“So how did you end up saying yes?”
“He finally swallowed his pride and was honest with me and told me he wouldn’t make it if I wasn’t in his life, and that he was only half a man without me. And then your strong, testosterone-filled father got down on one knee and, with honest-to-God tears in his eyes, proposed marriage to me.”
Grant couldn’t imagine. “Wow.”
“Yeah. And so your independent feminist mother bawled like a baby and said yes. It was sloppy and romantic and if you ever tell anyone I told you this story I’ll totally deny it.”
Grant laughed. “Your secret is safe with me, Mom. But thanks for sharing it.”
“Sometimes you just have to let the woman you love know how you really feel. And own up to the mistakes you’ve made.”
Now he understood where he’d gone wrong. And how he had to fix it.
THIRTY-TWO
KATRINA HAD TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CALL AND text Grant, but he wasn’t answering. She knew he wasn’t playing a game today. She’d checked his schedule, and he was due to play New England in the opening game of the season on Sunday, which she knew was a big deal.
So maybe he was in meetings or practice or traveling or something. Either way, she was going to keep trying until he answered his phone. Though he was probably avoiding her.
She couldn’t blame him.
Leo and Anya were spending the next couple of days at camp, the last before school geared up. She figured they mainly just wanted to get away from her. Not that she could blame them.
She had to admit, the quiet unnerved her, forcing her to think about all the stupid mistakes she’d made.
She had walked away from the best thing that had ever happened to her, and all because she was afraid of change, of losing her independence.
Afraid of the past.
Now the only thing she was afraid of was that Grant would never agree to give her a second chance.
Her doorbell rang. She frowned, knowing she hadn’t ordered a delivery.
She pressed the button. “Yes?”
“Katrina.”
Her heart slammed against her chest. “Grant?”
“Yeah. Can I come up?”
“Yes, of course.” She pressed the button, unable to believe he was here.
She took a step back and looked down at herself. She wore a pair of workout capris and a tank top, and her hair was in a high ponytail.
It would have to do, because he was going to be here in a …
He knocked on the door and she opened it. She wanted to cry seeing him standing there in his cargo pants and white T-shirt. He looked tanned and gorgeous and it took every ounce of willpower in her to stop herself from hugging him.
“Come in.”
He stepped inside and she closed the door.
“Thanks for seeing me. I wasn’t sure if you’d be home.”
“Yes. I’m home. Just … hanging out.”
Well, this was awkward.
“Where are the kids?” he asked as he looked around the apartment.
“They’re at camp for a couple of days. I think they’re mad at me.”
“Oh.”
“Grant …”
“Before you say anything, I have something I need to say to you.”
“Okay.”
“First, I’m sorry. You were right.”
She was confused. “I was?”
“Yeah. I did take charge of your life. I barged in here and made you go sightseeing and eat hot dogs and go to ball games and take all those trips without once asking if that’s what you wanted. I was kind of … I don’t know what the word is … bowled over by you, and I guess I didn’t want to give you the option of telling me to take a hike, so I wanted to insinuate myself into your life and not give you the chance to say no until you fell head over heels in love with me. Or something like that. Even I can’t explain it, Kat. All I know is from the moment I met you, I wanted to see you all the time.”
Her lips curved. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Maybe not. But it is if in any way I trampled all over your independence. I know how important that is to you, and for that, I’m sorry. Because if anyone has earned the right to be independent, it’s you. So if you and the kids don’t want to move to St. Louis, then you don’t have to.”
“Thank you.”
“So I’ll move to New York.”
Her gaze shot to his. “What?”
He took a few steps toward her and picked up her hand. “I love you, Katrina. I need to know if the feeling is mutual.”
She shuddered in an inhale. She had been so worried that she’d lost him. Hearing those words made relief fall over her like a heavy rainstorm. “Yes. The feeling is mutual. I love you, too.”
His entire expression changed, from guarded to happy. “You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“I’ll have to live in St. Louis during football season, but I can sell the house and buy a condo there. Then during off-season, I can live in New York with you and the kids.”
She realized the sacrifices he was willing to make to be with her.
“Why would you do that?”
“Move?”