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Day turned into night. I drank.
Finally I passed out.
My last image was Quinn standing by the lake, a sad expression on her face as I frantically reached out for her. But it was too late. She turned and disappeared into the sparkling sunlight while I watched her go.
Six Weeks Later
"OKAY, CLASS dismissed. See you all Monday."
I sighed with relief, closed my books, and began packing up for the weekend. Of course, I had two extra shifts at the Senior Care Home, and an intense session for the rehabilitation clinic, but I didn't care. I hadn't been sleeping well, and Mac and Cassie had been giving me crap about decreasing my workload, but I ignored them.
It kept me busy. It kept me from remembering.
I stared out the window and studied the campus grounds. The temperature had dropped this week and hovered in the low fifties. I missed Key West. Sometimes, it felt like a magical dream. The sun and sand. The decadence of the numerous Sex and the Beach drinks. And James. The endless, sweet ecstasy of being held by him, shuddering into orgasm after orgasm.
Shaking my head firmly, I threw the books in my backpack and headed out. I missed him every day. For the first week, every time my phone rang or beeped, I'd jump, my heart crazily beating as I checked the screen and prayed it would be him. It never was. After a full month passed hearing nothing, I knew he'd moved on. Without me.
I tightened my coat from the chill of the wind and trudged across the main square of the campus. What had I expected? I'd told him clearly to get his shit together and that we wouldn't work. Most guys couldn't handle such truth, and he probably thought it was the biggest rejection of his life. And it was. But I still loved him. Maybe I'd always love him. I pictured myself ten years from now, studying the paper and finding an article showcasing the new hot artist, James Hunt. He'd be married and happy, long forgetting me, and I'd be single with lots of cats.
Ah, hell. Get over it, Quinn. It was a brief fling and he'd moved on. Maybe he loved me for those few days, but wasn't that cliche famous for a reason?
Out of sight, out of mind, dude, I said to myself. He's so over you.
"I prefer absence makes the heart grow fonder," a voice drawled. "Still talking to yourself, huh?"
I whipped around. My backpack dropped to my feet. I gasped.
James stood before me. He was gorgeous. Dressed in worn, tight jeans, with a leather bomber jacket, his dark curls blew in the wind and fell across his arched brow. Those full lips quirked upward in the corner, giving him a bad boy look that had my breasts tingling and my core wet in seconds. Oh God. If he got near and touched me, I'd die. Even a few feet away, I caught his scent, the gorgeous spicy, musky smell that woke up all my senses.
"Wh-What are you doing here?" I couldn't stop staring and eating him up with my gaze. He seemed to have the same problem. Those piercing blue eyes met and held mine in its grip, probing and testing my barriers.
His half-smile disappeared. "I moved here."
I almost swayed on my feet, dizzy with need and hope. My palms dampened. "Why?" I whispered.
He shrugged. "Because I love you. Because you were right. I didn't know who I was. I'm still working on it, but I have a plan. I sold the villa in Key West and bought a small studio instead. No more parties, just me and my boat and a good sunset."
My lower lip trembled. "Sounds perfect."
He smiled. "Yeah, it is. I spent some time alone, and decided what I want out of my life. I came up with two main things."
Fear hit me as hard as hope did. The question hovered on my lips, but I was so screwed up, I just kept staring at him, hoping he didn't disappear. Please say me, my inner voice begged. Please tell me you figured it out so I don't have to let you go again. Finally, I spit out the words before I jumped him. "What are they?"
"Art. I enrolled in an art school and got in on my portfolio, not my family name. I got a job in a studio helping kids learn expression through drawing and painting. I rented a workspace in town, my own loft apartment, and now I'm settling in."
Holy crap, he wasn't kidding about figuring out what he wanted. He had it together--and he hadn't mentioned me once. My breath came in sharp gasps, and I battled the need to kneel over and suck air from a paper bag. So lame. The love of my life came back and I was on the verge of a panic attack. "Sounds like you've got it all. What else could you possibly need?" I managed to ask.
His smile came back, sweet and full of emotion, and vulnerability. "You, Quinn. I need you in my life, in whatever capacity you're comfortable with. As my lover, my girlfriend, my friend. I'll take anything I can get. I want time to prove to you who I am, and how we are together when you're with the real me. The one only you saw in me."
I swayed on my feet. The man I had fallen in love with was already extraordinary, full of passion, ideals, and tenderness. But the man in front of me today was even stronger--in his confidence and belief in himself. And us.
He was everything I ever wanted.
"Yes."
He stared at me. "What? Just....yes? I don't want to freak you out by moving here and bursting into your life and--"
I rushed into his arms and tackled him. He fell back on the ground, and I kissed him, crawling all over him while he laughed and kissed me back and held me tight. "Yes," I said again. "Yes, yes, yes."
His arms tightened around me. I didn't want him to ever let go. "Ah, Christ, I love you. I fucking love you, Quinn, and nearly went out of my mind after you left. But it was worth it. This time, I'm not letting you go. Ever."
"Good. I love you too, James Hunt."
We rolled around on the grounds of the campus, kissing and giggling and embracing the future. It may be unknown, and we had a long road to travel, but there was hope, and finally we were together.
The End
