I can’t stop smiling. I rock back and forth on my heels on the stage as the crowd claps and cheers. I hold my diploma tighter, feeling nearly unstoppable.

I have my degree in business and a dream job at a winery that I’ll hopefully be able to take over soon. I can’t believe how quickly life has changed for me.

I look out into the crowd, but no one’s there for me right now. My parents’ flight is delayed, and I haven’t talked to Cheryl since I moved all the way out to California. Well, not like we used to. In all honesty, none of them ever understood why I felt that way about Kade. They never will, and that’s okay.

“Are you ready?” Gwen squeals in my ear as we walk off the stage.

“Fuck yeah I am.” I smile back at her and start to feel the excitement of being free from school. I’ve buried myself in work since I’ve started this journey of recovery. Inwardly I roll my eyes.

My heart was broken. It was shattered. But I’m okay now. I still miss him though. I can’t help that. Some things stick with us forever, and Kade and our time together is something I’m choosing not to let go of. I know he’s gone. He never loved me like I loved him. If he did, he never told me. I still dream that he did. Sometimes I remember his touch and I question whether or not I'm exaggerating it.

“Are you actually going to try to score tonight?” Gwen grips my hand and pulls me through the crowd. As if by the time we get to the parking lot it’s not going to be packed. There are hundreds of cars out there, I don’t see the point in rushing just to sit in traffic, but whatever floats her boat I guess.

“One sec,” I say and pull back on her hand so I can slip off my heels. She scrunches her nose and I respond by sticking my tongue out.

“At least you’ll go faster,” she says.

I smirk at her. “Precisely!”

* * *

I sway my hips to the beat of the music booming through the club. I slowly raise my arms with a drink in my right hand. It’s dark, but the lights flash every few beats and the up lighting gives the club a hot vibe I’ve grown to love. This is our place to unwind. And I enjoy every minute of it. I like getting lost in the seductive beats.

Gwen bumps her ass into me and shakes it while sticking her tongue out, making me laugh. I look around, wondering who she’s putting a show on for.

I don’t see anyone staring back, so I smack her ass playfully and let out a laugh. I’m definitely buzzed and enjoying this night. I start work in one week, and I’ve gotta pack my shit up, move and get settled. I don’t have much, but it’s going to keep me busy. Tonight I can just enjoy myself though. I can have a little fun and take in the moment.

Gwen stands upright and turns to face me, mimicking my movements. She leans forward, unsteady on her heels. I quickly balance her, grabbing onto her arm and we both laugh. It’s getting late and I think she’s had more than enough to drink. I’ve had my fair share, and my feet are killing me. I’m more than happy to call it a night.

“Wanna go?” I ask her, practically screaming so she can hear me over the booming music.

“But Mr. McHotStuff saw!” she screams in my ear.

“Who?” I scrunch my forehead and look through the crowd as she points behind me. My heart stops in my chest, and my skin chills as I see him.

“He’s all yours, baby! He hasn’t taken his eyes off of you.” I barely hear her voice.

Kade.

I stare back at him, not knowing what to do. I’m afraid to move, afraid to breathe even. I’ve thought I'd seen him a hundred times before, but it was never him.

I’m afraid if I blink, he’ll vanish.

“Kade?” I whisper. And as though I’ve broken the spell, he turns and pushes through the crowd, leaving me.

Gwen grips onto my arm as I try to leave. “Where are you going?” she screams over the music with a worried look in her eyes.

I shake my head at her and point to the bar. “I’ll meet you there in ten.”

She points her finger at me. “Ten minutes.”

I’d laugh at her trying to be the responsible one if I had any humor in me, but I don’t. My blood pumps with adrenaline and anxiety as I push past the swaying hips on the dance floor and search for Kade.

I make it through the crowd and out to the other side in time to see Kade looking back over his shoulder and walking through the exit door.

I don’t even hesitate. I’m not letting him get away from me.

I practically run in my heels to catch the door before it closes and yell out, “Kade!” as I see his back.

There are a few people out here smoking by the door. I barely notice them even though they stopped talking the moment I yelled. I’m sure they’re staring, but I don’t care.

Kade stops walking, but he doesn’t turn around.

I take a few hesitant steps toward him but stay a few feet away. It’s late and dark, but there are lights out here on the sides of the building. I can hear the low music get louder as the back door opens and then it dims as the door shuts with a loud click.

It’s almost silent, save the sounds of the cars on the street at the end of the alley and the faint beat of the bass from inside the club.

“Kade?” I weakly call out to him. “Please,” I start to beg him, but my throat closes and tears prick my eyes. I’d give anything to be with him. But he left as soon as he saw me. Nothing’s changed. He doesn’t want to be with me.

“You never loved me, did you?” I talk to his back, but that finally gets a reaction from him. He turns around, and my heart slows.

He still looks the same.

His sharp jaw has several days of stubble and his hair is grown out slightly, but the dominance and hard features are still present and they make me want to drop to my knees in this dirty alley. But I don’t. I won’t do that for a man who doesn’t love me.

He opens his mouth, but doesn’t say anything. He swallows thickly and watches the door as it opens, bringing the loud noises of the club along with it. He closes the space between us and puts his hand on my hip, although his eyes are on whoever left the building. I can hear their steps grow distant as they walk in the opposite direction and farther away from us.

Finally, he looks down into my eyes.

My heart clenches in my chest. I don’t know why he’s here; he's supposed to be in jail. I tried so hard to track him down that first year. But they wouldn't tell me anything. I felt pathetic for even trying to find him, but also like I'd failed him for never seeing him. But then again, I found solace knowing he'd never looked back.

In this moment, I know one of two things will happen. Either he tells me he loves me and we find a way to make this work between us, or he doesn’t and I leave him behind forever.

“I just need to know if you ever loved me.” I stare into his eyes and ignore the tears running down my face. It may kill a small part of me to hear he never did, but I’ll survive. I just need to know.

He cups my jaw in his hand and runs his thumb along my bottom lip. My head falls back slightly and my lips part.

“I should tell you I never did. I should do that for you. I should lie.” Hope blooms in my chest, and I take in a deep breath.

“But I’m a selfish man, and I love you so fucking much.”

My heart swells and hurts so much I can hardly stand it. This time it's a good pain.

“I don’t deserve you, and I’ll understand it if you send me away. I’ll stay away; I promise I will. But if you have any feelings for me left at all, I want you, Olivia. I want to build a life with you. An honest life. I’m done with all that. I promise you.”

I wipe the tears away from under my eyes, trying to calm myself, but it’s so hard. I’ve dreamed of him coming back for me, but I never thought it was possible. I didn't think I'd ever see him again.

He loves me.

I want to beat my fists against his chest for leaving me. For throwing me away all those years ago. For not telling me the truth. For never looking back. Somewhere in me, there's anger.

But more than anything, I just want him to hold me. I miss him.

I lose all composure and wrap my arms around him, kissing him with everything I have.

And he holds me back just as tight, kissing me with passion and longing. He pulls my body against his hard, muscular chest. His tongue dives into my mouth and I lean into him. My body lights with a desire I haven't known for years.

He breaks the kiss and pulls away, both of us breathing heavily. “Not here, angel.” He kisses my hair and looks back at the door.

After a long moment, I finally ask him, “You’re really here?”

“I’m here, Olivia. If you want me, I’m here.”

“I do want you.”

“Somehow I knew you’d come back for me,” I whisper into his chest. I don’t know how, but I knew. Years later, I still feel like my heart belongs to him.

“I’m so sorry.” He kisses my hair and holds me closer to him. “I wanted you to live your life. I wanted so much more for you than what I could give you. I'll make it up to you. Every day for the rest of my life.”

“All I want is you, Kade. I love you.” I need him. My heart and soul need him.

“I’m all yours, angel.” He pulls away from me and kisses the tip of my nose. “I love you.”