Page 91 of The Sky Between Us

“I missed you,” I said finally.

Her lips parted and shock crossed her face. “I…” she blinked, unsure what to say. She wasn’t expecting me to say what I did, but I came home with a plan. And that plan included her.

“I missed you every waking moment, even when I was asleep. I wanted to hear your voice, ask your opinion and talk to you about my day, and everything. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to be in Europe. That enough would be manageable, but being there without you almost felt impossible. I went through the day as if I was missing a limb. I didn’t even breathe fully without you by my side. Hazel… you changed my life. For better or for worse, because I was always careful with drugs, but you became my addiction. I want you… no… I need you, in my life.”

Tears clouded her vision and I watched as they spilled out and rolled down her cheek. “I’m not the same girl you left behind.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But I made the biggest mistake in my life when I didn’t beg you to come with me.”

She shook her head. “You made the right decision by not asking me. I wasn’t ready to go. Before you, I was lost, but you showed me a way back into the light. You pushed me to become a better person, to dream, wish and hope again. You taught me how to fall in love again. Not just with you but with myself. You will forever be a part of me.”

“Why does this sound like a goodbye?” I asked, panic clearly filling my voice, making it shake. My entire body trembled from the fear of losing her. “I want you to give us a second chance,” I said when she was about to open her mouth. “I will…” I cut myself off.

Hazel watched me with a hooded gaze and she was thinking the same.

Would I give up Ajax for her? Did she want me to do that? Or what did she want?

“I… want to know who you’ve become,” I said in the end. “I’m here for a few months.”

“You want to date me for a few more months?” she asked in a mocking way. “And what, if you don’t like who I am, you will just leave again?”

That was stupid.

I scratched my head. “I want you. Hazel. But I clearly suck at figuring out how to do it.”

Hazel ducked her head, her hair falling forward almost covering the smile that was stretching across her face. “Maybe just ask me the right question.”

My mind raced. Right question? Was she expecting a proposal? I didn’t want to get married yet. Yes, I loved her but that was too soon. What else could I ask her? About her life? I almost knew most of the thing’s thanks to Camilla and I was sure she was going to be an amazing dance teacher.

What did I have to ask her?

Hazel crossed her arms in front of her chest and lightly tapped her foot, telling me I was taking too long.

“Ask me what you were supposed to ask me before you left,” she said slowly, her smile growing bigger with every second, as my face went blank.

No way in hell she wanted me to pop that question.

But her confident smile and encouraging nod tipped me over.

“I want you to come with me,” I blurted out. At that moment, the entire world stopped and everyone was staring at us.

“That didn’t sound like a question,” Hazel teased because she couldn’t not be bitchy.

I shook my head, and felt myself grinning. I took a step closer to her, aware of the small audience around us, and knelt down to one knee. “Hazel McCharty, would you do me the honor of moving to Europe with me?” I asked, staring up at her with my cute puppy eyes.

Her grin grew wider and she threw herself into my arms and kissed me with a hungry, intense, passionate and rushing kiss. Our tongues collided and I could taste vanilla coffee on hers, reminding me of everything I almost forgot. Her body pressed against mine, her lips on me, and my fingers finally in her silky hair.

I never wanted to let her go.

But I had to.

“I’m not sure I heard your answer,” I muttered against her lips. “I kind of need an answer to my question, baby.”

Hazel chuckled. “Do I need to spell it out for you?”

“Please.”

She wrapped her arms around me and sitting on my knee, she kissed my cheek.

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