I stared at her like there was nobody else in the world. There really wasn’t. Only my Kate.
“I’ve been such a fool. So scared,” I said.
“It’s scary. All this.” Kate nodded. “I got a little lost myself. I-I thought I needed to prove something but—”
“You don’t. Not with me. You’re bloody brilliant.” I cupped her face. “I love you, Kate. I wanted to tell you in some grand gesture. I’ve wanted to tell you since I first read your writing, since I first talked to you. I love you so much. I’ve been so scared I couldn’t handle having so many feelings, but I’d rather feel everything with you, then the numbness of being alone.”
“Seriously, my makeup.” She rolled her eyes heavenward and fanned her face.
“Kate. Can I kiss you?” I asked.
She laughed and shook her head. “Is it always going to be like this?”
I shook my head, not understanding the question and a little worried.
“Just assume the answer is yes from here out unless I say otherwise—Oomph.”
She’d barely finished speaking when I pulled her up to me again. Damn the hair and makeup, I’d fix it for her.
I kissed her to the sound of applause.
We only stopped when our reunion became a little too much tongue for network television.
Kate looked down with her palms pressed to her cheeks. “Thank God for Emma’s smudge-proof lipstick.”
I lifted her chin to examine the damage. “You’re perfect.”
“Hardly. But I’m yours. If you’ll have me.” She shrugged simply as though there was any doubt.
“Kate,” I breathed out her name and dropped my forehead to hers. “You don’t even understand. It’s me that should be begging you for forgiveness.”
“I just want you.” She fanned her face again, risking a look around. “You’ve made quite the scene.”
“I don’t care. About any of them. I’ll do the bloody interviews. I’ll do anything. I’m not afraid or ashamed anymore. I thought I could never be enough for you. I thought I was a fuckup with nothing to offer you.”
“All you ever needed to be was yourself. I just wanted all of you.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I know, I’m selfish like that.”
“You will have everything. I am yours for the taking,” I said.
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Is that right?
“Ahem,” Emma said loudly at my side. “Hi. Yes. This is all very dramatic, but the show is about to start,” Emma said around a camera smile.
Harrison was grinning ear to ear. He gestured between the two of us. “We helped. Just so you know. We made this happen. Let the record show, that your best mate, Harrison, had a plan to save the day.”
“Really, Harrison, read the room.” Emma smacked his chest. “Theymade this happen.” She looked fondly between Kate and me. “We were just a little behind-the-scenes movie magic.”
I grabbed Kate’s hand and smiled down at her. “Magic,” I said.
“A million to one chance that we would ever meet,” Kate said.
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “I would have found my way to you one way or another.”
“Come on, let’s get in there.” She squeezed my hand tight with a fond smile. “Let’s hope we don’t run into Sally. I may have a few choice words for her.”
“Oh, Angry Kate is one of my favorites.”
* * *
