Page 82 of The Road Trip Romance

“Wow, that’s awesome! Did he come to camp today?” I ask. We ended up signing them up for another hockey camp because they liked the first one so much. Thankfully, they still had space this late in the summer. It’s nearly time for them to head back to school.

“No, Mr. Tate sent one to me and one to Lizzie,” he says.

“Oh?” I ask, wondering how in the hell he got Mark’s address.

“He asked for my address. Said he had something for the kids,” Mark explains. Why in the hell does he keep getting people’s home addresses?

“Weird. I didn’t know you guys talked,” I state.

“Yeah, he’s emailed me a few times, like about telling Cal he was sorry. I thought it was cool of him. I can’t believe he remembered that was their favorite player,” Mark says as I pull up to my house. There are half a dozen florists in front of it. I park and get out, staring at them as they start bringing up floral arrangements.

“Ma’am, can we bring these inside?” a man asks as he motions to a beautiful peony arrangement.

“Uh, sure,” I say slowly, opening my front door. “In here, I guess.” I motion to the kitchen, and he nods. I take my things upstairs and head back down to find six delivery guys bringing in even more flowers. I stand by the stairs until they finish five minutes later. I thank them and walk into my kitchen which is covered in flowers and so is my family room and dining room.

What in the hell is happening here?I’m about to call Marti to see if she might have an idea of what’s happening, but then I hear a noise. I look around for a bat or hockey stick or something to protect myself.

“I once heard that men should make a grand gesture,” A voice comes from behind me. I feel my heart beat faster when I register who is speaking. I turn to find Tate Anders standing in front of my screen door. My heart begins to gallop like a horse across a wide-open field.

I open my mouth and close it. And open it again but then close it.

“I once told you I’d only chase after a woman that I wanted to spend my life with,” he says. “May I come in?”

I nod but I still can’t find my words as he steps inside my home.

“I should have stayed that night. I should have gone up to your room and made love to you until you came to your senses,” he says.

“I think your speech could use some work,” I state, trying to calm my breathing and heart rate at Tate’s nearness.

“I’m without my best writer, so it’s going to have to do,” he says as he steps closer to me.

“I’ve missed you, M. I don’t want to do this.” He motions between us.

“Do what?” I whisper as I inhale his scent. He’s so close to me now that I can feel the heat radiating off him.

“I don’t want to wait. I don’t want to give you any more time to think this through. I don’t want to get over you. I just want you. I want us. I want to be together. Fuck the media. Fuck all the reasons we shouldn’t do this. There’s only one thing that matters,” he says.

“What?” I ask, looking up at him.

“That I love you,” he says as he leans down and holds my face in his hands. I feel the tears begin, the tears I’ve been holding back for days now, weeks.

“Don’t cry, baby. We can do this. Please give us a chance,” he whispers as his thumbs catch the tears falling down my face.

“I—I’m scared,” I whisper back.

“Me too. I’m scared of losing you forever,” he admits.

“Stop saying lines like a book boyfriend,” I scold, my lips twitching with a grin despite my tears.

“Stop writing them,” he retorts, his lips forming into his perfect panty-dropping smile.

I laugh through my tears. “I love you too,” I confess.

He leans down and kisses me and it’s everything. With his lips on mine, the entire world disappears. It’s just Tate and me in our own little bubble. I relish the feel of his skin against mine. My hand goes to his chest. I feel his heart thumping.Shit! Is he as nervous as I am right now?

All too soon, he pulls back. “No more tears, gorgeous,” he says as he wipes the last ones away. I nod my agreement. The time for tears is over. Everyone was right. Now that he’s here in front of me, it’s so clear. We belong together. He’s worth it. The fear was keeping me from being with the man I love and that’s just plain silly. I suddenly feel like an idiot for letting my overactive brain scheme up ways to keep me from this perfect man who loves me.Tate Anders loves me!

“Well, now that we got that out of the way,” he says with a smile as he leans down and picks me up, tossing me over his shoulder. I yelp and he slaps my ass.

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