Page 81 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

“Nate,” Bryan calls after me, his voice wary.

I pause, glancing back at him.

“She’s hurt, man. You can’t just show up and expect her to forgive you.”

“I know,” I say quietly. “But I have to try. I can’t let her go without telling her how I feel.”

Bryan sighs, shaking his head. “Good luck, Nate. You’re going to need it.”

I nod, the weight of his words settling over me as I climb back into my car and head for the airport.

The drive feels like an eternity, every red light and slow-moving car mocking my urgency. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of fear and determination driving me forward.

What if I’m too late?

The thought sends a fresh wave of panic through me, and I grip the steering wheel tighter, pushing the car faster.

By the time I pull into the airport parking lot, my hands are shaking. I sprint inside, scanning the crowds for any sign of her.

“Liz,” I whisper under my breath, my eyes darting from one face to the next. “Come on, where are you?”

And then I see her.

She’s standing near the security checkpoint, her carry on case by her side, her expression distant. Even from this distance, I can see the stiffness in her shoulders, the tension in her stance. She looks like she’s holding it together, but I can see the pain in her eyes—the same pain that’s been eating away at me since she left.

“Liz!” I call out, my voice cutting through the noise of the terminal, louder than I intended, but I don’t care.

Her head snaps up, her eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, she just stares, like she can’t believe I’m here. Like she’s unsure if I’m real or some cruel trick her mind has conjured.

I close the distance between us quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. “Liz,” I say again, softer this time, as if her name is the only word I know.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, her voice trembling. Her case handle trembles under her grip.

“I can’t let you go,” I say simply, the weight of those words hitting me just as hard as they hit her.

Her brows knit together, confusion and frustration flickering across her face. “Nate, you can’t just show up here and—”

“I love you,” I interrupt, the words spilling out before I can stop them. It’s the only truth that matters right now, and I need her to hear it.

She freezes, her eyes wide, searching mine for something. I hold my breath, willing her to believe me, to see that I mean every word.

“I know I’ve screwed up,” I continue, my voice raw. “I’ve been selfish and scared, and I’ve hurt you in ways I’ll never forgive myself for. But I can’t let you leave without telling you how I feel.”

“Nate…” she whispers, her voice barely audible, and I can see the walls she’s built around her heart starting to crack.

“You’ve changed my life, Liz,” I say, stepping closer. “You’ve made me believe in things I thought I’d lost forever—happiness, love, a future. And I’m not letting you go without a fight. Not again. I love you so much that my heart aches to think I am losing you.”

Her eyes fill with tears, her lips trembling as she fights to hold them back. For a moment, I think she’s going to walk away, and the thought nearly breaks me.

She takes a shaky breath, her voice breaking as she says, “You really mean that?”

“More than anything,” I say, my hands reaching for hers. “Please, Liz. Don’t leave. Stay. With me. With Max. Let’s figure this out together.”

"And Becky?"

"She is gone. It was all a lie planned to get money from me,"

"That’s horrible,"

---