Page 92 of Jilted Jock
“Okay, yeah that could be fun.” Her answer was agreeable but contained none of the excitement I wanted.
“Actually, not just to the obstacle course. Come with me to dinner or coffee. Date me. Marry me.” I gave her a rueful smile. “I know that’s a lot to dump in your lap after not seeing you for three weeks, but I’m laying all my cards on the table. You own me, heart and soul. I want as much of you as you’ll give me. I always have, but before I didn’t understand how to be who you needed. I’m not saying I’m gonna get it right, but I’m saying it’ll be the most important item on my to-do list every single day. Nothing is more important to me than you.”
“Chance said you were doing the steps, but I didn’t want to believe it until now. Why? You could have any woman you want.”
“Then I choose you. A hundred times over.”
She stepped forward and pressed her body to mine. Her lips met mine slowly and tentatively. So many thoughts racing through my head at the same time. All ridiculous and all of it taking root somewhere deep and sprouting with hope and excitement.
“Yes,” she said finally after she’d stepped back, leaving me stunned.
One side of my mouth pulled up. “To which thing?”
“All of them.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I drove across the country trying to decide if I was being selfish by holding on to you.”
I started to speak, but she cut me off. “For three weeks and more states than I can count, I searched for a sign that we were meant to be together. I even hiked Angels Landing.” She smiled and shook her head. “About halfway up when I was delirious from adrenaline and nerves, I realized that maybe there are no signs. Because even if there’s someone out there who is better for you, they’d never love you the way I do. I’d do anything for you, and all of this here today, seeing you again, I know you feel the same. And that has to mean something.”
“I’m gonna get it wrong sometimes, but I swear I’ll never stop trying to get it right.”
“Me too. We’ll figure it out together one day at a time.”
“You really hiked Angels Landing?”
She nodded and I could see the honesty and pride in her eyes. “It was the scariest most amazing thing I’ve ever done.”
I pulled her tight against me.
“I love you, Finn. Wildly.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
I threaded my hands through her hair and tipped her head up so I could take her sweet mouth.
“I just have one question,” she said as my lips hovered over hers.
“Shoot.”
“Well, the thing is my old house is rented and finding a new place is such a pain. Chance offered me his guest room, but I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time in LA.”
“You need a place to stay, huh?”
“Temporarily, of course. Two weeks tops until I can find a place of my own.”
“I don’t know. See, there’s this cat that someone forced me to keep and she’s pretty particular about who I let stay with me.”
“I’ll win her over, don’t worry.”
“You’re a fan of hers but not of mine, if I remember correctly,” I said, smiling. I breathed her in and closed my eyes, savoring the moment in case I was delusional and was dreaming it all up. When I opened them, she was still there, and I squeezed her tighter.
She moved like she was gonna kiss me and I inched back, a teasing glint in my eye.
“Fine. I’m a fan,” she relented.
I waited.
“Okay, okay. Not just a fan, your number one fan.”
“Think you might have some competition.” A crowd had formed around us and she followed my gaze to see the group of teenagers hanging back, too polite or maybe scared to interrupt and ask for a photo or autograph.
