Page 77 of Diverge

I slide my hand into Billie’s, her fingers interlocking with mine, and something inside my chest bursts. I never want to let her go. I want her hand in mine forever. Noah smiles at the sight of her hand in mine as we all begin walking back to the venue. “You know she thought I was seeing Cassie’s mum?” I tell Noah.

His laughter bellows through the air. “That is beyond hilarious... not because she’s my mother-in-law, but because in the whole time we’ve been in the US, I have never had him introduce anyone to me, B.” He pauses. “I was truly concerned for him at one stage... all he ever did was work.”

Billie turns to me and gives me a sympathetic look. “Did you not pick up MMA when you settled here?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I didn’t really want to... I wanted to focus on working and earning alegalincome. You know, becoming part of society,” I jest, but she doesn’t smile.

“I’ll see you both inside. My wife is waiting for me... we’ll catch up properly soon, Billie!” Noah jogs over to Cassie waiting for him on the balcony of the venue as I turn to Billie.

“You didn’t give me an answer.” I search her eyes for one.

She hesitates only for a moment before smiling.

“Is there a Five Guys here in San Fran?”

I smirk at her response, remembering our very first dinner together. There is absolutely nothing that can stop me from being with this woman, nothing. I would tear through any obstacle in my path if it meant I could reach her at the end. I’ve waited for this moment for a long time, and now that it’s finally here. I won’t fuck it up. I’ve worked too hard at becoming a better man, a part of society who earns his living and pays his taxes, that I won’t do anything to jeopardize the possibility of us.

When I heard from Riley that she was with Finn all those years ago, my rage took over. I worked every day, seven days a week just to be away from my thoughts. Just because I had expected that to happen doesn’t mean it hurt any less to lose her. When I had heard about Finn’s illness, a part of my heart broke... for Billie. He was too young to be taken. Ripped from the earth, from his love. I can’t lie and say I never wanted Billie to myself, but I wanted her to have the opportunity to live out what she had imagined since she was a teenager because only then would she return to me, ready to be loved again. What we had before was good, but I know it will be better now, becauseweare better. The things in our lives had to happen to bring us here to this moment in time... We needed to experience our personal struggles to make us better people. Everyone’s lesson in life is different. We can’t judge people based on their past... who they’ve loved, what they’ve done or haven’t done, because their journey is not the same as ours. The only person we can judge is ourselves, as we aim to achieve the ultimate goal in life... to love and be loved.

No matter which stage of life we are in, we all need love.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Billie

“Ready?” Nate standsat my doorway, dressed in black jeans, a white shirt, and a red plaid jacket. Seriously, the older this man gets, the more attractive he becomes... how is that even possible?

“Ready.” I smile as we head out the door and walk towards his black Chevy Ute parked on the side of the road. Nate opens my door as I slide into the passenger seat. He doesn’t take his eyes off me as he walks around the car and gets into the driver’s seat.

“Why do you keep staring?” I can’t help the wide smile covering my entire face.

“Because you look absolutely stunning.” He starts the car and leans forward, placing a kiss on my cheek and lingers close to my ear. “You have no idea how much I missed you.”

My cheeks heat at his suggestive tone, and he smirks at the effect he has on me. Pulling away from the curb, we make our way to the restaurant.

“Are you sure you want to go to Five Guys and not a fancy restaurant?” he asks.

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