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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Emerson

It’s been an emotional day, from the very second I opened my eyes. I knew when I fell asleep in his arms it would be my final night with him, at least for a while.

What I didn’t expect is that it would hit him this hard. He’s left before and it felt like he did it so easily, but now I am finding it different.

My chest burns with emotion as I stand before him confessing I love him without actually speaking the words.

I’m too raw now, and it’s too soon to tell this man that there has never been another that makes my heart race the way he does.

Since before he even noticed me, when I was the friend of his sister’s tagging along to all of his high school games he’s been a prominent part of my life.

Now here we are, staring at each other, and I know I feel like my insides are literally crumbling with sadness.

When Kelton finally steps forward closing the distance between us, placing his hands on my hips he pulls me in close. Leaning in he kisses my forehead and my insides melt a little more as he keeps his lips resting there. Then moving lower, dropping his chin, he rests his forehead to mine.

“I can’t pretend you leaving isn’t killing me. I’ve gotten used to the two of you being here. I’ve got used to not going home to the quiet. It’s not even a home really because it’s only ever felt like a place I lay my head to sleep. Until this week it’s never felt like more.”

I close my eyes tightly because his words hit me deep.

“The bickering, the banter, hell even the arguing, it’s giving me back a sense of family. I have the guys, I know I do, but when they go home and I go home, it’s lonely.”

I wish there was something I could say, but I know right now, he doesn’t need me to say anything more than I’ll stay.

The problem is I can’t. Transferring here, getting everything set up so I don’t fall behind, it will take time.

I have to think of me in this too, and I can’t be a girl that throws away all my dreams and goals for a guy. Even if that guy is Kelton James.

“You said you’re in St. Louis the first part of May?”

“Yeah,” he replies, his fingers digging into my hips to keep me close.

“We have spring break around that time.” He leans back and so do I, so we can both fully see the other. “So why don’t I meet you there.”

“That’s a few weeks away.” I nod, almost laughing at the defeated look in his eyes. He’s acting like I just said I’d be able to see him again this time next year. I won’t lie, knowing he wants me this close always does things to my insides. I’m flying high, loving his love.

“Okay,” he finally says after it all sinks in I’m guessing. “I’ll make sure I have two tickets reserved for the both of you for the games. I’ll be busy, we’re only there four days and most of that time will be spent with the team.”

“I’ll have Liz there and whenever you can get away we’ll spend every second together.”

This isn’t as simple as I am forcing myself to believe, I know this. But I can’t let my head go to the same place it did before. A young girl that gave everything to a guy and when he left I felt like he took everything inside of me with him. Only he didn’t know my heart was still with him.

When he lifts his hand and cups the side of my face, I lean into his touch. “I never should have left without taking you with me in the first place.”

“And I would have gone too,” I confess knowing at that point I’d given anything for him to ask me to come to Tennessee with him.

I would have followed him anywhere, but I can honestly say I’m glad he didn’t.

I’ve grown into myself, I’ve learned that I don’t need a man, or anyone for that matter.

Though I love having Liz by my side I know I could make it on my own too.

“We’ve changed,” I tell him and his brows furrow. “It’s not a bad thing Kelton, all I’m saying is we’ve grown. We’ve matured and I think that you leaving and staying was the best thing.”

“So, us doing what we did.” His eyes widen to emphasis just what he’s referring to made me laugh. “Then leaving was for the best?” He doesn’t seem convinced, and that isn’t the part I was referring to.

“I’d preferred you stay in touch, maybe a phone call or text here and there. I won’t tell you that it didn’t hurt, because it really hurt.”

His features soften as he leans in and kisses me, holding my lips to his for a few seconds longer.

“I will never not regret that.”

“I kept up,” I say, the corner of my mouth tipping up in a smile. “I sorta stalked you in a non-creepy kind of way.”

“I’d get info from Liz, she’d always send me pictures of the two of you. I’d hear you in the background when we’d talk on the phone and it may have only been small pieces but they were pieces that always gave me something to smile about. I knew you were doing good, I knew you were with my sister.”

“So you were stalking me too?”

He chuckles, lifting his hand to hold his fingers slightly apart. “Little bit, but not in a creepy way,” he repeats my words.

“Are you two done yet?” Both Kelton and I shift looking behind me to see Alizabeth, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. “I’d really like the chance to knock some sense into my brother.”