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You weren’t completely sure what started it—disagreements, work, the stress of just being, or a mix of all three and more. All you knew was a straw finally broke your back and led you here: knees on either side of your husband’s lap and arms around his waist as you sobbed into his collar.
You felt childish. A grown adult that was the image of an elementary kid with skinned knees. You wished you weren’t nearly as sensitive as you had been your whole life, and that wish was especially prominent now.
Surely you could suck up whatever was bothering you. Surely you didn’t need to bawl in the arms of a man whose problems you knew were far greater than petty squabbles and mundane grievances in the grand scheme of things.
You said as much as your chest ached and tears stained your cheeks.
“God, it’s so stupid—”
“Hey,” Leon’s voice was a barely above a whisper, “It’s not stupid.” His arms were wrapped around you in kind. One palm soothed your spine while the other cradled you to his chest. “It matters to you. That’s enough for me.”
You chuckled half-bitterly, “You just have to say that ‘cause you married me.”
“I say it because it’s true.” A beat passed, and you heard the soft smile on his lips. “And what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t say it?”
“A really shitty one,” you mumbled.
“Exactly. And I think your standards have to be higher than that.”
A teary laugh escaped you, yet you continued to weep against Leon’s pulse point.
His words rumbled in your chest. “It’s okay to cry, you know. You told me as much before.”
“Yeah, but—“
“No buts,” he gently interjected. “You deserve it as much as anybody else—even more in my book, actually.”
Your breath still quivered, but your heart swelled with adoration.
Damn him.
“Damn you, Leon Scott Kennedy.”
His abdomen jumped with an amused huff. He mirrored your full name, replacing your damnation with an I love you.
You allowed him to soothe you in near silence as your sobs turned to sniffles turned to quiet breaths.
Soft assurances and endearments were half-cooed into your crown.
Let it out, baby.
I’m here, sweetheart.
I have you, angel.
You focused on each of the man’s words, allowing them and the weight of him against you to calm your overactive mind.
The two of you sat together long after your storm of emotions passed. He was there, and that was all you needed.