“Why don’t you grab my phone and look.” He motions to the dash where it’s sitting in a cupholder.
He gives me his code, and I tap it in.
Hazel is fine. She’s just sore. I thought you’d want to know. That’s the only text I already read.
I glance at him sheepishly. “I’m sorry I never texted you back after you told me that Hazel was okay. I thought you were going to yell at me.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“I’ll forgive you for yelling at me if you can forgive me for driving Hazel in my car. But I swear it never jerked like that until literally minutes before the accident.”
“I know, baby.” His brows furrow. “Maybe next time tell me if you need something so we can figure it out together. I could’ve helped you fix your transmission.”
My eyes water. It’s overwhelming to know that he has my back. “Okay.” I go back to reading his texts.
Abby, call me back when you get this.
I’m sorry about this afternoon. I was an ass. I know you’d never deliberately do anything to put Hazel in harm’s way. Please forgive me.
Why did you move out? I know I was being an idiot, but I thought we had something special. Didn’t we? Call me and let me know you’re okay. I’m going out of my mind.
I know I hurt you. I’m sorry. Come home.
With the back of my hand, I wipe the tears and then adjust my glasses. “I feel bad. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’m sorry I took off without talking to you first. I was really hurt and genuinely thought we were over. I spent a lot of time talking to Ezra after I found out he was a serial cheater. I guess… I wanted to preserve some dignity this time. He made me feel so pathetic, and I wanted to avoid feeling that. But… you’re not Ezra.” A sob escapes me.
He takes one look at my face and pulls over into a parking lot. When he turns off the engine, he opens his arms. “Come here.”
I crawl over into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. After several minutes, I finally calm down. “Do you really think we should date? We’re terrible at this.”
He rubs my back. “I meant what I said, Abby. I love you. And I’m willing to do what it takes to prove that to you. Will you let me?”
“I’m scared, but I love you too.” I stare up into his beautiful green eyes. My heart pounds in my chest. “Does this mean I can take care of Hazel sometimes? Or drive her around? Because if you don’t—”
“Shh.” He puts his finger over my lips. “Of course. I trust you, and I’m sorry I lost my mind that day at the hospital.”
I still feel guilty I put Hazel in harm’s way, even inadvertently. The cop made a good point that I shouldn’t have been driving in a car that needed work. “I know my priorities this semester were out of whack. I should’ve fixed my car instead of funding my trip to London, but I just felt so desperate to reclaim that part of me I lost when I dated Ezra.” I shake my head. “I don’t know if that makes sense.”
“Of course it does. Maybe we could both use a little therapy to work through our issues.”
I think about that a moment. “You’re right. I’ll look into that. I was also thinking that maybe I could take a defensive driving course.”
“That’s a great idea.” He kisses my forehead and whispers, “Say it again.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I’ll take a defensive driving course?”
He laughs. “No, the other thing.”
My heart flutters. Oh, that. “I love you, Nick.”
The smile he gives me makes me fill with warmth. He leans down to press a gentle kiss on my lips. “I missed you, buttercup.”
“Missed you too.” I suddenly feel shy, and I have no idea where to go from here. “What do you want to do second semester? Do you want some space so you can focus on the playoffs and the draft? I can stay with my parents, and—”
“No. I want you at home with me and Hazel.” He kisses me again. “I told her I was coming here to try to talk you into coming back to Charming with me. I asked her how she would feel if you and I dated, and she clapped and hopped up and down and howled that she loved you.”
I smile. “You told her?”
“Yeah. I mean, I knew there was a chance you would slam the door in my face, but I wanted to take a leap of faith. I hoped we could work things out eventually.”
