Page 95 of Wild For You
I was soaked through when I reached the porch, a shiver pulsing down my body as I knocked. When there was no response, I tried again and called out his name. “Andrew, please, open up.”
There was a chance his parents would open the door, but it was a risk I was willing to take.
“Andrew!” I called out again as I pounded my fist against the wood.
“Please,” I sobbed, my head lowering toward the porch floor in defeat.
“Kelsey?”
My head jerked up at the sound of my name from his lips.
“Baby, come inside. You’re shivering,” he said, and it was then I noticed my teeth we chattering.
Instead of listening, I launched myself at him. Andrew caught me with ease, and it was the first time since my mother cannonballed her way back into my life that I felt like I could actually breathe.
“I’m so sorry. So, so sorry,” I cried against his shoulder.
“You have nothing,absolutely nothing, to apologize for. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I pushed you away. After everything you did this afternoon, thinking with a clear head while I was freaking out, I pushed you away,” I wailed.
“Silly, beautiful girl,” he said as he set me on my feet and cupped my face, using his thumbs to dry my tears. “You didn’t push me anywhere. You asked for space, something you are always entitled to. Don’t ever apologize for that.”
I lifted my head to look him in the eyes. “You really waited for me?”
“I did. I’m glad you got my note. Officer Ramirez had some more questions, so I asked if we could meet here.” He pushed my hair back from my face. “Kelsey, you have to know I had zero intentions of ever rekindling anything with that woman. It turned out she was the one behind all those spam numbers that had been messaging me.”
Smiling through the tears, I replied, “Guess that means you’re finally going to have to change your number.”
He smiled, then asked, “You know I’m not going anywhere, right? You’re it for me, Kelsey Davis.”
Sniffling, I said, “You’re it for me too.”
From off in the distance, a familiar voice chimed in, “Oh, thank goodness. You’ve made up. Now you can take his gloomy butt home.”
“Come on, Mom,” I groaned in embarrassment.
“He kept going on and on to himself at the kitchen table about how he’d screwed everything up with you,” Mom added.
“Thanks, Mom,” Andrew grouched.
“Anytime, sweet boy. Welcome to the family, Kelsey.”
Glancing up at Andrew, I chuckled for the first time tonight. “She knows we’re not engaged, right?”
“Yet, baby. Not engagedyet.”
Chapter Twenty-One – Andrew
The crowd moved in unison as they bounced around in a line dance in the middle of the dance floor. A band was set up in the corner, seemingly having just as much of a good time as the guests.
Sadie’s wedding to Jacob had gone off without a hitch. She looked beautiful in an ivory gown that plumed out around her feet. Colton had walked her down the aisle, and I watched as Jacob’s watery smile grew while they said their I-dos. Kelsey gripped my arm as they kissed under the arbor. Thankfully, Rory had been seated at the other end of our aisle, since she and her husband arrived late, and missed the touch.
Out on the crowded wooden floor purposely scattered with sand—which kept leather-soled boots from slipping—Kelsey’s dress swirled between her legs as she switched positions with Rory. Her head tilted back as she laughed, while her hand laid across the small bump of her belly, and I’d never seen her look more beautiful.
The song ended, and the crowd on the floor dispersed, leaving just a few stragglers as the band switched to a slower number. Jacob swept Sadie out in a dramatic turn before pulling her close to dance together. She’d changed out of her ceremony dress and now wore a lacy one that flowed just above her feet.
She had never looked happier.
