Page 40 of Chasing Me

But I didn’t want to.

I wanted to forgive, rebuild, and go on stronger than before.Wasn’t that what real love was about?Messiness and mistakes and some pain in order to appreciate the good stuff?Deciding what I could and couldn’t live with?I’d learned so much about myself and James this past year.I wasn’t ready to let it go.

“Good,” Mac announced.“I hate seeing you unhappy.And it seems like James is your true fit.Your other half.”

I smiled and reached out, linking my hands with theirs.“I love you guys.I haven’t seen you as much this past year,” I said.“Can we make a vow to do this every Spring Break?Whether we bring boys or not?”

My girls nodded and raised their glasses.“Absolutely.To us.Best friends.”

We all clinked glasses and smiled.“But the party isn’t over yet,” Mac reminded us.“Captain Crowe’s tonight for a surprise.”

“No hint?”I asked teasingly.

“Nope.We’ll all meet there.”

“Are you going to call James and tell him?”Cassie asked.

I shook my head.“We need to talk in person.When I get back to Chicago, hopefully, he’ll be ready to move forward.Or not.”

“He will,” Mac said forcefully.“He’s nuts about you.Even if he is broke now.”

Cassie and I laughed.“But more honorable,” Cassie added.“And much more of a man deserving of Quinn.Better than the rich dude with the asshole friends.”

We all drank and then went our different ways for the rest of the afternoon.

I dressed a bit more carefully for the last night.Black skirt, strappy sandals—flats, not heels, since I still sucked walking in them—and a silvery tank that shimmered when I walked.Something fun and flirty to make myself feel good.I headed down Duval Street, enjoying the mad revelry of the crowds, drinking and shouting, laughing and dancing in honor of the sunset.I strolled slowly, the sun burning my shoulders, remembering how James used to keep slathering suntan lotion on me because of my fair skin, and suddenly, tears stung my eyes.All I wanted was to call him and tell him I loved him.

I would.

Screw it.I’d tell Mac and Cassie I needed to talk to him, right then and there, and find someplace private and call him and—

A familiar figure was moving toward me.The sun blocked my view and I blinked furiously, wondering why those burnished waves and that tall, lean body looked like James.He walked forward with a determined purpose, gaze narrowed on me, and suddenly the crowds parted and he was in front of me.Those beloved stinging-blue eyes, filled with need and a bit of wariness, stared into mine.My breath caught.

“James?”

I couldn’t say anything else.He leaned forward, cupped my cheeks, and bent my head.Kissed me with a purity and tenderness that broke through my soul.Then slowly, he lifted his head.

“I couldn’t stay away, Quinn.I love you, and I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth.Your heart is part of mine—I’m only half a man without you.Forgive me.Give me another chance.”

I broke open and gave him everything I had.“Yes,” I breathed against his lips.“I don’t want a life without you.I want another chance together, stronger than before.I love you.”

He growled and lifted me in his arms, kissing me passionately.He swung me around in the middle of Duval Street, and I knew everything would be okay.

“I was going to call you,” I said when he put me down.“I couldn’t stand being without you another second.”

“And I wanted to give you enough time to yourself, but I knew I’d follow you anywhere.Listen, Quinn, I went to the Brush Institute.I spoke with administration and told them everything about Ava.”

I stiffened.It still hurt a bit, but most of the sharpness had faded.“What happened?”

“We had a meeting, and two other students came forward.Both male.They admitted to being pursued by Ava, and there’s an investigation being done.”

I let out a sigh of relief.No other student should go through that, not when they just wanted to learn a craft.“What about the show?”

“I told them I was pulling out of the show, but Lucas—the other art teacher who mentors students—saw my work.He came to the house and asked me to stay.Said I had enough talent on my own and to stop questioning my abilities.He said he sees huge things for me, Quinn, and he had tons of connections.He wants to take me on.”

I squealed and hugged him hard.“I knew it!I knew you’d do it on your own.I’m so proud of you, baby.”

He kissed me again and laughed with joy.“Let’s celebrate.”

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