Page 35 of His Daring Girl

“You know, when I said you had to grovel, I didn’t mean you needed to fly out here just to talk to me.”

I hope this isn’t because he’s still feeling guilty. He doesn’t have to do such grand gestures for me to trust him again. I just need him to be open with me about everything. Honesty is all I want.

“I like groveling.” His teeth sink down into his lower lip, obviously recalling our weekend together. His tongue apologized profusely.“But that’s not the reason I came. I didn’t want to mention this until I was one hundred percent certain, but I got my acceptance letter today and I hopped on the very next flight out to come tell you.”

I’m not following. I don’t know what he’s been accepted to.

“I’m transferring to Michigan, babe. I wasn’t sure my grades were going to cut it, but I rocked it this semester and my coach put in a stellar recommendation, and I managed to get accepted. Come January, I’m going to be here with you, baby!”

“Oh my God, Chase!” I jump into his arms and the flowers drop from his hands as he catches me. “That’s incredible. Wait…” I lean back. “What about football?”

“I’m going to be playing for the team. In fact, the coach has been following me this season and is excited to have me.”

Wow! That’s amazing. I’m so excited I could scream.

“That’s fantastic!” I lean forward and press my lips to his, getting swept up in the joy that’s pouring off him. We don’t have to do long distance anymore. We’re going to be together. No more homesickness, no more loneliness, no more worrying. I just get to be with him. I’ll get to come watch him play, which is something I’ve never done before.

“Congrats, Chase!” I hear Presley’s voice and realize I left her hanging. “I’m hanging up now so you guys can go celebrate. Love you guys!”

The phone goes silent, and I smile down at my amazing guy. “Thank you! Thank you for doing this. It means so much, Chase.” He was already settled in. Making friends. Part of a team. Finding his groove. But he’s uprooting everything for me. If I ever had any doubts about his feelings for me, I certainly don’t anymore.

I kiss him again, squealing against his lips. This feels like the best day ever.

“What did your parents say?” I ask, as he carries me over to my bed, kicking off his shoes.

“They told me they were happy I was chasing my dreams, and that they’re proud of me.”

“I’m proud of you, too. See?” I point him with a look. “Told you you aren’t a dumb jock. You got accepted into one of the top schools.”

His face lights up and I think it’s finally sinking in. “Do you know what the smartest thing I ever did was?”

My back hits my mattress. His large frame above me, looking down with so much love shining in his crystal blue eyes. “The smartest thing was daring you to kiss me.”

And the smartest thing I ever did was daring to believe that someone like him could love a girl like me.

EPILOGUE

Chase

7 Years later…

“We’re about fifteen away,” Ruby tells her mom. “Yeah, sure. We can swing by the store.” She gives me a look, and I flip my turn signal on to merge into the right lane. “Just text me a list. We’re about to pull in now. Yes, we are too. Of course we want to play. But how about we change up the teams and do ladies versus the guys?”

I shoot her a look as I pull into the grocery store parking lot. I know she’s talking about playing Charades. It’s become our holiday tradition with her family.

“Fine.” She shakes her head, sounding annoyed, and I’m betting she’s still going to have to be my teammate. “Okay, we’re at the store now, so send me the list. Love you.”

She hangs up, and I shift in my seat. “You’re going to get a spanking for that.”

The pink hits her cheeks and makes her look so stinking cute. My blood is already getting warm.

“Can you really blame me? The last time we played Charades with Kyler and Presley you were trying to whack at your crotch when you got the phrase: cutting wood.”

I can’t help but chuckle. Yeah, that was pretty bad. But what else was I supposed to do? “And how would you have acted it out, my darling girl?”

“I would have pretended to chop a piece of wood with an axe.”

I smile wider. Yeah, that definitely would’ve been the smarter choice.

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