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It was good to hear her say it out loud. Now all I had to do was prove to her we could make this work. I stepped in front of her, hoping she could see the truth in my eyes. “So am I, Emma. You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved. I want to be with you; I have for as long as I can remember.” The wind blew a strand of her dark hair across her face, and I tucked it behind her ear. “I’m not saying it will be easy, but I want this to work. All we have to do is try. I’m tired of filling the void with people I don’t give a damn about.”
Emma averted her gaze to the sand, and all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms. I didn’t want to give her time, but I didn’t think I had a choice. The more space I gave her, the more I feared she’d come up with other excuses on why we shouldn’t be together. Was I willing to give up parties and fucking countless women? You’re goddamn right I would.
Lifting her head, Emma smiled sadly at me. “Give me until Wednesday, Carter. Three days is all I ask. Let me get back to L.A. and get my mind right.”
“And then what?” I asked.
Her emerald eyes pierced right through mine. “I’ll come find you.”
“You promise not to run away again? Even if things get hard?”
Emma nodded, and I could see the truth in her slight smile. “I promise,” she whispered.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I glanced around the beach at all the people and then settled my attention back on Emma. Without me, she was alone. “I know you said you can take care of yourself, but being the overprotective ass I am, I want to follow you back to L.A. until you get to your brother’s. I’ll go my own way as soon as you're there.”
Emma took my hand and leaned into me. “I’m good with that.”
I walked her to her car, not ready to let her go. Three days wasn’t a long time, but it was a fucking eternity when all I craved was to be near her. Regrettably, I had to let her go.