Page 166 of How We Began

I’d missed him.

I’d let the love of my life go.

Defeated and broken I came to a stop. “Ben.” His name left my lips a strangled cry. I was starring in the worst end to a movie the world had ever seen.

Turning, I came to a sudden halt.

“You literally ran right past me.” Ben, with his guitar at his feet, had his hands pushed into the pockets of his jeans.

“Ben.” My legs did the Elvis wobble as I stepped towards him. “Oh my God. I thought I’d missed you.”

Rolling his eyes he held out his phone. “We have these things. You can use them to talk and message one another.”

I started to laugh, but it was shaky, like the earth was vibrating under my feet. I swiped at my eyes, squinting into the bright June sunlight. “What does this mean?”

Ben took a step closer. “Say it.”

“Say what?” My heart soared.

“Say it,” he demanded.

I swallowed and then I let it all go. Every doubt, every worry, every negative thing I’d ever allowed myself to think about myself, us, everything.

“I want you to go.” His face fell. “But I still want you to be mine. I love you, Benjamin Chambers, and I can’t let you go.”

With one final step he closed in on my space, fingers skimming my jaw. “I can’t believe you left it right to the end.”

“I had to lose you to know.” My fingers wound into the soft fabric of his T-shirt.

“You’ll never lose me.”

“Say you promise.”

“With everything that I have.”

“You have to go, don’t you?” The reality of him still leaving hammered into my heart. I was going to have a boyfriend in a band. Of all the crazy things. Cray-cray, toot-toot, give me a first-class seat on the crazy train.

“I do.’ His lips sought mine. “I do. But I’m keeping faith in us.”

Jumping into his arms, I latched myself around his neck. “Forever.”

His kiss seeped into my bones. “Forever. Crazy girl.”

“I’m coming to Heathrow with you.”

Laughing he picked up his rucksack and guitar case. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And then I’m going to wave you off like in an old-fashioned movie.”

“I get it.”

“And then I’m going home to drink vodka.”

“Lilah.” He linked his free hand with mine.

“Yes?”

“Just kiss me.”

The End.