Page 139 of You and Me, For Real
He strides off before I can even thank him for coming.
The onslaught of questions is immediate.
“Where’s Scarlet?”
“Is she still coming?”
“Why isn’t Ashton here as your date?”
“Are you with either of the women?”
“Do you regret leading on two women?”
I smile despite wanting to punch a couple of journalists in the face. Instead, I raise my hands. They slowly quiet. “I’m happy to answer any of your questions. So long as it has to do with the show. No more personal questions will be answered tonight.”
They all look around at each other, either in confusion or wondering who’ll be the bravest and risk asking another personal question.
“I have a question.”
My heart nearly stops as I immediately recognize the voice.
I turn toward the carpeted runway Luke and I just walked. And there, standing in an emerald dress, her blonde hair in loose waves down her back—looking like an ethereal goddess in fitted silk—is the woman of my dreams. I clutch my chest and rub it.
Ashton smiles her beautiful, perfect, carefree smile reserved only for me, and saunters toward me.
I turn to her, an invisible tether pulling my feet forward, and meet her in the middle.
Two miracles happen. One, I manage words, “Ma’am, you have a question?” And two, I manage not to wrap her in my arms immediately.
Her soft brown eyes, dusted in gold, look up at me. “I do.”
I step another foot closer, her face inches from mine, our conversation completely private. “Okay.”
“Can you forgive me for not trusting you—for falling into old habits, and for not realizing you always had my best interest at heart?”
Air rushes from my lungs as relief courses through me. “Of course. There’s nothing to forgive.” My fingers ache to touch her, to fill the small gap between us.
“Does that mean you’ll still have me?”
The vulnerability in her voice kills me. I cup her cheek. “Absolutely. I’llalwayswant you.”
Her lips tick upward.
I caress her cheek with my thumb. “You needed time to get sorted; and I was more than happy to oblige. I missed you like crazy, though.”
“You did?”
She slowly wraps her arms around my neck. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin. “More than you know.”
“Then just kiss me already.”
I grab her by the waist and smash my lips against hers, infusing our kiss with all the passion and anguish I’ve felt the past couple of days without her. She matches my fervor with gusto.
Hoots, hollers, and cheers erupt behind us.
She pulls away and laughs.
Right then, I decide that even if I hear that laugh every single day for the rest of my life, it will never be enough.
