I’d left early on Thursday. I’d had too much on my mind to keep partying like nothing was going on.

A lot had changed in my life. I had gone from playboy to a man who had asked a woman to stay in Miami instead of leaving. I had wanted Hailey to stay in my life. It was something I had to mull over and figure out where I stood.

I liked Hailey. She was everything I had never had in a woman before. She kept me interested and on my toes. She was the whole package, smart, beautiful, funny. And most of all, she had decided she would stay to watch my game even after I had treated her like dirt. After everything that had happened to us, I only liked her more.

And I wanted her to like me too.

But Hailey was leaving in two days. We had managed to change her ticket to Sunday, so she was going back home in time for her classes starting on Monday. But I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her to stay. I wanted to be with her.

It was ridiculous. How would a long-distance relationship work? I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it, not because I couldn’t be loyal but because it would be impossible for me to carry on without her, knowing she was mine but I couldn’t touch her. I was falling for the girl, and I had no idea how to make it work.

When I thought about falling for her, warmth rushed through me. It was nothing like what I had felt before. Before, I hadn’t wanted to get to know them any more than a casual fuck. Before, I hadn’t wanted anything to do with them.

Now I wanted her to be a part of every aspect of my life. It was a first for me, but I liked it. I had always been focused on myself, on what I wanted and what I was going to get. With Hailey, everything had changed. I wanted to do things with her and for her now. I wanted her to be a part of my life and share everything I had with her.

It hit me, suddenly. I was in love with Hailey.

On Friday, I headed out to Brad and Carly’s. I hadn’t arranged anything with Hailey, but I had to see her. I needed to talk to her. When I knocked on the door and Carly opened, she looked surprised.

“Nick,” she said. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”

“I know. I didn’t phone ahead,” I said. “But I’d love to talk to Hailey if she’s around.”

Carly nodded and invited me in to wait in the living room while she disappeared into the house to find Hailey. A short while later, Hailey arrived. She smiled when she saw me, but she looked tired.

“I want to take you out,” I said. “Do you want to grab something to eat?”

Hailey nodded. We walked to my car, and I drove her to a bistro nearby. When we were seated, Hailey ordered a toasted sandwich. I ordered a salad, and the moment the food arrived I dug in. When I noticed Hailey’s food, I realized she had barely touched it.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “You’re not eating.”

Hailey shook her head. “I’m not really hungry.”

I frowned. “Are you okay?”

Hailey nodded quickly. “I’m fine. I guess I’m nervous about the flight home. I’m not a big fan of flying.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure if she was telling me the full truth, but she would tell me what was going on when she was ready. I hoped it wasn’t because she was still not all right about what had happened between us.

“You’ll talk to me if there’s still something you want to talk about, right?” I asked her.

Hailey nodded. “Nick,” she said.  “It was very kind of you to take me out, but I’m not really feeling very well. Is it all right if we go back to your place?”

I nodded and asked for the check. I wasn’t sure what was up with Hailey, but if she felt uncomfortable and needed me to be her hero, I would be.

We drove to my place in silence, and I wondered what was bothering her. I wasn’t sure if saying to her how I felt would make things worse, but I had to get it off my chest. I had to tell her how I felt. I had never felt like this about someone before.

I hoped she would be able to open up to me once I told her how I felt.

We arrived at my place, and I led her through the front door. I liked having her in my place. She fit in well here. It was a place that could use a woman’s touch, and I wanted it to be Hailey’s touch. I wanted her in my life, to have her share in everything and be my woman.

When Hailey sat on my couch in my living room and I sat next to her, I took her hands. I looked her in the eyes. Her eyes were a deep green, darker than usual. I still wasn’t sure what it was about her that was different, but she seemed more reserved like something was bothering her. I was trying my best to fix things. Was something else wrong?

“I know we’ve been through a rocky patch. I know a lot has happened between us, but I haven’t ever felt this way about anyone, and I want you to know that. When things went south, my logic was to walk away. I was wrong, not only about the situation but about thinking walking away would be possible. I’ve fallen for you, Hailey. Since the moment I ran into you at Brad and Carly’s house, everything changed.”

“Everything changed for me too,” Hailey said.

I let go of her hand and brushed the back of my fingers down her cheek.

“I’m in love with you. It’s taken me a while to realize it, so long that I nearly lost you. But there it is. I love you.”

I paused, scanning her face for a reaction. I was putting myself out there. I had always been a confident guy, arrogant enough to know that everyone would fall for me. What I hadn’t counted on was that one day, I would feel the same. Putting myself out there, admitting how I felt, was a weakness I didn’t like. There was a reason I always slept around instead of getting attached. Even though the women weren’t worth my time anyway, as long as I was the one to push them away first, I stayed safe.

Today, I put myself out there. I was willing to let Hailey know how much I cared for her even if she didn’t feel the same. The vulnerability was uncharted territory for me.

“What about everything that happened with us, about me being the same person I was before?” Hailey asked.

I shook my head. “Don’t,” I said. “All of that’s in the past, and we can leave it there. The thing is, you might be the same person you were then, but I’m not the same person I was. I was a jerk, and I don’t want to be anymore.”

Hailey nodded, and she looked emotional. Her eyes shimmered as if she was going to cry, but there wasn’t a single tear in sight. Her strength was one of the things I admired.

I had told her how I felt about her, taking that leap of faith, but I still had something to get off my chest.

“I know we haven’t known each other for very long,” I said. “But even though we had our ups and downs and it’s only been a few short weeks since Brad and Carly dinner party, I don’t want you to go back to Colorado.”

“What are you saying?” Hailey asked. Right. I had to be more specific. I liked that she was pushing me to do more, be more. I had to be precise and to the point.

“I’m asking you to stay in Miami with me. We can work out the logistics, but I don’t want you to go. I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

Hailey’s eyes filled with tears, and it made the green of her irises that much brighter.

“Hey, don’t cry,” I said, brushing her cheek even though the tears hadn’t spilled onto them yet.

“I already filled out the online papers,” Hailey said.

I blinked at her. “The what?”

“The papers to transfer my MBA studies online. Like Carly did.”

Like Carly had done when she had moved to Miami for Brad. I realized what Hailey was saying to me. I was asking her to stay for me now. But she had already answered me when she’d filled out the papers.

I leaned forward, grabbed her face, and kissed her. I couldn’t help myself. I kissed her hard, pouring everything I felt into that kiss. Everything was going to work out. In a short time, she had become my everything. In an even shorter time, I had nearly lost her, but she had found her way back to me. It had all happened overwhelmingly fast, but she was here to stay, here to be with me. It was all that mattered.

Come what may, we could figure it out.

Hailey wrapped her arms around my neck, and I pulled her closer to me. She pressed her body against mine, and our kiss turned hot and heavy instantly. My cock hardened in my pants, and I wanted her, but not to fuck.

To make love.

I broke the kiss and took her hands, pulling her up with me. She had made me the happiest man alive. I interlaced my fingers with hers, and together, we walked to my bedroom. When we were in the room, I kissed her again, gentler this time. I stroked her cheeks and ran my fingers through her hair. I planted kisses all over her face. Her soft skin under my lips felt like heaven. During the time we’d been apart, I’d craved her and missed her, and I could finally satiate myself again.

I should have known long before this how I felt about her. But I was an idiot. I had been an idiot for a long time.

Hailey broke the kiss and looked up at me.

“It hasn’t been a long time at all,” she said. “How do you know you love me?”

“Because when I lost you, I realized I didn’t know who I was anymore. You brought a side out in me that I like, and you made me a person worth knowing. But most of all, when you’re not with me, even football feels empty.”

Hailey smiled.

“Just for the record,” she said. “I love you too.”