Page 51 of Be My Reason

If heonly left a short while ago, I may be able to catch up to him because I’m closer to the Interstate than he was.

I make itthere in five minutes but I figure he is already ahead of me so I drive much faster than is safe; faster than I’ve ever driven before. I pray that the police are not out this afternoon because that would put a definite stop to my plans to chase him down. His truck will be easy to spot. What am I going to do when I find him, run him off the road? I guess I will if I have to. I have to get his attention. He has to stop and talk to me. I will make him listen.

Shit.I eye my gas gauge.

Shit, shit, shit.

The warning light is on. I look up to the sky.Why did this have to happen now? There is an exit just ahead. I will only stop long enough for a few gallons. He can’t be that far ahead of me.

I pullup to the pump and there is a ‘cash only’ sign. I turn to look in the store and see a long line of people waiting to pay.Oh my God. What else can go wrong?

I quickly pumpin five gallons and fish through my purse for some money while running into the store. I try to think of some reason that could get me to the front of the line. When I’m about to yell ‘fire’, I look out the front window.

My heart stops.There he is. Nate is pumping gas into his truck right outside the store.

Thank you, God.

I get bumped into from behind for holding up the line. I peel my eyes away from Nate just long enough to put my twenty on the counter and tell the clerk to keep the change.

My legsare trembling so badly that I’m not sure I will be able to walk. I slowly open the door and start to make my way over to him. He hasn’t seen me yet. He is leaning against his truck looking the other way. I see his chest expand while he closes his eyes and tilts his head up, and then he releases a long, slow breath. He is shaking his head back and forth. His left hand comes up momentarily rubbing on his tattoo and I wonder if he realizes when he does that. His body language tells the story. He is defeated, broken once again by a woman.

He finishes pumping, replaces the nozzle and is going for his wallet when our eyes meet. He blinks a few times and then stares at me. “Brooklyn.” He runs his hand through his hair and leans back against his truck, waiting for me to say something.

I walk the last few steps and position myself right next to him, leaning on the truck as well. I take a deep breath and try to muster up the courage to tell him everything I am thinking.“Nate. I’m sorry—”

“Yeah, I know, you already said that in your note,” he cuts me off with a sharp bite to his words.

“Nate, please. Just let me talk. I need to tell you some things.” I close my eyes and reach down deep and then I tell him everything that happened today. I tell him every detail. Right down to what I can only believe was a divine intervention at the cemetery. Well, maybe not every detail. I certainly don’t intend on confessing my love for him here in the middle of a gas station.

I open my eyes and look over at him.He’s still not talking, but at least he doesn’t look pissed anymore so I continue. “Nate, I’m so sorry I freaked out and left. I know I’ve been difficult. I’ve been a bitch. I’ve not been fair to you at all. You were right about everything. About Michael.” Tears are running down my face and I’m sure I look hideous but I don’t care. “But I’m ready now. I want to be with you. On some level, I’ve always wanted to be with you. Will you please come back home with me?” I reach over and take his hand in mine. “Please?” I beg.

He looks conflicted. I can tell there is a battle going on inside his head. I only hope that in this war over his heart, I come out the winner. Any other outcome isn’t an option. He doesn’t pull away and herhythmically rubs his thumb over the back of my hand shooting sparks up my arm. He turns towards me so that we are face to face. “Okay,” he says as a slow smile creeps up his face. “But there will be ground rules.”

And then he kisses me.

His hands are holding my neck and he kisses me gently, taking my top lip into his mouth and then running his tongue across my bottom lip asking for entrance. I open up to him. Of course I do. I want to kiss him like this forever. His lips taste salty and I realize that I must still be crying; only now they are happy tears.

He is feathering a trail of kisses up to my ear.Right here, in the middle of the gas pumps, he is kissing my neck.

“Such as?”I breathe out in a whisper.

I feel him smile against my neck.“Sex,” he whispers in my ear. “Lots and lots of sex.”

~~ ~

When we walk back into the apartment, Emma jumps off the couch. “Answer your damn phone once in a while, Lyn!” she yells at me. Then her mouth drops open when Nate walks in behind me. “Oh,” she says, smiling at us.

My face hurts from the smile I’ve worn for the past thirty minutes.She looks between Nate and me. “What now? I mean, are you together-together?” She looks at me and adds, “Is this for real?” She looks at Nate. “Are you staying on the job? Are you moving into her room so that Graham and I have a place to stay when we are here?”

Nate starts laughing. “Emma, we’ve been together for all of two-point-five seconds. When we figure this all out, we’ll send you a memo.”

“Whatever,” shegrumbles. Then she points at me. “You better call me tomorrow and spill.” She picks up her purse and heads for the door.

“You’re driving back tonight?” I ask her.

“You don’t think I’m staying here do you? I don’t need to hear you two ‘making up’, ” she air quotes. “Ick. I’ll go stay at my parents’ place and head back to Raleigh tomorrow.” Then she addresses Nate, clearly trying to extract more information. “What should I tell Graham?”

“I already talked to him on the way here. It’s all good.” He smiles.

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