I’ve been walking for a few minutes when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Why?
So I can meet you and apologize for this morning to your face.
I could have waited until she returned from whatever she’s doing, but my mind hasn’t been my friend, and I don’t want to give myself time to second-guess what I know is right—that Ashley and I can be something good.
I like this urgency inside me to tell her now. I don’t want to scare her off by coming on too strong, but I need her to know. I need to apologize for stepping back this morning.
She doesn’t text back immediately, and a growl of frustration slips out of me.
Main Street comes into view as my phone vibrates again.
Fine. Apology accepted.
Please tell me where you are.
I’ll scour downtown for her truck and every storefront to find her if I have to. A minute later, another text comes through.
313 Main Street
My head snaps up, and I scour the buildings in front of me to see how close I am to her.
207 Main Street
Not far. I keep my phone in my hand, watching the street numbers climb higher and higher. My footsteps grow faster the nearer I get until I’m practically jogging. When I finally stand in front of 313, I don’t bother to look at the building or the storefront. I whip open the door and rush inside.
Then I come to an abrupt halt.
Ashley looks the same as she did in my vision the night before.
And that’s when I know that I should never have questioned my feelings for this woman because she’s meant to be mine. Forever.
Chapter Seventeen
ASHLEY
Carter barges into the seamstress’s shop and stops. His gaze tracks up and down my body slowly, cataloging every detail.
I would’ve thought seeing me in a wedding dress would’ve made all the color drain from his face, but it does the opposite. He looks at me in awe, with a kind of reverence reserved for a real bride and groom.
“I’m just trying on Steph’s dress to make sure it should fit her,” I say a bit awkwardly since he’s staring at me, and I’m staring at him, waiting for him to say something.
He still doesn’t speak but walks toward me with his mouth open and his eyes wide. His nose and cheeks are red from the cold air outside.
“Hello? Carter?” I wave my hand in front of him.
The seamstress, Carla, had to go to the back to answer the phone, so it’s only Carter and me.
“You look…” He shakes his head as though he can’t believe what he’s seeing. Then he shoves his phone in his pocket and takes both my hands. “I’m sorry for this morning.”
“It’s fine. I already accepted your apology. Next time, don’t be a jerk about it.”
He shakes his head with more force this time and squeezes my fingers. “I didn’t regret our kiss. Not at all. But I can’t lie, it scared me.”
My head tilts. “Scared you? Am I that bad?”
Carter presses his lips together. “God no, you’re incredible. I’m scared because I feel too much for you. Too soon. But that doesn’t mean that what I feel is wrong. It took me a minute to realize it.”
