Page 71 of Homesick

At some point, my steps land me a few inches away from Blake.

“I don’t know if I’ll end up hurting you or you’ll end up hurting me, but I will spend the rest of my life heartbroken over you just to give this thing one more chance.”

I end my sentence by lifting his hands to my hips. The contact sets my body on fire, but I ignore the need to pull him close.

“I want you to know that just because I’m not ready to move doesn’t mean that I’m not willing to make this work. Can you feel how steady I am right now? I’m not going anywhere.”

Blake’s broken frown comes back to life and tilts up into a smile. My heart races when the corner of his eyes crinkle in what I hope is happiness.

My comfort is soon replaced with dread when Blake lifts his hands from my hips and heads toward the house. My mind races and my forehead crinkles in confusion.

“What the hell?” I whisper to myself and turn to follow him to the house.

Something mixed between rage and insanity courses through my veins. I’m not letting him walk away again.

I begin to stomp up to the house with every curse word under the sun ready in my arsenal when I see him emerge from the front door. Without thinking, my mouth starts running. “Listen here, you . . . you idiot! I just told you I’m not going anywhere, and you walk away? I don’t care how good you look in those damn jeans, I’m not putting up with this.”

Before I can register what is happening, Blake’s long legs carry him across the driveway and back into my arms. He takes me in his arms in pure passion and presses his lips to mine. The kiss literally takes my breath away and when he finally pulls back, I have to push him away to regain my footing.

“What the?—”

Before I can finish my sentence, Blake answers, “I don’t have to move to Wisconsin.”

Still in a complete state of shock, I barely register the envelope resting in his hands. He lifts it up to my eyeline and gingerly places the letter in my hands.

My eyes quickly scan the acceptance letter, and I can feel a familiar warmth radiate through my body.

“This school is in New York,” I say when I skim the acceptance letter again.

Blake reaches out and lowers the letter from my eyesight.

“I was planning this very romantic surprise to tell you, but of course, you had to go and ruin it,” he says with a wink. “It’s about an hour away from here.”

“This is crazy. What about Wisconsin? I don’t want you to give up a good opportunity just to stay close to me.”

A smug smile returns to Blake’s face as he continues to hold me.

“It is a good opportunity, but that isn’t why I wanted to go there. I wanted to go there for the same reasons you left Honey Grove, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I already have a job lined up and this school has everything I need. I finally have everything I need in one place, and I would be crazy to leave. This town is my home. You’re my home, Wren.”

“You’re sure? I don’t want you to regret staying here because of me,” I say, cracking the door open for old insecurities.

Blake’s hand caresses my chin and pulls my eyes to his.

“The only thing I regret is walking away six years ago. I’m not letting you go again, Wren. I love you.”

His words vibrate through my body like a second life and my heart is ready to burst from its cage. Those three little words have been on the tip of my tongue since Blake found me caked in cow shit at the beginning of summer.

“I love you, Blake.”

Blake’s eyes seem to glow from within and he pulls me in for another earth-shattering kiss. When he pulls away, my heart stops as his hands trail toward my ass. My excitement is short-lived when his hand slips into my back pocket.

“Oh shit. I forgot about the ring. I was going to put it back, but?—”

“Relax, Wren. I want you to keep it.”

Nerves bundle up in the base of my stomach and my pulse quickens.

“Blake, I’m flattered, but I don’t think I’m ready for that yet,” I say as I step away and look at the ground.

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