Beautiful Distraction(86)

His breath is tickling my face as he kisses me. His scent is intoxicating. The thought of being away from him is unbearable.

I wasn’t supposed to feel anything for him, and yet I’m doing exactly that.

I don’t know how long we’re standing frozen in time, our arms wrapped around each other. Breathing each other in, while building up the courage to let each other go.

But I know I cannot give up my life. It would be too crazy. Too insane. All the money and time spent for my education, my future, I would have to give up. For what? For a guy who rocked my world for all of six days?

And yet—

My heart is asking me to be with him. Not seeing him again would shatter me.

Moving on…it’s what I’m supposed to do.

That’s what everyone would advise me to do.

In my mind, I can hear my parents’ voices and Mandy’s and all their warnings about not giving up my life for a guy.

Saying goodbye will be hard. Harder than before, when I was clueless and Kellan a mystery.

But what if, for once, I break the rules, let my heart lead the way?

What if Kellan is that one single chance at finding happiness and love?

What if staying is the right decision?

What if building memories throughout life is more important than a career or being famous?

“Kellan?” I lift my head from his chest and look up at him. My voice is shaking. My head is spinning from all the questions and the choices I have to make. My soul is split.

But the heart wants what it wants.

There is a short silence as he tries to read my expression. “Yeah?”

Just like before, I can feel he’s nervous, or maybe I’m seeing my own reflection in his eyes.

I trail a shaky finger over his cheek, enjoying the chafing sensation of his evening stubble on my skin.

“I cannot believe what I’m about to say—” I swallow hard “—but I’m staying. I’m giving us a chance.”

His lips curl into a perfect smile. “I want you to.”

“It’s crazy. You know it is.”

“Yeah, it is.” He laughs, the deep sound reverberating through his chest and penetrating every layer of me. “I know this is a hard decision for you. Will it help if I give you a good reason for it?”

“Maybe. Depends.”

“Okay.” He turns me around until my back is pressed against his chest. At first, I’m not sure what he’s doing, until his arms go around my waist, embracing me from behind. I can feel his breath on me, hear him inhaling the scent of my hair, his nose nestling between my shoulder blade and neck.

“I love you, Ava,” he whispers. “I don’t know where things will lead us. I don’t know what our friends will say, or what the future has in store for us, or if this is one big mistake. But there’s one thing I’m absolutely certain of. I love you. I don’t want you to go. I don’t want to lose you before we’ve even begun.”

I turn around, shocked. The magnitude of the moment dawns on me…and yet I’m not quite able to grasp it. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t like the fact that I fell in love with you. I couldn’t think of anything else but you. You occupied my day and night, every moment, every breath. After months of thinking about you and six days together, I think it’s about time that you know I love you. And that I’m absolutely certain…” He trails off.

He loves me?

I blink, then blink some more.

I love you too, I want to yell, but I can’t with the rock lodged in my throat.

“You’re absolutely certain that…” I prompt, barely able to breathe.

“That I want to marry you.” His expression is deadpan.

I frown, unsure what he’s talking about.

He can’t possibly—

I stare at him, trying to catch a sign that he’s joking. And then it hits me.

Holy shit.

Holy. Crap.

My hands begin to shake.

“Wait. Are you proposing to me?” I ask, feeling really stupid for even saying something like that out loud.

I must have misunderstood.

“Yes, Ava. I am,” Kellan says slowly. “Or why else do you think I’d be talking about destiny and all that stuff?” He cocks his head, a naughty grin on his lips. “So, the answer is…”

“No.” There is no doubt about it. I can’t lie. “I love you, too, Kellan,” I whisper. “I love you, but you can be a jerk. There’s no way, absolutely no way, I’m getting married to you after six days. That’s crazy. That’s insane.”

“I love crazy and insane.” He laughs at my horrified expression. “In fact, this is such a great idea. That ‘no’ of yours—” he winks “—we’ll see about that. I tricked you once, you know, when you didn’t want to fuck me. I did it again when I persuaded you to stay. What are the chances the third time’s a charm?”