“Fine, you weren’t waiting for me.” I bump her shoulder with mine. “Listen, I told myself I couldn’t commit to anyone because I was too busy. I moved too much, I worked too much. How could I ever have time for someone? Have time for a serious relationship?”
“Then…how can you find time for a relationship now?” she asks, her voice faint.
“I didn’t have time then because I didn’t want to make time. No one I met over the years could ever compare to you, Maise.” I reach out with my free hand and brush a strand of hair away from her cheek. “You’re it for me. You’re the only one I want. The only one I need.”
She remains quiet for a while and the silence nearly kills me. Tears my nerves to shreds. I’m bouncing my knee, my heart is racing, and I feel like I’m going to explode from the waiting. The anticipation.
The fear that she’s going to tell me to fuck off once and for all.
Chapter Seventeen
Maisey
Tucker just said that he’s in love with me. That I’m it for him. I’m the only one he needs.
My heart feels like it’s going to burst with happiness. Though I still have a few concerns…
“You live in San Francisco, Tucker,” I say, my voice quiet, my thoughts in utter chaos. “And I live here. In Montana. I don’t know how we’re ever going to see each other.”
“We can make it work.” He scoots even closer to me, and his hard, muscular thigh burns through my sequined skirt. “If we want it bad enough, we can make anything work.”
I want to believe him so badly. “What about all those crazy women who throw themselves at you?” When he gives me a confused look, I continue, “Your fans. I know you have them. You’re gorgeous. You’re famous. I’m sure you have crazed fan girls everywhere.”
He is full blown grinning. “Don’t worry, none of them notice me. They all love Tuttle more.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes, leaning into him. “I won’t be able to go to all your games.”
“You can come to any game you want.” He grabs my hand once more and lifts it to his mouth, dropping a kiss on my knuckles. “And I’m busy only about seven months out of the year. The other five months, I can be here most of the time.”
“Really?” That doesn’t sound so bad.
Oh my God, am I crazy for thinking this could work?
“Really,” he says, his voice firm, his gaze…intense.
This man. This beautiful, wonderful, funny, sweet man, is in love with me. He’s always been in love with me. This is the second chance that I never thought I’d get, and I should…
I should.
Take it.
“I’m in love with you too,” I murmur, and his eyes widen the moment the words pass my lips.
“Wait a minute. What did you just say? Repeat that again.” He cups his free hand around his ear and leans in close
r.
“Stop.” I shove his shoulder, but it’s like trying to push a brick wall. He is so freaking built. “You heard me.”
His smile fades and his expression turns sincere, his voice softening when he confesses, “I really need to hear you say it again, Maise.”
Never taking my eyes from his, I repeat, “I’m in love with you, Tucker.”
His smile is so wide I’m afraid he’s going to strain a face muscle. “I love you too.”
“And I want to try and make this work. I do.” I take a deep breath, a faint laugh escaping me. “It’ll probably be a little crazy for a while, and I might get mad at you sometimes. And you’ll probably get mad at me too, but I love you too much to let you go.”
He lets go of my hand and cups my face with his palms, his thumbs caressing my cheeks. “You really mean it, don’t you?”