Page 77 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“You can’t know that.Too late for what?”
“I can.You’re the one, so it’s too late.”
“How can you know I’m yourThe One, if that even exists.”
“Because I know you’re the one I never want to be without.Missy, I’m in love with you.I don’t know when or how it happened so fast but that’s the truth.And I know it because I’ve never told another girl or woman that since I was six and I thought I was in love with my kindergarten teacher.”
Her hand was over her mouth and more tears fell.“It doesn’t make sense.”
He slowly stepped closer and put his arms around her to pull her close and she didn’t fight him.They fit exactly like two people who were meant for each other.
“Why would love make sense?How do two people who have never met one day find each other and know that this is it?”
Her tears spilled down her cheek onto his chest and he held her closer.
“I’m okay with putting in the time and proving to you I’m not full of shit.I can do that, but you gotta be open to being wrong about us.You have to stop believing you’re not enough, or not worthy.”
Her arms wrapped around him and she squeezed him back.With a soft nod of her head.“I’ll try.”
“Okay, then you’re officially fired as Gran’s companion and you’re my girlfriend.”
She let out a deep breath, but didn’t let go of him.
“I know Declan is your only family, and Gran has basically adopted you.I know this is going to be hard for you to believe in.”
Missy finally pulled back to look at him, and he wiped her wet cheeks.
“I’ve been alone so long, I’m not sure how to let you in, but I want to try.I don’t want to let what could be the most important person in my life go, because I’m scared.”
Levi kissed her again, then resting his forehead against hers he held her.“I promise you won’t regret this.”
She nodded.“No regrets.”
Levi felt his own throat tighten with emotions.“Now is not a great time to say I have to leave soon to catch a flight.But I’m going to find a realtor and start looking at homes near water with glass rooms that get great sunlight.I’ll be back next weekend, and the one after that, and I’ll meet you in Atlanta for your exhibit.”
“Okay, you better go soon or you’ll miss your flight.”She smiled.
“You’re going to take the art world by storm and then maybe I can convince you to love me back.”He let his hands slide lower down her back to grip her bottom in both his hands.“I’m definitely going to enjoy trying.”
“Levi, your grandmother is just upstairs.”
He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen and down the hall to the laundry room and locked the door behind them.Next he lifted her up on the dryer and dropped his towel.“If I’m going to be convincing I need to be thorough,” he said before he kissed her over and over until they were both a sweaty heap on the floor.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Missy
This Is Not Your Life
Saying goodbye toLevi was hard; she had to fight every instinct to pack up her things and go with him to Florida.Maybe he was in her future, but first she was going to Atlanta for an art exhibit of her dreams.Suddenly she wasn’t so worried about the gallery not finding a flow in her paintings, because she could feel the flow.As she stood in her studio surrounded by all her work over the last month, and more ideas flooding her mind, she was certain of her own destiny and her ability to make her dream a reality.It was already happening.
Five days later, and one long drive in a rented van full of her artwork back to Atlanta, excitement filled her.It was weird driving back to the city she’d lived in for almost three years.And she realized she hadn’t missed it at all—if anything she didn’t like being back there.It was a relief that Levi had signed with another team.If they were going to be seeing a lot more of each other it didn’t need to be in this town.
“You made it.I can’t wait to see the new pieces in person,” Rose said, meeting her out in the service alley next to the gallery.Two large men in gallery T-shirts joined them and they put on gloves before they helped carry each piece of her recent efforts into the back room where they would be framed and prepared to be hung.
The lighting was harsh, there were gallery workers everywhere, and a lot of activity.But everything seemed to quiet as Rose unwrapped each piece and had them displayed on empty narrow shelves for viewing.
“This is where you study the work before you decide which to promote?”
