Page 105 of Blindly Yours

“But what I failed to realize was that there isn’t just one kind of spark in the world.” He pauses. “I’m not going to ever get the same spark I had with her again. But there’s a different spark with you.” He waits until I look at him again. “And it’s growing. It can grow just as big…bigger even…if you trust me, talk to me, and respect this thing we’re building.” A small smile touches his lips. “And if you want to know why I’m dating you, there are so many reasons. You’re determined to follow your dreams, you make me laugh, and you’re so darn sweet I can’t stand it. I see the girl who shed her fancy heels for a pair of boots because she trusted me and realized she was missing out on something new and exciting andreal.” He runs his fingers through the hair that’s fallen in front of my face. “And yes, I’m also dating you because you’re absolutely gorgeous and I’ve wanted to take you in my arms since the first time I stepped foot in your office and you glared at me with those stunning blue eyes.”

I swallow the new lump in my throat. No one has ever said anything this sweet to me. Nate is breaking me open in the best way, and I feel myself slipping—falling—off a cliff I had no idea I was holding so tightly to.

With a small exhale, I lean in and press my lips firmly to his. He’s surprised at first, but it takes him just a second before he kisses me back and tenderly lays his hand against my jaw. Another tear runs down my cheek, but this time it’s not because I’m ashamed. This time it’s because I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot with this man.

“I’m sorry for the expectations your parents force on you. That’s not fair,” he whispers as he pulls back. “I understand it now.”

“I just don’t want to disappoint them.” I lay my hand over his, and he links his fingers with mine.

“And you don’t want to discover that they were right all along,” Nate reveals the fear I’ve tried to ignore for so long.

“There really isn’t a way to know,” I reply slowly.

He squeezes my hand in his lap. “Might sound cheesy, but you just have to follow your heart.”

I smile gently at him, at those kind blue eyes. “My heart wantsyou.”

He leans in and kisses me again, then tilts his forehead against mine, softly, quietly. When I open my eyes, his are squeezed tightly shut and he bites his lip.

“So, where do we go from here?” I ask quietly.

He opens his eyes and retreats with an exhale. “I’m not sure what to do about your parents, honestly.”

My response is quick. “That’s my job. I’ll talk to them. I think my dad will be ok. It’s my mom…”

“They don’t know about Kara, do they?”

I shake my head.

“Next time we’re there, we can figure out how to bring it—”

“No, no,” I interrupt. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell them.”

He nods and looks at his watch. “Speaking of…”

“Yep.” I stand. “You need to get back to her.”

He rises and pulls me into his arms to plant a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“Ok.” I tilt my head to look him in the eye. “Thank you for talking this through with me.”

He smiles and tucks my hair behind my ear. “Always.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Nate

“Dad?” Kara crosses her legs on a kitchen chair and pours herself a bowl of cereal. “Are you going to marry Rose?”

The spoon I’ve been washing slips out of my hand and into the sink full of soapy water. “Um, I’m not sure, Kara. Those kinds of decisions take some time.”

“Like how long?”

I retrieve the spoon and place it on the drying rack. “Usually a couple of years. I’ve only known Rose for a few months.”

“If you marry her, would she be my new mom?”

I lower my shoulders and dry my hands on the towel before turning to her. She’s stirring the cereal in her bowl when I scratch my hand through my hair. “Mom will always be your mom.”

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