“Nas,” I say, but the word is murky as my emotions start to get the best of me. So, I clear my throat and try again. “Nas, I’m not mad that you wrote this. I’m mad that you didn’t tell me you loved me before I walked out the door.”

Nas’s eyes snap up to meet mine as I start to walk toward him. I can’t believe what I’m about to do. If Juliana or Shay were here, they’d be screaming at me to stop. They’d yell at the top of their lungs for me to turn my feet to the right and walk out the front door. There’s so much they would probably say and do, but they’re not me. I’m sure Shay has forgiven her husband for doing things she didn’t like, but when you have love, you should also have forgiveness, even if it boggles the minds of people outside of your relationship. None of us are perfect, and there will come a time where I’ll do something Nas won’t like, but I expect him to forgive me because he loves me. No one else has to understand. All that matters is that I do.

I step face to face with Nas and take his hands in mine, tugging them from his pockets. His eyes fill with tears, and he attempts to pull his arms back to try to wipe them away, but I hold his hands in place.

“It’s okay,” I say to him.

“I’m sorry,” he says again. “I’ll never publish another book. None of it matters if I don’t have you, Alina.”

“Stop apologizing,” I snip, gently squeezing his hands. “You’re a brilliant writer, Nas, and everybody in the world should read Right of the Slash, because it’s a masterpiece that’s about more than just BDSM. It’s about love and heartbreak. It’s about making mistakes and learning from them, and I believe you’ve learned from your mistakes. If I didn’t, I promise I wouldn’t be here right now. In fact, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love you.”

Nas’s head finally lifts. “What?”

“What you did to start your career wasn’t right,” I say as my own tears start to form. “But I forgive you, Nas. What you wrote in your manuscript is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read, and it showed me your remorse in a way I don’t think you could’ve shown if I was right here in front of you. This book showed me your heart, and I’m glad you wrote it. Thank you for opening up and being honest about how you feel. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t, but I’m here now, and I love you, Nas.”