I Choose You, Lopez, Bethany [golden son ebook TXT] 📗

              Kent looked down into her eyes and felt himself grow calm. He nodded at her, then reached over and peeled the guys hand off of her arm.

              “Walk away.” He said to the other man, then turned and dismissed him.

              Nicole took her hand off of his arm, then turned to follow Roni.

              “Nic, wait,” Kent said quickly. “Can we talk?”

              Nicole looked up at him, the hurt he had caused her apparent in her eyes, and for a second, he thought she was going to say no, but instead she held out her hand to him.

              “Why don’t we go over and say hi to everyone first and enjoy the party a bit,” Nicole said as he took her hand. “We do need to talk, but just give it a little time, okay?”

              Kent nodded, he’d give her all the time she needed, as long as she’d give him a chance to explain and apologize for hurting her.

              When they got to the table, Kent heard Rich filling Briana in on his plan to open the Rec Center.

              “Oh my gosh,” Briana exclaimed, giving Rich a hug. “That sounds amazing. I would love to give some cooking lessons when I come in to town.”

              They all talked over each other about what they wanted to contribute to Rich’s plan, and by the end of the conversation he was grinning from ear to ear.

              “You guys are the best,” Rich said sincerely.

              Kent pulled Roni to the side while everyone continued to talk.

              “Sounds like a great idea, right?” He asked her.

              Roni looked at Rich thoughtfully, then smiled at her brother. “Yeah, it really does.”

              “He mentioned wanting to include dance lessons the other day. You would be great at that,” Kent said.

              “I don’t know…” Roni replied.

              “Just think about it.”

              Roni nodded and accepted his brief hug.

              “I still think you should have more clothes on,” Kent teased her, causing her to smile again and punch him playfully in the arm.

              “Shut up.”

              Once it looked like the party was winding down and people were starting to leave the party, Kent scooted next to Nicole and asked if he could give her a ride home.

              Nicole looked up at him and gave him a hesitant smile. “Sure.”

              They walked around and said goodbye to their friends. Kent stomach began to twist as he thought about the conversation they had to have. He knew after they did, there was a possibility that Nicole would be out of his life, at least romantically.

Epilogue

              When they got outside, he realized that it was pretty cold out and she wasn’t wearing much. As he looked down at her beautiful face, he wished more than anything that he had the right to touch her, to kiss her, to pull her into his arms and keep her warm.

              They hurried to his car and got in.  He turned it on to allow the heat to warm her chilled arms. Then he looked over at her and said, “You look amazing.”

              Nicole looked down at her scantily clad body and tried in vain to pull the dress down over her legs, but smiled softly at his compliment.

              “Thanks.” She looked up and into his eyes.

              He looked at her sweet face, so full of hope, and he worried that he’d never be able to give her everything she deserved.

              He grew nervous and started to wonder if his initial decision to let her go was right. Was he just being selfish by trying to keep her in his life?

              “Kent?” She questioned softly when he didn’t start driving.

              He turned to look at her and said, “I don’t know exactly what to say, Nic. I mean, I know that I hurt you the other day, and I wanted to apologize for that. But I also want to say that I miss you, and I hate to think that I have caused you any pain.”

              “I won’t lie to you,” Nicole replied. “You did hurt me, but I understand where you were coming from.”

              Kent nodded, happy that she understood him, but sad that she may in some way agree with him. Agree that he wasn’t good enough.

              “I’m sorry for the things that you went through as a child, but where you come from and how you were raised is not a factor in the way I feel about who you are now.” Nicole put her hand on his cheek; she wanted to make sure he was looking in her eyes as she continued. She wanted him to see that she was sincere in what she said.

              “Kent, I think you’re the most wonderful, talented, kind-hearted, amazing person that I‘ve ever met. When I’m with you, I feel strong and invincible. You make me believe that I can be anything I want to be.”

              She smiled shyly at him and continued, “Kent, I’m in love with you.”

              Kent couldn’t help the pride that he felt at her words. The way she described him is the way that he always hoped people would perceive him. Not as his father’s son, or the boy who came from nothing, but as the man he was today. He was still afraid and unsure, but he felt he owed it to Nicole to tell her what was in his heart as well.

              “Nic, I think you’re a strong, beautiful, and capable woman. The way you stood up for yourself and your beliefs, even when you knew that your parents wouldn’t understand, amazes me. You have a kind heart and are the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. I want to strive to make you proud of me and hope that you’ll always look at me the way you do now.”

              He looked deep into her eyes and declared, “I’m in love with you, Nicole.”

              Nicole smiled broadly and a single tear fell down her face.

              Kent wanted to kiss her, but he had to make sure