A Love That Is...
From that moment forward, yours and Steve’s relationship went better than you ever could have imagined. As was the case in any relationship, you still had a few bumps in the road, but it was clear now that Steve wasn’t going to leave you. Not now, not anytime soon. And you made it clear that you were in it with him for the long haul. You worked through your problems together, became a real sort of team that was learning how to navigate life together. And you loved every single second of it.
It’d been nearly a year since that day when you really let yourself open to Steve, and now the two of you were moving in together. You’d found a nice place in Brooklyn with plenty of room to grow, if that’s what you guys chose to do. Everything was going so wonderfully. You were really building a life together, and you knew that there was no other person you’d rather do that with than Steve.
But, for all of the sunshine in the world, there still had to be some storm clouds along the way.
You just never thought Ransom fucking Drysdale would be the one to darken your doorstep.
When you heard the knock on the door and opened the door to find him there, you could hardly shake off the shock. Who the fuck did he think he was? What right did he have to come to your—hey! What that the fuck was he doing walking into your home without so much as a hello?
“I made a mistake,” he said before you could say anything. “I should’ve never let you go. You’re a goddamn treasure, and I should’ve cherished you while I had you.”
“You never had me, Hugh.”
He blinked, then chuckled. “That’s not my name, petal. That’s not what you call me.”
“You made it abundantly clear you didn’t like that name,” you said. “Just like how you made it clear that you didn’t like me. That you never had, and that you never would. Why are you even here? I recall you telling me to get the fuck out of your life. I kept up my end of that, and you need to do the same.”
“Petal, I told you. I made a mistake—”
“Angel? Who’s at the door?”
Oh, Steve. Your knight in shining armor.
“What? This the guy you left me for?” Ransom scoffed. “Petal, he’s not good enough for you—”
“He’s a helluva lot better than you,” you said. “And you have no right to determine what’s good for me.”
Steve came up behind you, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you against his chest. “Angel, who is this?”
“The bastard from Boston.”
“Oh, so you told him about me, petal? I’m flattered.” His eyes flicked up to Steve. “Did she tell you all our dirty little secrets? Tell me, does she still scream like a whore when—”
“Leave,” Steve said, his voice firm, the same kind of tone he’d use on new recruits. He had no interest in entertaining whatever bullshit Ransom had to say. From everything you’d told him about that man, he knew that he reveled in getting a rise out of people. But Steve was not going to give him that satisfaction, not when that bastard hurt you so bad.
But Ransom wasn’t the kind of man to take orders. Instead, he sized Steve up, squaring his shoulders and sneered, “Oh? And who are you to tell me what to do? Some relic of the past? What’d ever make you think she’d love some washed up has-been like you?”
If his words had an effect on Steve, he didn’t show it. “I know she loves me. I listen to her. I’m there for her, for better or for worse. When she has a good day, I’m cheering her on. When she has a bad one, I’m there to comfort her. I don’t let her go to bed upset. When she has something to say, I make sure I pay attention. I don’t hold her back. I don’t clip her wings to force to be on the ground with me. If she wants to do something, I don’t stand in the way. I get her flowers.”
Ransom only scoffed. “You know, she’s gonna come crawling back to me eventually. She’s gonna realize she made a huge mistake in turning me down. She’s gonna regret it.”
“No, the only thing I regret is thinking I loved you,” you said, staring Ransom down. “I believe Steve told you to leave. I think it’d be best if you listened to him.”
“Oh, petal, you don’t mean—”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” you snapped. You clenched your fists, trying to steady your breathing. “You don’t get to call me pet names, act like you’d been anything other than an ass to me. You were fucking dick to me, and you don’t get to act like you’re here to make things better. You knew I was happy, I’m sure you knew I was happy, but you weren’t. And you just wanted to drag me back down to your level ‘cause you could never stand to see me be my own person. Well, you’re not gonna get that. Not anymore. I’m not your doll to play with anymore. And I never should’ve been yours in the first place. Now, Steve told you to leave. And I’m saying the same thing: Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House. Forget you knew I existed. I don’t ever wanna see you again. And I mean that.”
“You heard her,” Steve said before Ransom could protest. “Get the fuck out of here before you’re gonna have a few regrets.”
Ransom huffed, ready to argue, but when he saw the murderous glint in Steve’s eyes, he didn’t press further. Instead, he turned on his heel, stomping out of your home like he was a toddler about to throw a tantrum, and slammed the door shut.
When he was gone, Steve spun you around and made you look up at him. “Angel, you know I love you, right?”
“Of course—”
“Because I do love you, and I never want to see you hurt,” he said. “If what that bastard did bothered you, just tell me and I’ll track him down and give him a piece of my mind.”
You smiled. “No, you don’t need to do that. He…He doesn’t bother me anymore. I got to say my piece, and now I’m over it. He means nothing to me, and someone who means nothing to me can’t hurt me.”
“Well, you know you can tell me—”
“I know, baby boy,” you said, leaning up to kiss him. “But I’d rather not think of him anymore. I got a nice big home that I think we need to get well acquainted with.”
He gave you a big grin. “Oh, you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”
“Mm, I don’t know, baby boy, why don’t you find out?” you teased, pulling out of his arms, giggling, as you raced to the bedroom with him hot on your heels.
Yeah. Yeah, this was the love you deserved. A love that was patient, kind, and understanding. A love that meant something. A love that was reciprocated. A love that belonged to you and Steve.
After all, he’s the one who gets you flowers.