Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

Ruby

Life Lesson #1: A dare can turn into a dream.

" I 'm so excited for you, Ruby!" Presley's practically bouncing through the screen. "Let me see the ring."

I hold my hand up to the camera and she lets out another squeal.

"It's so freaking big. Holy shit! He did good."

Yes, he really did. It's huge. Everyone in my class noticed it and asked me about it the moment I walked in. Which I think was Chase's point. He wants to make sure every guy on this campus knows I'm taken. I teasingly told him I was going to get him a ring so the girls knew he was taken too, and yesterday, when he came back from picking up breakfast for us, he was sporting a platinum band. He told me that his heart is already married to me and now everyone would know it.

He has no idea how much that gesture meant to me.

"So, when are you guys going to get married?'

"I don't know. We haven't even talked about it yet. But I think it'll be good if we wait a bit." We have so much going on right now and adding in wedding planning to the mix seems like a little too much. Besides, I don't necessarily want to get married and then after we say, "I do," have to hop on airplanes to go our separate ways again.

"Yeah. I think that's a good idea. I still think he needs to grovel a bit for that crap he pulled."

Presley was furious when I told her about what happened. For as much as I get her point, I also understand where Chase was coming from. He was terrified I'd be insecure about something insignificant and that my worries would fester and come between us. Even still though, I'm still with Presley on this one. He should've told me the truth no matter what.

"Don't worry." I smile. "I made him grovel all weekend."

"Good." She giggles. "So, even though you're waiting a bit, can we still go wedding dress shopping when you're home for break?"

"Yes!" I cannot wait to try on dresses. "And you need to try on dresses too, because when it does happen, I want you as my maid of honor."

"Ruby! Oh my goodness, I'm so honored." I'm the one who's honored. She's been the best friend a girl could ever ask for.

There's a knock on my door. I look up from my phone, wondering if Charity may have forgotten her keys. She's been so scatterbrained lately, it wouldn't surprise me.

"Hold up a sec. Just need to get that."

I leave my phone on the bed and go to open it. "Did you forget your keys, Mis…" The word stops on my tongue. Chase is standing outside my door, holding a giant bouquet of roses and wearing the biggest smile.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, feeling my stomach fluttering so fast. I just left him last night, and now he's here.

"I got some good news today, babe, and I wanted to share it with you."

So he flew all this way? "You could've just picked up the phone."

He shakes his head. "Are you going to let me come in, Ruby?"

I open the door wider, pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

"You know, when I said you had to grovel, I didn't mean you needed to fly out here just to talk to me."

I hope this isn't because he's still feeling guilty. He doesn't have to do such grand gestures for me to trust him again. I just need him to be open with me about everything. Honesty is all I want.

"I like groveling." His teeth sink down into his lower lip, obviously recalling our weekend together. His tongue apologized profusely."But that's not the reason I came. I didn't want to mention this until I was one hundred percent certain, but I got my acceptance letter today and I hopped on the very next flight out to come tell you."

I'm not following. I don't know what he's been accepted to.

"I'm transferring to Michigan, babe. I wasn't sure my grades were going to cut it, but I rocked it this semester and my coach put in a stellar recommendation, and I managed to get accepted. Come January, I'm going to be here with you, baby!"

"Oh my God, Chase!" I jump into his arms and the flowers drop from his hands as he catches me. "That's incredible. Wait…" I lean back. "What about football?"

"I'm going to be playing for the team. In fact, the coach has been following me this season and is excited to have me."

Wow! That's amazing. I'm so excited I could scream.

"That's fantastic!" I lean forward and press my lips to his, getting swept up in the joy that's pouring off him. We don't have to do long distance anymore. We're going to be together. No more homesickness, no more loneliness, no more worrying. I just get to be with him. I'll get to come watch him play, which is something I've never done before.

"Congrats, Chase!" I hear Presley's voice and realize I left her hanging. "I'm hanging up now so you guys can go celebrate. Love you guys!"

The phone goes silent, and I smile down at my amazing guy. "Thank you! Thank you for doing this. It means so much, Chase." He was already settled in. Making friends. Part of a team. Finding his groove. But he's uprooting everything for me. If I ever had any doubts about his feelings for me, I certainly don't anymore.

I kiss him again, squealing against his lips. This feels like the best day ever.

"What did your parents say?" I ask, as he carries me over to my bed, kicking off his shoes.

"They told me they were happy I was chasing my dreams, and that they're proud of me."

"I'm proud of you, too. See?" I point him with a look. "Told you you aren't a dumb jock. You got accepted into one of the top schools."

His face lights up and I think it's finally sinking in. "Do you know what the smartest thing I ever did was?"

My back hits my mattress. His large frame above me, looking down with so much love shining in his crystal blue eyes. "The smartest thing was daring you to kiss me."

And the smartest thing I ever did was daring to believe that someone like him could love a girl like me.