Page 100 of One Touch

“Went for a walk and I needed to clear my head.”

“It’s the middle of winter.”

She shivered again. “I noticed.”

Annoyed, I guided her inside, helped her remove her coat, and deposited her in a chair by the fire. Tension radiated off her, and I could see her anxiety, the questions written all over her face.

You did that.

I was at fault for why Kate even questioned my feelings for her. She deserved a man who didn’t choke on his words. A man who would never have allowed her to question how deeply in love with her he had fallen.

But still, I hadn’t left Outtatowner. I couldn’t—not before I saw her one last time and committed every inch of her to memory. The curve of her neck, the roll of her laughter, the green and gold flecks of her eyes. I wanted to soak her in.

Those eyes shifted to me, full of sadness, as I handed her a hot cup of coffee. “Thanks.”

I frowned down at her before grabbing the cup back out of her hand and setting it on the table beside the chair. Without a word, I pulled her up and shifted so I was sitting and pulled Kate onto my lap.

“Come here.” I wound my arms around her.

Kate’s frozen body melted into me, and I breathed her in deep. Snuggled together, I listened to her slow, even breathing.

After a moment, she finally whispered, “Are you okay?”

My voice was thick and rusty. “No.”

I am so fucking far from okay.

Her breath hitched, and we fell silent, the only sounds filling the cavernous living room were the shallow ins and outs of our breathing and the soft crackle of the burning wood.

Finally, Kate sucked in a wobbly breath. “Beckett, I know you need to leave. Like you said, your whole life is in Chicago. I wanted you to know that I understand and I don’t hate you.”

I hated the sadness that seeped through her words. I shifted, forcing her to look at me, and the unshed tears clinging to her lashes gutted me.

“My life may be in Chicago, but my heart is right here.”

One tear tumbled, and I brushed it away with my thumb. She lifted her eyes to mine. “I can’t wait for you.”

My chest went hollow at her words as she buried her face into my neck.

This is it. I’m actually losing her.

“I know you can’t, Princess. And I know I can’t ask you to.”

“The thing is ... I realized I have spent my life living for other people—my brothers, my dad, every boyfriend I’ve ever had. I need that to stop. I want to put down my roots and feel what it’s like to thrive in a place ofmychoosing. To grow and change and truly be tethered. Iwantto be tied to a place. To this place.” Her chin wobbled, and her hands gripped my shirt as I held her. “I can’t do that if a piece of me is missing. I’ll always be wishing I was with you in Chicago or sad you’re not here with me. I don’t want to catch myself waiting by the phone, wondering when you’ll call.”

I steeled myself despite the voice screaming in my head to protest. “I understand.” I moved my fingers under her chin so she could look at me again. “Listen to me. I want so much for you. You deserve it all, and this town deserves the full Catfish Kate experience.”

Her watery laugh cut through the tension, and I held her closer.

“You deserve it too,” she whispered. “To be truly happy.”

I swallowed hard, knowing full well the key to my unwavering happiness was bundled in my arms. “How about this?”

She looked up from my chest. The hope in her eyes nearly cut me in two.

“I’ll find a way.”

Kate blinked at me as my words settled over her. A long, tense silence stretched between us as I repeated my vow to her in my head.

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