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“He’s great,” Blair said. “But everyone has their limits. I just hope that I haven't pushed him to his.”
“So, now what?” her mother asked.
“Now, I’m going to spend the rest of the day with you, and we can have a sleepover tonight. Then, I’m going to go back home and beg Blaze to give me another chance,” Blair said.
“You’re going to accept his proposal?” her mother asked.
“I am,” Blair admitted. “I think that it’s time for me to find my happiness. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore, claiming that I need my independence. I need Blaze, and it’s about time I told him that.”
“That’s my girl,” her mother praised.
“Thanks for everything, Mom,” Blair said. “I appreciate you letting me hide out here and everything.”
Her mother chuckled, “Not a problem,” she said. “Hopefully, this will be the last time you need a place to hide away from the world.” Blair wasn’t sure if it would be or not, but it would be the last time she ran from Blaze. She owed it to him to dig in her heels and stick around, even when she felt as though her life was spinning out of control. Blaze deserved that much from her, at least.
* * *
Blair planned on leaving the next morning, but tonight, she was going to hang out with her mom and try to get a good night’s sleep. Then, she was going to go home and face Blaze. She needed to tell him that she was an idiot—not that he hadn’t already figured that fact out for himself. She was going to have to figure out a new way of doing things since running wasn’t going to work for her anymore. Her mom was right, she needed to give Blaze a chance and stop running from the good things in life only because she was scared of the bad things catching up with her. It was time to try to find her own happiness.
“Um, Blair,” her mother called from downstairs. “I think that you might want to come down here.” She had just showered and was dressed in her comfy pajamas, her hair pulled up in a towel to help it dry.
She was halfway down the stairs when she heard his voice—Blaze had tracked her down. Blair could tell that he was laying on the charm for her mother who was giggling like a schoolgirl. He looked up as she finished walking down the steps and smiled at her. “Hey, Blair,” he said.
“Hi,” she squeaked.
“You didn’t tell me that your guy was so handsome or funny,” her mother chided. Blair wanted to point out that she wasn’t sure that Blaze was still her “Guy,” but she didn’t. Instead, she found herself politely smiling and nodding.
“How did you track me down?” Blair asked.
“Dell helped me find you,” Blaze said. “We need to talk, honey.” Her mother looked between the two of them and sighed.
“I’ll put on a pot of coffee,” her mother said, disappearing into the next room. She’d be able to hear every word that Blair and Blaze said, but she had a feeling that was her mother’s plan.
“Why did you take off?” Blaze asked. “I mean, I think I can figure it out, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
“Because I got scared,” she admitted.
“Was it because I said that I was in love with you?” Blaze asked. She hated the hurt she saw in his eyes. When they got back together, she promised herself that she’d never make him look at her like that again, yet here they were.
“Yes, and you asked me to marry you,” she reminded.
“And that freaked you out. I moved too quickly, didn’t I?” he asked. “I promised you a carefree relationship and then, I took it too far.”
“Yes,” she breathed, “but, I shouldn’t have run. I should have stayed and told you how I was feeling, but I was a chicken. I’m ready to tell you now,” she said.
“How were you feeling?” he asked.
“I was scared, but now, I’m ready to admit that I’ve fallen in love with you too, Blaze,” she said. He took a step closer to her, careful not to touch her. He was waiting her out, trying to figure out how far she’d let him push her.
“You’re in love with me?” he whispered.
“I am,” she said, “and, if the offer still stands, I’d really like to marry you, Blaze.” He took another step into her personal space and this time, he reached for her hand, and she let him take it into his own.
“You’ll marry me?” he asked.
“I will. I also promise not to take off on you again,” she said. “I was afraid of falling in love and being vulnerable, but I’m not scared anymore. I want to marry you. I want to be with you, Blaze, because I know that you won’t hurt me.”
“I’d never hurt you,” he agreed.
