“I can’t wait any longer; I need to talk to you now.”
“No.” Katie shook her head. “I don’t want to listen to you trying to justify not wanting me, Cubby. I’m done with that. In fact, I’m leaving here tomorrow.”
“No!” The word exploded from him. “You are not leaving.”
“It’s best for both of us. This is your town, and I can’t live in it and see you every day.”
“Just let me talk… please.”
He looked different today, his eyes haunted, face vulnerable. She’d never seen that expression on him before.
“Didn’t you sleep?” Katie said before she could stop herself.Damn it, Katie, you’re trying not to care about him anymore, remember.
“No, I spent the night thinking about you. Please.” He reached for her again, taking her hand and urging her closer to his big body. “Just let me speak, and then you can go. Five minutes tops, I promise.”
“Let me go, Cubby. I have to run, and you don’t want this… me.”
“God, I do, princess.” He kissed her softly. “I’m an idiot for saying otherwise. I love you, baby, please forgive me.”
“I-I….” Katie couldn’t think straight. “I don’t understand?”
“For now”—he cupped her face—”will you just settle with I love you, and that I was an idiot to turn away your love… twice. Please, baby, just give me a chance to explain the rest later?”
Katie nodded as the reality of his words really sank in. “Really?”
“Really. I’m so in love with you, princess. I just didn’t see it for what it was because I’m a fool.”
Her heart was thumping for another reason now. “But you’re my fool,” she said. “I love you too.”
His smile lit his face.
“I was hoping you still did, but after Ethan’s party, I wasn’t sure.”
“I’ve loved you my entire live, James Hawker. It would take more than one night of stupidity to make me change my mind.”
“Forgive me, baby, I never meant to hurt you.” He kissed her again. “But if it’s any consolation, since you came back to town I’ve been in pain.”
She laughed as he rubbed his chest, looking confused.
“You’ll get used to it. I have.”
“I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line, princess. Now go out there and kick some ass.” He kissed her again, then turned her around, patted her butt, and urged her back out onto the trail.
Katie wasn’t sure if her feet were actually touching the ground as she started running again. Cubby loved her and she wanted to sing, dance, leap in the air, but she’d do that at the finish line and hopefully he’d be there to catch her.
Passing the last checkpoint with a huge smile on her face, Katie cut into the redwoods and increased her pace, eager to get back to Cubby.
“Thank God, Katie.”
Brady appeared before her on the trail.
“Brady, what’s wrong?”
“I was patrolling this part, and I just heard a gunshot, but don’t want to go in without backup.”
“Have you called it in?”
He nodded. “Sheriff said you were coming through and to take you with me.”
