After the Rain Read Free Page B

mine for so long, but I’m ready. I want to have all my last firsts with you,” I admit, brushing the hair from his forehead.
    He smiles for the first time since we walked into his bedroom. “Just for the record, I would have been your rebound guy, too. I just wouldn’t have let you go because you’re my forever girl.”
    Moving closer, I press my forehead against his. “Is that why we didn’t have this conversation the first night I was here?”
    “No, we didn’t have it then because I was doing this,” he says before pulling my bottom lip between his teeth. He does it hard enough to give me pleasure but no pain. It makes me wonder what else he can do. “And I haven’t wanted to stop since,” he says, pulling back.
    He kisses me again and again and again. When he’s done, I run my tongue along my lips, tasting the mint from his toothpaste. “I have an idea. Why don’t we ask each other one question each day until we feel like all the skeletons are out of the closet? I did something similar with Asher, and it really helped.”
    He looks away from me for the first time since we lay down. “Kate—”
    “He’s always going to be a part of me, Beau. There are going to be times when I say his name.”
    “You think I don’t know that?”
    “What is it then?”
    “Knowing it doesn’t make it any easier. I know he probably got a lot of your firsts, and it eats me up inside,” he says, looking into my eyes again. “Did you have sex with him?”
    “Seriously?”
    He nods, keeping his focus on me.
    “This is your one question for the day,” I say, turning my bracelet in my hand. “Yes.”
    He runs his hand over his face and takes a deep breath.
    “Beau?”
    “What?”
    “You’ve had sex with other girls, haven’t you? What’s the difference?” I ask, feeling annoyed with the territorial male routine.
    He only stares at me, but I don’t need his confirmation, because I already know the answer.
    “Exactly,” I say, sitting up.
    As I move to stand, he grabs my hand and pulls me back down next to him. “The only reason I did was because I couldn’t have you.”
    “There’s nothing I can do to change that now. What’s done is done, and honestly, I don’t regret it. I can’t regret it. We both need to accept that our pasts are our pasts, and the only way we’re going into the future is together.”
    Beau’s eyes look to the ceiling and then back at me. “I don’t think I’ll ever like it.”
    “You don’t have to,” I whisper. “You just have to accept it.”
    “I’ll work on it,” he says, combing his fingers through my hair.
    “So we’re good?”
    “We’re good,” he replies, using his hand at the back of my neck to pull me closer. “I’m going to be the last guy to do this. Ever.” He kisses slowly along my jawline until he reaches my lips.
    When he gives me enough room to catch my breath, I say, “God, I hope so.”

The Next Morning – September 2012

    E VERY MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP , I have to convince myself I’m not living in a dream. Kate’s sleeping in the same town, and she’s mine—truly mine—in the way I’ve wanted her to be for years.
    This is our chance to start fresh and have something that we’ve both wanted. I want to be the guy she runs to when she feels like giving up. I want to be the last thing she thinks about before she goes to bed, and the first thing she thinks about when she wakes up. I want to be everything she needs.
    Today I’m going to surprise her by bringing her breakfast. I’ve never done anything like this for anyone, but Kate inspires me. This is my way of showing her how much she means to me, while letting her know I’m thinking about her.
    I knock on her door once, waiting for it to open. When it finally does, a dark-haired fireball greets me. “Oh, it’s you.”
    “Hi, Emery,” I say, leaning against the doorjamb.
    “What are you doing here so early?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
    Smiling, I hold up the