Page 13 of Under Center

"Miss, are you OK?"

I look up into the kind eyes of a sexy stranger, willing myself to feel anything for him besides kindness. But I don’t feel anything. “Everything is fine. Thanks for asking.” I force a smile and blink back the tears. Surprised that I had any tears left to cry.

“You don’t look fine. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong.” The stranger with the kind eyes says, taking a seat next to me. “What has made you so sad?”

I hesitate for a second before letting it all come out, from Brick asking me to be his fake girlfriend, to meeting Brick’s family and falling in love with him, to him breaking up with me by text. My chest feels so much lighter telling someone my story, even if he is a stranger.

“Are you sure Brick was the one that sent you that text?” I give him a blank stare. When I don’t answer, he continues, “I don’t know the guy, but after hearing you talk about him, I’m not sure that’s how he would break up with you.”

“You’re right. You don’t know him.” I bristle. How dare he take Brick’s side.

The stranger, I mean Shane, holds his hands in front of his chest, “Just take a few minutes to think about it. If you agree with me, don’t get on that plane. Find Brick and tell him how you feel.”

I glare at Shane, still not convinced he’s on my side, “If you don’t agree with me, then get on that plane and never look back. But make sure you’re not throwing away something you’ll never get back.” His eyes take on a faraway look, and I can’t help but wonder if he is still talking about my situation or his own.

The first boarding call is announced for my flight, and I automatically stand up and grab my carry-on bag, adjusting it on my shoulder, “Thanks for the talk, Shane.”

He smiles and tips his head at me, “Good luck, Leah. I hope you find what you are looking for.”

Having made up my mind, I marched to the boarding gate, determined to make a clean break. The only problem with my plan is I’m not sure if I’m ready to give up on Brick yet.

* * *

Brick

I rush into the small airport and scan the terminal. I realized I had just missed Leah's flight. She's already in the air on her way home.

My shoulders drop along with my heart. “Leah,” I whisper more to myself than anything.

“Brick, is that you? What are you doing here?”

I turned to the sound of a voice I didn’t think I would hear again. “Leah. You didn’t get on the plane?” I asked, stunned at the sight of her standing in front of me.

“I couldn’t get on the plane. At least not without talking to you in person first.”

I nod, barely able to control myself from throwing her over my shoulder and taking her back to my parent's house to make love to her until she realizes she is the only one I want.

She clears her throat, “I need to tell you something before I move on and board the next plane home.” She straightens her shoulders, and my heart races. She still wants to leave me.

“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you this week, Brick.” I open my mouth to tell her I love her too, but she holds up her hand to stop me. “I know you don’t feel the same way, but I needed to tell you and thank you for being my first.” Her face turns a light shade of pink at her admission. She stands on her tiptoes and places a kiss on my cheek.

I don’t even take the time to think; I just react like I’ve been trained to do while playing football. I grab her by the waist and pull her body flush to mine, “I love you too, Leah.”

Her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open, “What about Shelly? You said you wanted to get back together with her in your text.” Her accusatory tone guts me, and I have to figure out a way to prove to her how much I love her.

“That was my fault.” We both turn to the sound of the voice and find Shelly standing there with the rest of my family. “I didn’t realize what a great guy Brick was until I let him go. I’ve kissed a lot of frogs since I broke up with him, searching for something I already had. I just didn’t know it at the time.”

“Shelly, I’ve never felt anything but friendship with you. I thought you knew that.”

“I know that now, Brick. I thought if we had one more chance, I could make you love me, but when I saw the way you looked at Leah, in a way you had never looked at me, I needed to do something drastic." She pauses to take a deep breath, "I tricked Brick into giving me his phone, and I sent you that text message." Shelly confesses, moving to stand off to the side by herself.

“Is that true?” Leah places her hands on my cheeks, her wary eyes searching my face.

I nod, taking her hands and kissing each one, “Yes. I almost freaked out when I didn't see you at the church, worried something had happened to you. Then, when I found out what Shelly had done, I knew I needed to stop you from leaving me."

“Oh, Brick. I’m glad I listened to Shane and didn’t get on the plane.”

“Who the hell is Shane?” I scowl. Thinking of someone else trying to claim my girl makes my blood boil.

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