Page 12 of Blindsided By Fake Love

While I’m certain they’ll be entertaining each other, I, on the other hand, have every intention of sleeping the entire flight back.

The bus ride to the airport blurs, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Throwing my bag in the overhead bin, I settle into my seat and put my headphones in. Just as I go to pull up the audiobook I’m listening to, my phone buzzes.

A wry smile curves my lips, and my gut twists at the name appearing on my phone.

My Wife:

Thanks for the reminder. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if you didn’t introduce yourself.

I snort, my heart doing all kinds of backflips.

Did she just give me an opening?

“I’m pretty sure I was in love with you, but you also drove me insane. Why didn’t you make me listen to you?” The intensity in her gaze when she told me what she wanted that summer had my blood soaring like an eagle. “All I wanted was for you to tell me I was the one for you. That there wasn’t anyone else. But you didn’t.”

She’s right; I didn’t because I was afraid to. I’m not going to be afraid anymore. “Marry me,” I said.

“Beau! Are you crazy?” Her eyes begged me to say yes. But they also begged me to mean what I was asking. At that moment, I knew only one thing mattered, and I wasn’t letting her go this time.

“About you. Come on, Kit.”I grabbed her hands and held them in mine. Staring into her hazel eyes, I raised my hand to cup her cheek. “Marry me,” I whispered.

Mike’s words about regret play in my head. Without hesitating, I respond.

Beau:

I thought it was the least I could do.

Everything is up in the air right now, but that text proves that Kit hasn’t shut me out.

She’s leaving a door open.

And I’m walking in.

Theflighthomewasrelatively joke-free, and I got in a solid hour or two of shut-eye. But I’m still exhausted.

When I get home, I plan to hydrate and then head to bed early. Tomorrow, when I have a clear head, I can strategize a plan of action for my marriage.

Crossing the town line into my hometown, a smile blooms across my face.

When the Ironclad Marauders moved from Wilmington to Charlotte it allowed me to move back to Starhaven. The move was sudden and for reasons not quite known to all of us players. I’ve only been in this house on Cherry Street for a few weeks, and the majority of that time was spent getting settled at the new stadium and preparing for pre-season.

Feeling nostalgic, I take a left instead of the right I usually make once I get off the highway and drive through the center of town. A trip down memory lane is just what the doctor ordered.

Opening my window, I breathe in the warm spring air filled with the light perfume scent of blooming dogwoods.

Main Street is lined with gorgeous white oak trees. The vibrant green leaves have my throat tightening as a pair of hazel eyes rimmed with the same lush color fill my thoughts.

When I drive by the Harris Teeter where Kit worked senior summer, I snort. I still can’t believe the amount of time I spent there praying for just one chance to explain what really happened with Luna.

My cheeks pull up as I remember Ross, her manager, asking me if I’d like to be paid for all the hours I was spending there.

I forgot how head over heels I was for Kit. That time in my life seems like forever ago, and yet, after last night, it seems like yesterday.

How can two contradictory sentiments live with each other at the same time?

I make a right onto the next street. A sign that says Starlight Vet Haven catches my eye just as a dark sedan pulls up.

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