Page 108 of Welcome to Forever
Ben had just taught him that.
“You’re my hero, buddy. Did you know that?” It was the truth. Ben had taught him way more about life than he could ever teach his son. And Ben made him want to be better.
“I learned watching you, Dad. You’re mine.”
The words made something shift inside him. His son was proud of him, even though he was leaving. The knowledge ripped him up inside. “Let’s get you to class,” he said, straightening and opening the door of the school.
Kat wasn’t in the front office when he signed Ben in. Val was, though. She sat, alternating between smiles at Ben and disgruntled frowns at him. Hopefully, she would be as forgiving as Ben once he fixed things with Kat.
Because he was going to fix things with Kat—before this day was over.
—
The building was quiet, except for that occasional creak that could never be identified. Kat tapped her fingers on her desk, staring at the stack of teacher requests for time off. Then there were the office supply lists that she needed to approve. And the proposed field trips for the third quarter of the school year.
With a sigh, she shoved the stacks of paper to the side and stared at the clock. She should just go home. Julie was probably cooking, and Val might even be there. The two had gotten unbelievably tolerant of each other these days, which made Kat happy. So, she didn’t have the love of a good man—the best man. She still had a sister who was loyal and sticking in Seaside indefinitely. And a best friend who made her laugh even when she wanted to cry.
A noise down the west hallway jolted Kat in her chair. She listened stiffly, hearing it a second time. No way were those vandals destroying school property again. She knew who they were now, and they’d already served their time after school.
The familiar sound of metal cans hitting the pavement brought her to her feet, though. There was no mistaking it. She started walking, getting faster as she drew closer to the side entrance. She’d really thought they’d learned their lesson, but no. She could hear theclick, click sheeshof the spray paint writing who knows what on the wall outside.
Pushing through the side door, she was already lecturing the boys. “Just what do you think you’re doing—” She stopped stone-cold as she met Micah’s dark brown eyes. “You? What are you doing out here?” Her gaze searched the woods in front of her as her heart rattled her chest, and not because of the vandals. “Did you see the boys?” she asked.
Micah shook his head, but a smile was overwhelming his face. It’d been less than twenty-four hours since she’d made an absolute fool of herself, she knew, butGod,she’d missed that face. He took a step closer to her and she stiffened, waiting for another rejection. And she would deserve it. She’d really screwed things up with him. She knew that, but she couldn’t change the past no matter how much she wished she could.
“I’m here to see you,” he said, stepping even closer.
“Me? Why didn’t you just come through the front door?” Her brows lowered because there was this look of mischief in his eyes. Where was the anger and the disappointment from last night?
“I decided after your whole throwing-pebbles-at-my-window-in-the-middle-of-the-night thing that I needed to do something a little more dramatic than coming through the school’s front door.”
“Dramatic?” She shook her head, still not following him. “For what?”
“To tell you how I feel. You poured your heart out to me last night, and now it’s my turn.” He held out his hands and she gasped when she saw the fresh spray paint coloring them.
Her eyes widened as she looked up. “You?” Whirling around, she gasped again at the wall of bright blue paint.
I LOVE YOU. FORGIVE ME?
Her chest pinched and her throat tightened. She couldn’t turn to face him again. There was too much emotion swirling inside of her to process. Was he just clearing his conscious before leaving?
“I understand that I’ll have to clean this mess up,” he said in a low voice as he stood behind her. His hands rested on her shoulders, squeezing softly. “And I’ll probably have to serve time after school in the Friendship Club for delinquent behavior.”
She stifled a laugh.
“I may have to serve that time when I get back from deployment, though. Do you think you can wait that long?”
Facing him now, she looked up to meet his eyes through her own tear-filled ones. “I can wait,” she said shakily.
“Yeah?” he asked, using his index finger to wipe away one of her tears.
“Yeah.” She nodded, leaning into his chest. He didn’t push her away. This was real. “But I’m the one who needs to be forgiven. I just left…and Ben.”
Micah held a finger to her lips, gently quieting her. “I’ve learned that Ben and I are two very forgiving guys. So, uh, what do you say to spending more time with us? A whole lot more time. After I get home from deployment, that is.”
It felt so good to be back in his arms. Like a dream she never wanted to wake from. “I will spend every second with you that you’ll let me.” She laughed, on the verge of tears.
He smoothed her hair behind her ear. “That’s good, because according to Ben we’re perfect for each other. And I have to agree. I’d be a fool to let you get away. Ben and I need you, Kat.”
