Page 54 of Kisses
I sigh, “I’m fine.”
He apologizes, “I wasn’t prepared for that to get heated like it did.”
“Are you serious? Were you hoping I wasn’t going to find out? Were you hoping that I didn’t follow my dream of becoming a crime investigative reporter?”
“I know. I know.”
“In my opinion, you didn’t try hard enough to reach me. You know our best friends are practically married.”
“Good point.”
“You had no right to publish my story.”
“You think that, but you signed off on me using your information.”
“What about common sense?”
“I knew what I needed to do. The world needed to know the true story. Don’t you see that you motivated me to do this? At first, I didn’t know how I was going to pursue this. Then it hit me. The foundation. It was perfect.”
“So, I’m supposed to forgive you because the proceeds are going to a foundation under my mother’s name?”
“I’m not saying you should forgive me. I just wish you would realize I did this for you. I did this to allow your mother to get the recognition that she deserves.”
Tears start to form again. This man is making me mush all over again. Yeah, I understand why he did it. It was a nice gesture. I just wish I had been a part of the decisions that went into publishing this book. All my ideas are there.
Sullivan approaches me and cups my face. He says, “I can’t believe I’m seeing you right now. I never thought I would see you again.” He wipes a tear away from my face. “You haven’t changed one bit. You are just as beautiful as the day I met you. I’ve missed you.”
I look up at him, angry as fuck but now I am having a swoon moment. I comment, “You’re changing the subject.”
“I guess I am. It’s true, though. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don't think of you.”
“Maybe because you wrote my story. It’s a nice little reminder.”
“Do you really think that?”
I look down and say, “No.”
“I’m sorry about everything. I should’ve tried harder especially once you graduated. I should’ve found you that day and showed the world what we had. I understand completely why you ended things with me. It fucking hurt like hell. I put my career over love. I regret it but I don’t. That regret brought us here today. I swear to God, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win back your heart.”
I look up at him. Is he really saying this to me? I am speechless.
He continues, “Can we start over?”
I reply, “It’s been a long time.”
“That’s why I want to start over. Do this the right way?”
His hazel eyes look deeply into mine. This feeling I have never felt before is causing me to fall in love with him all over again. It’s like I have become a hopeless romantic. This is our moment.
He leans in and gently places his lips to mine. We kiss slowly and passionately. The same fire I had for him when I was a student is still there. I guess I have never stopped loving him. The big question is, Do I really want to give this another shot?
For fuck’s sake! Yes, I do!
I pull away from our kiss. This time, I place my hands on his scruff and confess, “I have never stopped loving you. I’m crazy to agree to this but I truly feel this is our chance to really be what we want to be. That is together.”
He smiles, “Exactly. I’ll do whatever it takes to make everything up to you. I’m ready to show you off to the world. I’m ready to continue to love you like you deserve to be loved.”
Oh, the tears. I lean in again and we kiss. I can’t believe this is happening. I was all about confronting him. And I did. But I never imagined that this little confrontation would lead to me being with the one who taught me and allowed me to love. This is unreal.
