Page 109 of Welcome to Forever
Her body melted into his arms. “I need you, too.” And she loved them. She lovedhim. He hadn’t reciprocated when she’d told him so at his house last night, though. It was written on the wall in front of her now, but no way was she saying those three words a second time. Not until he did. “You have to write me while you’re gone. And call and Skype, and whatever else you’re able to do while you’re in the desert. Do those things with Ben first, of course, but don’t leave me wondering if you’re okay.”
Micah locked his gaze on hers, tracing a finger down her cheek. “I’m going to be okay, Kat, but yes, I’ll write and call as much as I can. And I’ll think about you every second that I’m gone.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m going to miss you and Ben. Tell Ben to write and call me, too.”
Micah frowned, looking away briefly. “Ben isn’t going anywhere. He’s staying in Seaside.”
She drew back and waited for him to look at her again. “I just assumed that Ben would go live with his mother. He told me at school today that Jessica was coming home after Christmas.”
He shook his head. “Just for a visit. My aunt Clara and Uncle Rick don’t mind watching him for me. They’ve done it before.”
“You know I can help, too. I love Ben.” As much as she would her own son.
“And he loves you. So do I, Kat. I love you so much.”
She froze. “You do?” she asked. She shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d shown her in a million different ways over the past weeks.
“I love you,” he said again.
She liked the sound of those words on his lips. Wanted to hear them over and over, again and again. “I love you, too, Micah.” She never thought she’d love anyone else, but here she was head over heels for another man in uniform. She wasn’t scared about the future anymore, though. Love was always a risk, and she was willing to take it if it meant being with this man who’d brought her heart back to life.
“I know that you’ll come home to me and then we’ll have our happy ending,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Nuh-uh. Not an ending. We are just getting started, Principal Chandler. This is our happy beginning.”
She liked the sound of that, too. And the feel of his mouth on hers as he kissed her, long and deep. Then he swept her off her feet, into his arms, and carried her home to relish every second they had together until it was time for him to leave. He wouldn’t be gone forever. She believed that with all her heart. One day he’d come home to her and they’d continue what they’d started. Their happy beginning was just that, a beginning to a relationship that she hoped would be long and wonderful.
