She smiles, squeezing my hand. “It’ll be you up there next.”
I choke out a watery laugh. “More like Shelby.”
“Maybe, maybe not. The look on his face says he’s done playing around.” Carmen tips her chin over my shoulder.
I spin to find Blake watching up, his hands deep in his tailored trouser pockets.
“Go get your man.” Carmen squeezes my fingers again. “And don’t forget to thank me when you catch this tonight.”
She shakes her bouquet, pulling a laugh from my chest, before she gives me a little shove.
I take off running, my heels sinking into the lush lawn, the skirts of my dress flying behind me and crash into Blake’s waiting arms. He scoops me up, cradling the back of my head with one of his large hands, the other pinching my chin.
“I meant what I said at the altar, I’m in love with you, Calla Becker. I have been since the day we met.”
A fresh surge of tears prick my waterline. Thank fuck for lash extensions and waterproof mascara.
“Why didn’t you say something? Why did you agree to fake date me if that’s how you felt?”
“Because I thought it was the only way to have you.”
I shake my head vehemently, licking my lips and tasting the salt from my tears there.
“I thought it was the only way for someone like me to have someone like you.”
I ache to touch him, to smooth back his fringe from his forehead.
So, I do.
“It’s not true,” I sniff, tracing my fingertips down his nose, his lips, the sharp line of his jaw. “Someone like you… you mean kind and funny, patient and thoughtful. Handsome.”
Blake’s eyes shutter closed, his lips pressing together.
“Gentle and selfless,” I continue. “Warm, compassionate,worthy of so much, of everything good this world has to offer. That’s who you are, Blake Millen.”
I flatten my palm to feel Blake’s heart beating beneath his starched white shirt. “And I wish you’d be mine.”
He flicks those pretty green eyes open, glassy with unshed tears. “I’ve always been yours, Calla.”
I swallow thickly, shaking my head. “It was a stupid idea to even try and deny the connection between the two of us. I’m sorry I asked that of you. I can’t tell you how many times when we were together, that I wished we were real.”
“Sunshine…”
“For what it’s worth, I am really sorry for putting you in that position. For using you to get Thomas off my back, without even—”
“You didn’t use me. I offered.” Blake cups my jaw with his palms. “And I would offer again and again and again. I wouldn’t change our story for the world, Calla, because it’s ours. Mine and yours. I’m sorry for the way I acted when I saw that video. I’m sorry for not coming to you first so I could hear you out. I’m sorry for—”
I stroke his cheekbone with the pad of my thumb. “No more sorry’s, okay. I get why you acted the way you did. We could do better on our communication, but—”
Blake’s laugh rumbles through me, creating gooseflesh upon my upper arms and chest. “You could say that again.”
Swaying in my heels, I turn to rest my cheek upon Blake’s heart space, my arms banding around his trim waist.
“You smell so good,” I mutter, closing my eyes when a gust of September wind blows across us.
“So do you.”
“I missed you so much, Blake. God, why can’t I stop crying today!”
