Chapter 119

Charisse looked at him with a soft smile. "You don't owe me an apology. You didn't really do anything to hurt me. In fact, you've helped me a lot. There's nothing you need to be sorry for." Elliot shook his head, his throat tightening up. "That's not true. If I had known earlier…" If he had figured out the truth back then, he would've gone to her right away. Maybe she wouldn't have had to go through all that pain. He could've been there—shielding her, taking care of her, letting her live like the carefree Miss Walton she used to be. She wouldn't have had to struggle like she did. And he wouldn't have made things worse when they met again. The regret was eating him alive. As they stepped out of the car, a gust of cold wind made Charisse shiver. Elliot instinctively pulled her into his arms. He held her tight. Really tight. Like he never wanted to let go again. Charisse hugged him back gently. "Elliot," she asked, "do you still like me?" "I never stopped," he said. He used to think he'd