27 Dates: Spring Boxed Set: Vol. 1-7

by B. N. Hale

  But her mind would not stop, and thoughts spun like threads of smoke, dissipating as quickly as they came. Every time she gained her feet, the wave of desire dragged her under and she struggled to breathe.

  Reed was the first thought, but she had no way to define what she felt for him, and the thought burned away. Then she randomly worried about how Ember would react if she started dating Jason again. Last, she felt a hardening in her stomach that had no name. In that moment Jason’s hands moved upward, climbing up her body.

  She gasped as the movement sent a thrill into her flesh. But this time it brought a screaming alarm with it, and she flinched. Her hand caught his, holding it fast before it could travel any higher.

  He finally broke the kiss, but his lips remained close enough she could feel his breath. She struggled to find her center even as thoughts bombarded her. Both were breathing hard and when he spoke his voice was husky.

  “My hotel is a few minutes away.”

  She saw her life unfold, a life of being with a doctor, of going to parties at the hospital, of the looks of jealousy from other women. She saw her weekends and herself getting pregnant, of years of her being at home . . .

  But that is where the image came to an end. She didn’t see if they would stay together or if she would become an engineer. She couldn’t see if they would grow old together, visit their grandchildren, or dance together as a couple. Misunderstanding her silence as consent, he reached for the keys.

  “Jason,” she said.

  She swallowed and leaned away from him, needing the space to gain clarity. Their eyes met, and he cringed at her expression. Then he shook his head and leaned against the door, his shoulders turning rigid.

  “This used to be what you wanted.”

  “Now I want something more.”

  “I can be what you want,” he said.

  “I can’t ask you to be what you aren’t,” she said. “You are wonderful the way you are, perfect in so many ways.”

  “But not perfect enough for you,” he said, a trace of bitterness creeping into his voice.

  “If we went back to your hotel it would be wonderful,” she said. “We would get together, get married, and have a life.”

  “Is that so bad?”

  “It would be beautiful,” she said. “But I don’t want to end up like my parents. Or like yours.”

  “We wouldn’t get divorced,” he said.

  “This whole night we’ve talked about what we were,” she said. “We didn’t talk about what we weren’t.”

  “Why did you say no?” he asked.

  During dinner they’d been skirting the real issue, bantering about the past and not talking about why they’d ended. Now he’d asked the question he’d clearly harbored since their breakup, and his expression revealed a desperate need for an answer.

  “Couples don’t last,” she said. “But I want to. I don’t want to get divorced. I don’t want to rip my family apart and be alone.”

  “I would never do that to you.”

  “Not intentionally,” she said. “But you love me like I am now. What about when I’m a mom and pregnant and you are the handsome doctor all the nurses are in love with?”

  “You think I’d cheat on you?”

  “No,” she said hastily, attempting to stop the hurt in his eyes. “But I think we’d be unhappy.”

  “You can’t possibly know what we’d be like as a family,” he protested. “For all you know, we’d grow old and die together.”

  “We fit now,” she said. “But we’ve changed in a year. How can we know we’d still love each other in ten?”

  “How can you not?” he asked. “I love this new strength of yours. I will always—”

  “I don’t think so,” she said.

  “What do you want, then?” he demanded. “I wanted to marry you.”

  “I don’t just want a marriage,” she said. “I want an eternity.”

  He regarded her with hard eyes. “What you want only exists in movies,” he said.

  “I hope not,” she said fervently.

  He grimaced and wiped a hand through his hair. “I would give anything to make you happy.”

  “Then find someone who makes you happy,” she said.

  “Kate,” he said. “Can we just talk? Come back to my hotel and let’s just keep talking.”

  “You know what we would do,” she said quietly. “And if I did that I would lose myself to you.”

  “I love you,” he said.

  “I know,” she said. “But in today’s world, love isn’t enough to keep two people together.”

  “Is this because of Reed?”

  That caught her off guard, but she shook her head. “I said no to you because a part of me realized we weren’t right for each other.”

  He released an explosive breath, his expression turning hard. “A lot of girls would be happy to be with me.”

  “Then choose one,” she said. “It just won’t be me.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this,” he said, glaring at her. “I came all this way and all you can say is that you want something that doesn’t exist? I thought I knew you better than that. I can’t believe I thought you were smart.”

  Stung, she scowled, “I can’t believe you’re being stupid.”

  He snorted. “You’re going to live your whole life wishing you’d stayed with me.”

  She watched him sit and seethe, the love she’d had for him finally beginning to wither. The doubt that had plagued her drained away and the desire to be with Jason went with it. She didn’t know what lay in store between her and Reed, but it didn’t matter. She wanted a future that Jason couldn’t provide.

  Ember had been right. Jason was a good guy, but was not the right guy. Kate didn’t know who Reed would become or if they had a future together, but she wanted to find out. She needed to find out.

  “I’m sorry, Jason,” she said, and then reached for the door.

  “You won’t even let me take you home?” Surprise broke through his anger.

  She looked back and met his gaze. “Goodbye Jason.”

  She exited the car and walked away. His door opened and he stood, and she expected him to call out to her, but his voice never came. She turned the corner of the building as his car sped out of the parking lot, and she released a long breath.

  She sank onto a bench at the front of the Olive Garden and pulled out her phone. Flipping to her favorites, she went to push Ember’s number—but her thumb paused just above her name. On impulse she scrolled down to Reed and pressed. She swallowed as she put the phone to her ear.

  “Kate?” he answered on the second ring. “Are you okay?”

  She swallowed against the surge of tears. “Can you come pick me up, no questions asked?”

  His answer was instant. “Always.”

  Chapter 6

  Reed arrived fifteen minutes later, his old car chugging into the lot. Before he could get out, she opened the passenger side and slid in. Not daring to look at him, she buckled the seat belt and stared out the windshield as he pulled back on the road.

  The seconds ticked by but he didn’t speak, even though she could see the curiosity in his glances. Her courage failed her and she began to cry. She knew it was stupid, but all the emotion burgeoned to the surface and flooded onto her face.

  Reed still didn’t speak, and she was grateful for his silence. She cried quietly, relieved that it was over, wishing Jason hadn’t been so hurt, wishing she hadn’t been the one to hurt him. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks but more welled up, preventing her from seeing Reed park outside a different restaurant.

  “Back in a moment,” he said.

  Startled, she looked to see him exiting the car, gone before she could speak. Not a minute later he returned and offered her a cup. She accepted it tentatively and looked to him, but he had a smile on his face.

  “Hot chocolate,” he said. “It makes everything better.”

  She couldn’t help it, she laughed. She sip
ped the steaming liquid and felt the heat sink into her soul. Closing her eyes, she savored the heat all the way back home, grateful for the warmth that burned the tears from her eyes.

  When they got to her house he walked her to her door. “I’ll see you soon,” he said.

  “You really aren’t going to ask any questions?” she asked.

  “You asked me not to,” he said.

  “I just cried for fifteen minutes,” she said.

  “But you feel better now,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you can tell me when you’re ready,” he said. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “You can expect a new invite this week,” she said.

  “I thought we decided it was my turn.”

  She shook her head, marveling at the new foundation that had materialized beneath her. Jason may have caused a storm, but she’d also found her center. Wiping the lingering moisture from her face, she spoke with certainty.

  “I’m sorry Jason took your turn,” she said. “But I want the next turn—if you’ll let me.”

  He regarded her for several seconds, his easy smile on his face, the expression warming her as much as the hot chocolate. She heard confidence in her voice and relished the newfound strength. Then he acquiesced with a nod.

  His smile widened. “I look forward to it.”

  Kate watched him go and then entered her house where she was all but tackled by three furious women. She fended off their barrage of questions until Ember’s voice finally cut through the din.

  “You left with Jason and returned with Reed? What happened?”

  “I ended it with Jason and Reed brought me home.”

  The girls hugged each other and Kate, pulling her into a burst of jubilation that almost spilled her hot chocolate. When she finally extricated herself Marta caught her hand, keeping her from escaping.

  “How do you feel?”

  Kate considered her answer and then smiled. “I feel free.”

  ###

  To continue to Volume 8, you can find 27 Dates: The Fair Date on Amazon here.

  Author Bio

  Originally from Utah, Ben has grown up with a passion for learning. While still young, he practiced various sports, became an Eagle Scout, and taught himself to play the piano. As a teenager he began creative dating and continued the practice into college, where he took a break to do volunteer work in Brazil. After school, he launched his first series, The Chronicles of Lumineia, and has since published over 20 titles across multiple genres. He loves to snowboard, build treehouses, and play board games, especially with his family. His greatest support and inspiration comes from his wonderful wife and six beautiful children. Currently he resides in Missouri while working on his Masters in Professional Writing.

  To contact the author, discover more about 27 Dates, or find out about the upcoming sequels, check out his website at 27Dates.com. You can also follow the author on twitter @27Dates or Facebook.