Page 74 of Falls County

“If you’re gonna act like a child then I’m gonna treat you like one!” He shouted before depositing me on the grass.

“I am not!”

“The fuck you ain’t!” Pacing around the yard he took off his hat sweeping a hand through his hair. “Dammit Kaci! Why’d you leave me? And why you come back?”

My heart hammered in my chest. “I need to leave.”

“No tell me.”

“I don’t know Luke!” My eyes pinned his.

“Yes you do! Just fucking tell me! Why did you leave me?” His voice got louder.

“I blamed you! I blamed everything on you! The accident, the fact that it took my scholarship away. I blamed you! I didn’t want to be stuck here feeling that way. I didn’t want to keep hurting you okay!” I yelled back at him.

“Okay.” He seemed defeated.

“Okay?”

“Yeah okay. I understand.”

“Were you with other girls when I left?” My voice seemed to lower at the question I wasn’t sure I wanted answered.

“You think I was fucking other girls? Fucking Jenn?” He paused scrubbing a hand down his face. “No. But, you have no idea how bad I wanted to. Just fuck some stranger and forget all about you. That way, I would never risk feeling like this again. Feeling like you’re slipping away. Feeling like I am right now.” Pacing around he looked back at me. “God Kaci, don’t you get it? It’s you. Its always been you. There was always a reason why I couldn’t. Why I wouldn’t. I don’t fucking want anyone else.”

My heart hammered in my chest even harder than it had been at his words. “Luke…”

Cutting me off he continued. “If you’re going to leave me just do it now. If this is the part where you tell me you can’t do it anymore, I don’t want to hear it. Just go.”

“Luke…” I started.

“No Kaci. I’m fucking in love with you. I love you so much it hurts. I want you to stay. I need you to stay. I won’t make it this time.” Dropping to his knees I watched as tears fell from his green eyes. I held his hand in mine. “Please stay.”

I couldn’t hold the tears back. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you too much.”

His head popped up before he pulled me down to him. “Say it again.”

“I love you Luke. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thank God.” He breathed capturing my lips with his.

It was soft but hard all at the same time. Everything I needed and more. I could taste the salt from our tears on my lips.

Luke’s hands framed my face as he rested his forehead on mine. “Marry me.”

“Luke!” I stood up shocked from his words.

“What? I don’t want to go backwards.” He stood gripping my hands in his. “I want to marry you and practice making babies until you’re ready for one.”

A laugh bubbled up escaping. “What about three?”

“Three babies?” Luke questioned.

“Yeah.”

“Deal. Now are you gonna marry me or what?” Luke gave me his best puppy dog eyes.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Kaci Marie.”

“Luke Randall.”

---