dylan pulls their clasps hands to his lips and makes sure to place a kiss on her knuckles. Taking her by surprise, Dylan yanks gently on her hand until she ends up on his lap. Instinctively, Emma cuddles into his chest and nuzzles her cheek into his neck.
"Do you think I will like Seattle?" He whispers, tightening his arm around her to ensure she doesn't fall.
With a giggle, Emma moves the side of her face away from his neck in time to see him turn his focus toward her. "I think you're going to love it."
"Well, at least that's settled," he chuckles.
Emma shifts her position and unravels her grip on him before clapping her hands together. "Now, back to work!" Standing from his lap, Emma scoots back over to her own chair.
As Dylan groans, he ultimately drags his body up from the chair and shuffles his feet to the counter. "I guess I'll make more coffee."
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"I like waking up in your arms." Norma whispers with closed eyes and a shy smile. She then nuzzles the right side of her face further into the Sheriff's neck while using his left shoulder as a pillow.
If Norma had her eyes opened, she would've noticed the concern written all over Romero's face. He was wrapped up in the moment last night with all of the loving words and intentions Norma expressed, but now that it's morning would she keep those promises she made? "Me too." He hums a little apprehensively in response, hoping she wouldn't hear his shaky pitch or feel his shoulder stiffen under her cheek. Luckily, it appears she doesn't notice.
Norma lifts her torso and adjusts her body so she can place her flattened palms on his chest, then rests her chin on the top of her hands. She gazes up with hopeful and widened eyes, focusing on his facial expression. Beginning to lightly drum her fingers on his pectoral muscle, Norma flashes a playful smile. "Hi," she says in a pitch a little too perky for this morning.
Straining his neck to peer down at her, the Sheriff smiles. The uncertainty leaves his thoughts the very second he sees her blue eyes focused on his own. "I've missed you." He declares sincerely while enclosing his arms a little tighter around Norma, gently shifting her body to lay more on top of his.
Norma slowly moves her arms until they reach his face, cupping both his cheeks in her hands. With her thumbs softly massaging his skin, noses almost touching. Before saying another word, Norma touches her lips to his, tenderly kissing the man until their breath becomes shallow. "Me too," she smirks noticing a look of true admiration on her face. "Spend the day with me?"
"Of course," the Sheriff chuckles a little and adds a wink.
With a quick glance to her left, Norma notices the numbers on the clock display 5:50 am. "But, first can we enjoy this moment?"
"Absolutely." He smiles again rolling them over on the bed without loosening his grip, forcing a giggle out of her while he simultaneously placing a quick kiss to the tip of her nose.
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Over 2 hours later, Norma feels completely satiated and consumed with happiness as she flutters her eyelids open. The Sheriff still resting by her side is a stunning view. She curls her body closer to his and simply basks in this closeness she hasn't felt in a long time, too long. His left arm never left from under her head, but he's shifted to his back through the course of the night.
Instead of his typical tough exterior, he's resting with a peaceful expression on his face. The Sheriff may appear harsh around others, but he's such a softy for her. She quietly giggles at the thought of the many times he's put his hardened façade aside to be gentle with her, as if she was a delicate flower.
He truly is a wonder, and he's all hers.
As the minutes tick away, she notices him become a little restless until his lids finally flicker open. "Hey, love." He greets groggily while stretching his legs out in front of him before turning on his side facing Norma. "I think my arm has fallen asleep," earning another giggle from Norma as she carefully rolls off his bicep and stuffs a pillow under her head instead.
Shaking the fingers furiously on his left hand to free the feeling of pins and needles, Romero pauses for a second and allows his thoughts of happiness to consume him. He smiles to himself, realizing this could be how he wakes up every morning.
But, then a nagging thought sneaks in his mind when he notices his side is now suddenly cold and sees Norma reach for the nightstand on the opposite side of the bed.
Ordinarily her reaching for the phone isn't any reason to question her commitment to their relationship, but it's very different when it comes to Norma. Especially when he feels the weight of the bed shift and catches a glimpse of her staring at the screen of the cell griped in her hand.
"That's strange, no messages or calls. I'm worried something happened to Norman. He always sends a message or calls when he doesn't see me." She states with concern, clearly distracted.
With a deep breath, the Sheriff sits up and looks over to Norma who is now standing next to the bed with a concerned look on her face. Needing to get an answer to the very big question that's been on his mind since last night, he decides to take a chance and ask. "When are you going to tell Norman about us?" He questions so quietly, the Sheriff is unsure if she even heard him. Maybe he's scared of her answer.
When her face flinches, he knows she heard him. It's a habit of hers, the face flinch. Whenever she tries to think of an answer or more often than not, a lie, her nose twitches. He knows what Norma is about to say, before she even utters a word.
"Oh, um." Norma fumbles with the phone in her hand, fingers obviously trembling. "Soon. Yeah, um soon."
"Right, sure but when? Do you have a timeframe?" He asks, pushing the subject further. "Last night you made it sound like you are ready to tell him today."
Dropping the phone from her hand to the bed, Norma looks at him with a slight frown. "I don't remember saying those exact words, Alex?"
The Sheriff doesn't break eye contact, just stares at the woman he loves with sadness written all over his face. "Say it Norma." He says harshly, unable to hide the hurt he's feeling.
"Say what?" She asks, also in a firmer tone before grabbing her dress from the nearby chair. In haste she slides the material up her body, then struggles with the side zipper while still narrowing her eyes at him.
The Sheriff swings his legs over the edge of the bed and quickly stands up, grabbing the first pair of sweatpants he can before pulling them up just above his hips. "You never were going to tell him."
"That's not true. I was, I- I mean, I am!" She exclaims loudly, bending down to pick up a pillow from the bed and tossing it in his direction. Laughing when she hit him in the face with it, but then immediately stops when she realizes this subject isn't something she can simply ignore like she usually does. "Stop confusing me."
Romero rolls his eyes when he thinks she isn't looking, he knows how that is a pet peeve of hers.
"I saw that!" Norma practically screams before quietening down again, never losing the sharpness of her tone though. "You know how much I hate when Dylan rolls his eyes at me."
With an annoyed groan, Romero steps around the bed and walks up to her. "Well, in my defense I didn't think you could see me roll my eyes. I was pretty covert about it." He says with a smirk, giving Norma the illusion that he's done with the subject.
He isn't.
When he's close enough, the Sheriff reaches up to softly touch the sides of her face with the palms of his hands. Staying in that position, he asks the question again. "Now. Please tell me the truth," he pleads while resting his forehead on hers for a moment before pulling back to concentrate on her reaction. "When are you going to tell Norman about us?" And that's when he sees it, before she even answers. The nose twitch.
"Soon, I promise Alex. It will be soon." Norma looks up at him thru her lashes, another tactic she's used on him before.
With a tight-lipped smile, he drops his hands from her face and takes a step back. "Right," the Sheriff mumbles under his breath. "You know, Dylan gets the eye roll from you," Romero sighs as he turns away from her and instead faces the door. "I've seen you, roll your eyes I mean. You do it subconsciously when you're tired."
Turning around, Romero keeps his distance but doesn't let the stretch of silence last too long before speaking again. "You probably don't realize this either," he pauses for a second. "Your nose twitches when you're being, I'll just say less than truthful."
Norma tries to search for her next words, but they are escaping her so she remains quiet.
"We're never going to move forward, are we?" He takes a step back, in noticing her moving closer to him. "Is this as good as it gets for us?"
With a couple of rushed steps, Norma winds up in front of him. Cautiously she touches his chest muscles with her palms, instantly feeling the warmth of his skin under her hands. "You are my present and my future, Alex." His head is hung low, with her index finger she tips his chin upward to make eye contact. "In case you didn't hear me the first time, you are my present and future."
The Sheriff almost forgets his insecurities about their connection in hearing her words. Almost. The problem is he's heard heartfelt statements from her before, always turning into the same outcome of him feeling like an intruder in his own relationship.
Taking her hands in his, Romero slowly glides his hands out of her grasp. "I can't do this anymore Norma."
The tears now gathering in the corner of her eyes, threaten to fall as she reaches out for him as he steps further away. "What?"
"I mean it. I can't be constantly hoping this situation will change because in the end, you'll keep stringing me along." Seeing her damp cheeks, almost makes him want to take all of his words back though in the end he knows he has to continue. "I love you more than you know. I always will." He pauses again, taking the time to truly focus on her. "But, I don't want to destroy your family Norma. I want to be a part of it." He steps to the side, giving her room to step through the doorway. "Until you realize that fact, it would be best if we go our separate ways."
More tears fall to her cheeks, as she turns to grab her phone from the bed and her purse from the night stand. After dropping the phone into her clutch, Norma uses the fingertips of her free hands to swipe away the wetness.
The Sheriff's heart clenches at the sight of a distraught Norma racing through his house. "I can drive you home." He whispers, attempting to hold in his own overwhelming emotions.
The Sheriff then turns quickly and rushes back into his room to find the first sweatshirt in his view. He jogs back into the living room with sweatshirt in hand, only to find the area empty and the front door left ajar.
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2 chapters left! Thank you for reading!