13. Kate

Chapter 13

Kate

“W hat’s wrong, Mom?” Emma asks me.

I smile at her, the best that I can. I’ve tried my best to not let her see how upset I’ve been, but of course she notices. She notices everything.

“Nothing. I’m fine. I’m excited about your graduation tonight. What do you want to do to celebrate afterwards?” I ask her, trying to get her off the subject of me.

She rolls her eyes at me and I’m beginning to figure out that this is definitely a teenage phase that I don’t like. “Mom! We’re going for pizza afterwards, remember? Me, you and Bull. Where is he anyway?”

I reach out and rub her arm. “He’s not coming.”

She stares back at me like I’ve grown a second nose before finally shaking her head. “He’ll be there, Mom.”

I press my lips together, hating to disappoint her, especially on her big day. But it’s better for her to realize it now, instead of later. “No, he won’t, honey.”

But she just laughs and pats me on the back. “Yes, he will, Mom.”

She twirls around in her new dress, all excited that she got a new outfit and even has makeup on today for the occasion.

“You look beautiful, Emma,” I tell her honestly, all the while being eaten up with guilt. I’m the reason she’s going to be let down tonight. I’m usually smarter than this, but I let my feelings get the best of me and didn’t even consider how this was going to affect Emma.

We no sooner get to the school than Emma heads to the backstage of the auditorium and I go to the seat that my parents are saving for me. I see Charlie across the way and his girlfriend Chloe is sitting with him.

“You should have stayed with him,” my mother whispers to me when she sees me looking at Charlie.

I turn, stunned. “He cheated on me, Mother. With that woman.”

A flicker of irritation shines in her eyes. “So?”

“So? So I’m not staying with someone that cheats on me. That’s crazy that you even think I should. I mean, what would I be teaching my daughter by being with someone like that?” I ask, getting louder with each word.

My thoughts stray to Bull. He wouldn’t cheat on me. I know he wouldn’t. I may have gone a little crazy last night, but I think it was more jealousy and my own insecurities than anything. What was I thinking walking away from him? He’s the best man I know.

My dad pats my mom on her shoulder, and we all turn to the stage. We watch the whole graduation, and I couldn’t be more proud of Emma when she wins multiple academic and even some athletic awards.

Emma looks at me through the crowd and then I notice her beaming toward the back of the auditorium. I turn slightly in my chair and look to the back of the room. There stands Bull with a bouquet of flowers, smiling ear to ear at Emma.

My heart starts to race. He came.

I sit on the edge of my seat through the rest of the ceremony. Afterward, I look for Emma, but when I finally find her she has gone straight to Bull. He hands her flowers and a card.

My mom seems to be racing me to where they stand, and she stops in front of Bull. “What are you doing? You’re too old for her.”

Emma laughs. “Grandma, he’s Mom’s boyfriend. He’s with her.”

I swear my mother’s eyebrows raise to her hairline she’s so stunned. Emma then decides to go in even more detail. “At least she should be. He’s better to us than Dad ever was.”

I’m stunned and am too speechless to say anything. I knew that Emma was having trouble with her father, but I had no idea that she realized how little he had to do with us through the years. I thought I had done a good job filling his emptiness.

Bull doesn’t even look at me. I know I should introduce him to my mother, but I don’t, and after a hug with Emma, he turns to leave.

My parents are looking at me like I’ve been dating a senior in high school. Judging and thinking the words without even trying to understand.

Suddenly, it’s clear. I can finally see that Bull is the only one whose opinion I care about, and it’s because I love him. I love Bull.

Taking a page out of his book, I walk toward him. “Fuck it.”

I get in front of him to stop him from leaving. Once I get him to stop, I put my hands on his chest. “I’m sorry, Bull. I love you and I know I was crazy…”

But he doesn’t let me finish. He pulls me into his arms, his grip tight on my shoulders. “Say it again.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head. “Not that.”

I look at him with a question in my eyes. “I love you?”

He draws a deep, audible breath. “That’s it. That’s all I need to hear.”

And then he kisses me. In front of Emma, my parents, and I’m sure my ex-husband is around somewhere. There’s a collective gasp behind me, but I don’t care, because this, right here, in Bull’s arms, is what I need. I choose him.

Bulldog

Never in a million years is this how I thought this would play out. I was a dick last night to everyone. I went home and fought with myself on going over to her house and trying to convince her that we are right for one another. And now this.

I knew I had to come tonight. There’s nothing that would’ve kept me away. I promised Emma I would be here, and even if it did feel like I was ripping my heart out seeing Kate again and not being able to touch her, I had to do it.

But when Kate grabs me, tells me she loves me, and kisses me—fuck, it’s what dreams are made of. I know she’s telling me she doesn’t care what anyone else thinks anymore with the kiss, making it a million times hotter than any kiss we’ve shared before. Her smile is gorgeous when I pull back to look at her. There’s not even a hint of self-consciousness or doubt.

I rub my fingers on her chin so she looks up at me. With my heart in my eyes, I ask her, “So we’re doing this?”

Instead of insecurity, a pink flush comes to her cheeks. “We’re definitely doing this.”

And I kiss her again. Because I can’t resist.

I don’t know how long it lasts, but we break apart when Emma comes to stand beside us. “So I told Grandma and Grandpa we were meeting them at the restaurant. Do you want me to ride with them?”

I pull Emma under one arm and put my other around Kate. “No, we’re ready. Pizza, right?”

Emma just smiles at the both of us, letting me know that she’s happy with Kate and me being together too. “Yep, pizza.”

Then I take my girls out to celebrate.