This is where it gets iffy for me.
“I saw you and knew I wanted to get to know you. I was shy, though, so I eavesdropped on your conversation with someone. You seemed genuine. I liked what I heard and saw, so I pursued you,” I admit.
“You did?”
“Do you remember when you bumped into me after Psych 101?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah. It was the first time we met…or so I thought it was, I guess.”
“I went there to see you. I was planning to ask you out, but I chickened out.”
She lets out a light laugh. “You pussy chicken.”
I smile but pretend to be annoyed. “If you keep encouraging him, it will stick.”
“Maybe I want it to.” She reaches over, putting her hand in mine. “So freshman year you had a crush, but then I dated Kyle.”
“For three long years. When you told me you broke up and you weren’t as upset as you thought you should be, I knew it was my chance. I wanted to give you some time to sort your feelings, but I couldn’t risk you finding someone else or, worse, going back to him, so I proposed the fake dating plan.”
“But it was never fake for you,” she mused.
“Never. Not even for a moment.” There is no hesitation.
“You created a program for my dad.”
I am shocked by her words.
“How did you find out?” I ask.
“Rachelle came to see Will. I think they had a crush on each other. She mentioned the foundation. It didn’t take much to figure out you were behind it.”
“I never wanted you to know. I did it for you, but also because it was something we were missing. We aim to help those who can’t help themselves, but we focused on children and animals. We were missing the elderly, those with medical issues that they cannot afford, and so much more. So yes, the program was for you, but it also opened my eyes. I have the foundation looking into other ways to help too.”
“That’s very kind of you. I can’t believe I had no idea how you truly felt. So when you said you would wait, you meant that?” she asks.
“Until my dying breath, if that’s what it takes.”
She leans forward, pressing a kiss to my lips. “I can’t take another death, so how about you love me now instead?”
I cup her cheek, kissing her deeply. When I pull back, I let my forehead fall to hers.
“Gladly. From now until eternity.”
twenty-nine
My life has changed so much in the past couple of months. I went from a college student who was never able to do anything because of responsibilities at home to a social butterfly.
Ever since Dad died, I haven’t missed a single game of Wyatt’s. I make sure to show up for him as much as he has always shown up for me. Will has even come to a few games with me.
I still feel guilty for being happy when Dad is gone, but I am learning to cope with it. Will is too.
He took my advice and asked Rachelle out on a date. He is still working nights, but now that he has fewer restrictions, his boss is fast-tracking him to management.
Sometimes I feel like Dad visits me in my sleep. I’ll go to sleep sad and missing him, but when I wake, I feel like he is there telling me it’s okay to keep living.
Wyatt is a huge help too. We haven’t slept away from each other since we got back together for real this time.
That was the other surprise. The girls didn’t hold our little lie against me. They are only happy that we found our way back to one another.
