“Of Tucker?”
“No. I understood what he thought he was doing and used it as an excuse instead of facing the real reason, like a coward.”
Megan squeezed his hand. “What is the real reason?”
“I love you. I’ve loved you for a decade, Megs.”
Her heart beat so hard Megan thought it would crack her ribs. But she still needed an explanation. “Then why did you never say anything? What were you afraid of?”
“I don’t have parents who had a happy marriage. They were miserable when they were together and have continued to hate each other even after the divorce. I thought that’s what happened to marriage – divorce.” The catch in his voice broke her heart. “I never wanted to hate you, Megs.”
“That’s why you stayed away.”
He nodded.
“What changed?”
“I love you.” He smiled, as if it answered everything.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Megan, I love you. I was young and stupid and didn’t know any better. That night together last month changed everything for me. I realized how much of an idiot I’ve been and how unhappy I’ve been for years. When my uncle offered me the store, he told me how proud he was of the man I’d become, how different from my father I was. It was what I needed to hear to figure out I can do things differently. Their marriage was the exception, not the rule.
“I want you, Megan. I’ve always wanted you. I will always want you. You are the most incredible, brave, infuriating, intelligent woman I’ve ever known. I want to spend my life at your side as you conquer anything and everything.”
Megan didn’t bother to wipe away the tears that now fell freely. “What if I can’t conquer anything?” she whispered.
Caleb smiled, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ll be there with ice cream and a shoulder to lean on.” He squeezed her hands. “Megs, I just want to be yours.”
Megan let the words settle and waited for fear or disbelief to appear in her gut. Nothing – only hope and happiness bloomed in her heart.
She grinned up at him and stared into his green eyes as she said, “I love you, too.” It was so simple and the purest truth.
