Page 78 of Chasing Sunrise

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Kasey thoroughly enjoyedthe evening with Amanda and Ian. They called for Chinese food and ate while they each spoke of their lives. Ian, of being poor growing up, never thinking he could change his circumstances, and the calamity of having triplets. Amanda, about constantly moving and how she’s never been beaten at pool since she turned fifteen. Kasey, of being the middle son of five boys and the mischief he and his brothers often got into. They shared the silliest memories and deeply personal events. The conversation never hit a lull.

The best part of everything was seeing Amanda so ... the only word that came to Kasey’s mind wasfree. There was a lilt to her voice, a brightness in her expression he’d never seen before. Meeting Ian, learning about him, had let her past be put in the past.

He still wanted to hold her parents accountable, and doubted he’d ever feel differently, but he’d keep his opinion to himself. She loved them. He’d respect that.

They walked Ian out to his car. The storm had passed, and the smell of wet grass lifted on the breeze. The motion lights on her back door and garage lit up the yard and drive.

“Please keep in touch,” Amanda said. “I’d love to hear about how you’re doing.”

Ian smiled. “I have your number. You can bet my wife will call you and want to meet.”

“I look forward to it.” She hugged him. “Ian,” her voice wavered again. “I wish I could tell you what meeting you has meant to me.”

“I just wish you’d let me repay you somehow.”

She dismissed his words, using a shooing motion with her hands. “You finding me and visiting today is worth more than anything.”

He shook Kasey’s hand. “It was nice to meet you, Kasey.”

“Thanks for searching for her. She needed this to happen.” He smiled.

Ian left, and Kasey turned toward Amanda not able to wait any longer to say, “I love you.”

A radiant smile took over her face.

When she opened her mouth to speak, he rushed on and pointed to the bandage. “I fell while climbing Cima Grande.”

She put her palm on his other cheek.

“I’ll heal.” He grasped her hand between his. “My life flashed before me on the way down. I’d love to tell you it was the first time that’s happened, except it wasn’t. Each time, the rush and the adrenaline of surviving urged me on to more dangerous challenges.” A surge of emotion swamped him. He cleared his throat. “I realized that since the holdup I’ve been proving I can cheat death again and again.”

“Oh, Kasey.” She squeezed his hand.

“My dad told me he thought I would stop taking such high risks when I found something or someone more important than the rush. You are the someone.”

Her eyes glistened.

“All I could think of as I plummeted downward was how I wished I’d told you I love you. How I wanted to be with you instead of climbing that cold, hard, slippery rock. I quit. For the immediate future, I just want to be with you.”

“I can’t be the reason you quit,” she protested. “That’s not a way to start our relationship. Plus, I also realized something the last few days. Even though I missed you like crazy, I can handle you being gone. I’m willing to travel with you at times, and I want you to tell me about your stunts. You don’t have to quit.”

“I’m glad you’re open to me being gone, because I have ideas on what I’ll do next and it does include travel. But it’s time for me to leave the show. The challenges don’t excite me anymore and that will translate onto the screen. I don’t want to half-heartedly do anything. Including loving you. I’m all in.”

She squealed, hugged him tightly, and took his hand. “Come inside.” She led him through the back door and to the bathroom. She pointed to the mosaic. There was only one tiny uncompleted spot right in the middle. “I couldn’t finish it without you.”

“Why is that?” Without letting her answer, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, aching for a taste of her. She pressed her lips against his with the sweetest pressure. He pulled away, knowing if he kissed her any deeper, he’d pick her up and take her to her bedroom. Which he planned to do soon, but she’d brought him here for a reason.

Her eyes opened slowly and were filled with desire. He loved how receptive she was.

“I couldn’t finish without you because...” She released him, opened the cabinet where she kept the supplies, and leaned down. When she rose, she had glue in one hand and her other made a fist. “The last piece belongs to you.” She opened her hand, and in her palm was a heart-shaped piece of tile. “My heart.”

“I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.” ~ Noah Calhoun ~ The Notebook

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