Page 219 of Reverse

I got us lost.

I should have fought harder for you. I thought being selfless and letting you go made me the bigger man. I should have been a little more selfish and heavy-handed. I wish I had done more to ensure you knew your place was with me. I would give anything to erase the years we missed, but I can’t help but to thank those years . . . and as much as I fucking hate it, thank him for being there when I couldn’t—encouraging you to become the woman you are now, the woman I was meant to be with, no matter how we grew.

Thank Christ we grew back together. And fuck me that I didn’t have more of a hand in it.

But if fate can bring us back full circle and gift us a new life where I don’t have to miss you, I can only try to forgive.

My expectation is this, us, nothing more. It’s so simple but a means to an end to the most complicated journey I’ve ever taken. Forgive me for being blind to the fact that your love was bottomless, and I’ll forgive fate and the hard road we had to travel.

You are my destination, my life. I don’t need anything else.

Take those steps toward me today and put your hand in mine, and with a stinging soul, I promise never to get us lost again.

I love you, and I’m waiting.

Reid

Chest burning, I turn the page.

SIXTY-SEVEN

“I Still Love You”

NIGHT TRAVELER

Natalie

Quarterback Sneaks Out On Media Princess.

“Well, this is just fucking embarrassing,” I admit, handing my father’s tablet back to him as he eyes me with concern across my desk. “Gotta admit, the headline is pretty clever and a nice play on words.”

His eyes flare with a fury that I know he’s trying his best to temper. “Do you want to take the day?”

“Hell no. I’m not cowering away from this.”

The lines begin to light up more aggressively on my phone console, no doubt another nightmare for the paper. I’ve gone and done it again—makingAustin Speaka media target. Dad has probably already hired the same security he commissioned months ago, at the end of my last disastrous relationship. I wince when every line goes red. “Crap, Dad, I’m sorry.”

“It will die down,” he assures me with the wave of his hand. “There’ll be something within a day or two to take the place of this.”

“I willneverdate a public figure again. Scout’s honor.” I grin, giving him a playful salute.

His expression remains impenetrably one of parental concern.

“Trust me, Mr. Butler, this is hurtingyoufar more than it is me. Sorry about the season tickets.”

“Natalie,” he sighs.

“Daddd,” I draw out. Am I embarrassed? Yes. Is my pride stinging, of course. Tye turned out to be more of a superwhorethan a superhero. Though we didn’t need a paternity test to end our relationship. Apparently, Tye fathered a childduringour short stint as the media’s new ‘it’ couple. A relationship the media drew out far longer than it lasted. Ironically, the reason for our breakup is as much news to me as it is to the rest of the world.

Sadly, my future didn’t go quite to plan as Easton predicted.

No puppy.

No ring.

No future carpool full of internal self-loathing.

Takethat,rock star.

---