Fumbled Hearts (Tender Hearts #1)

by Meagan Brandy

He shakes his head in amusement. “I hope you know what you’re doing, son.” “Honestly?” I laugh, dropping down to tie my boot. “I haven’t a clue. All I know is I want to keep her by me.” I stand again to meet his gaze. “Yeah?” he asks, his face neutral. “Yeah.” After a few moments, he asks, “For how long?” “As long as she’ll allow.”

She throws her head back, laughing as my slightly inebriated mother tells her some story about who the hell knows what. It’s a simple thing, yet she’s never looked so gorgeous.

The closer I get to her, the taller she stands, and the more her eyes wrinkle in excitement. Not caring who’s around or watching, I cup the back of her neck and smash her lips into mine. It’s not open and heated, but it’s strong and meaningful. When my lips are simply pressed against hers, and that uncontrollable heat builds deep inside me, spreading across my body, that has to mean something. This girl was made for me. She’s everything. Perfect.

Could be the song, could be something else, but whatever it is, I stop breathing when she whispers, “Stay.” Needing to know if I heard her right, or if my desire to do so fucked with my head, I dip down so we’re eye level, gripping her flushed cheeks tight in my palms. “What’d you say, baby?” Her hands fly to mine and she pulls, trying to remove them. An attempt to duck and run, I’m sure. I won’t allow that. “Nuh-uh.” I shake my head, scraping her bottom lip with my teeth. “Say it again.” My voice is rough and demanding, but that’s what she needs right now. Proving me right, her chest pushes out and fire sparks behind her blue eyes, while her hands drop to my chest. “Fine. I said stay, Handsome,” she snaps, her brows pulling in, daring me to deny her. I could never.

My grip loosens when she props onto her elbow, shifting to look at me over her shoulder. Her eyes roam my face for a few moments, like she’s trying to memorize everything about me, and this glossy look I’ve never seen, but instantly love, takes over.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Nathaniel,” she whispers, unblinking. Gently guiding her mouth to mine, I kiss her lips soft and slow. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Kalani.” She tucks her body back into me, and we fall asleep, together.

Nate’s unknowingly healing pieces of me I didn’t know needed mending, helping memories and feelings I forced my brain to forget to resurface.

“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.” I cross my arms and stand up straight. “He knows and I know. That’s all that matters.” When I lock eyes with Ian, he tips his head slightly, his eyes soft, reminding me of his son, but Sara looks about ready to cry. Shit, wrong thing to say? She steps up to me, gripping my shoulders, and my brows pull together. “We know that sweetheart,” she whispers lightly, the gentleness of her voice making me hold my breath. “I didn’t bring you this so you could show it off to the world. I know that’s not you. Though,” she laughs slightly, “I have to say, I wouldn’t mind if you did, because you’re you. But, I brought this for you because I know what it would mean to him." Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and my ribs start to ache. “You sitting here, under the lights on his last night as a high school football player, with his name and number proudly displayed on your cute little body.” She squeezes my shoulders again, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Ian’s hand come to rest on her lower back. “He’ll never forget it,” she whispers. Heat spreads up and across my neck and cheeks, but more importantly, warmth takes over my body in a way I’ve never experienced and can’t explain. After a glance between the two, I nod, then reach for the jersey.

My body turns on its own accord, and my eyes find their harbor immediately. He senses me. Nate’s head turns in my direction, the ball he’s been tossing around to warm up his muscles freezing in his hands. He angles his body toward mine, silently asking if he needs to come to me. He’s got me. Air makes its way into my lungs and the pounding in my head lessens. His helmet tips slightly and a smile breaks across my lips. I can picture the scowl on his handsome face right now, the drop in his brows, the challenge in his dark eyes. Fuck it. In one quick motion, I yank his jersey over my head, then grab the railing with both hands. When the ball falls from his grip, I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. He takes two steps toward me, then prepares to jog, but Mr. P. is quick with his interception and a deflated Nate turns back to his partner, snatching the ball off the ground in a pissy motion I find sexy as hell.

I’ll hold her forever if she lets me.

“I can hear it in her voice, Nate. She’s miserable.” He looks away, not willing to show me the pain the thought causes him. “Why didn’t you say something to me, man?” He gives me a sharp look. “She’s better than that. Deserves someone who realizes it on their own. Not someone who has to be reminded or convinced.” I know he’s right. He laughs lightly, like a weight’s been lifted. “I’m glad you’re sitting here right now, though.” He looks at me and an understanding passes between us. He cares about Kalani. He’d protect her from anything he could. Even me.

I explain that night in Mexico, and the mind games from Liv that led to it. I tell him about Ashley and Jarrod, and the recordings. I pour my fucking heart out to the guy in love with my girl. “Damn.” “Yeah.” The silence stretches longer than it should. Blowing out a breath, I turn to my friend. “I need to go to her, Parker. Talk to her, if only to say I’m sorry.” He stares at me for a few seconds, then steps out of the truck. “You’re right. You do.” He grabs his bag off the ground, turning back to me. His eyes give nothing away, but I know this isn’t easy on him. If he helps me, he knows what that means for him. But again, he’d never do wrong by her, especially for personal gain. “She’s perfect, you know that, right? You know she deserves so much more than the shit she’s been dished?” I nod. “I know. Trust me, Parker. Please.” He casts his eyes to the side for a moment, before bringing them back to me. “Can you be ready in an hour?”

Right there, under my pergola, is a beautiful, aged white wood swing, held up by triangular posts on each side, two metal chains hanging from the small beam above it. Nate’s swing sways in slow, gentle motions, with the help of the soft ocean breeze. I stand, holding a hand out to stop Parker when he tries to help. Moisture fills my eyes for the thousandth time since I left, but this time for a very different reason. I knew he’d come.

“Because my heart beats in your chest, and yours in mine. We’re blended in each other in deeper ways than even we understand.”

“I’m glad you didn’t come to me, Kalani. I needed to be the one to open my eyes and see. I failed you that night. Not the other way around.” I squeeze her cheeks tighter. “I will never fail you again.”

“This is where I belong, baby. Right here, with you.” “No.” “Yes.” “Nate, please,” she pleads. “I signed with UCLA.” My heart stops beating while I wait for her response. She pulls her hands away from my face, slowly lowering them to her sides. “What?” “In February.” “February.” She frowns at my chest. I nod. “You didn’t tell me.” “I didn’t want you to try and talk me out of it. I had to wait until it was too late to back out before I said anything.” “February.” She looks up at me. “Uh-huh.” I dare her to argue. “Why California?” “You really asking me that?” She goes to speak, but nothing comes out. Her lips purse, her brows furrowing. I see it all over her face; she’s doing her best to tell herself I’d never choose my path based on hers. She’s so fucking wrong. “Yeah, baby.” I lift my hand and her breath hitches. Then I do what I’ve been thinking about for months. My calloused fingers graze her jaw, sliding up and over her ear, where I tuck her hair behind it. I let my hand sink further into her dark locks and bring my forehead down to hers.

“You’re staying?” she asks quietly. “You couldn’t force me to leave if you tried.”

“Why did you bring the swing here?” she asks, not lifting her head from my shoulder. “For you, so when I’m in class or on the field, you can sit here and feel close to me.”

My arms wrap around her, pulling her close, holding her tight against my chest. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I’m gonna stay with you, love you, forever.” She smiles and slides her hands up my neck. “I know.” She tilts her head and raises a brow. “Ready to show me what forever feels like?” I nod. She nods. We’re on the same page.

Tilting her head up, she looks into my eyes, then she squeezes my hand. Because she’s here; she’s got me. And she does, all of me. Everything I am, everything I have or will have, is already hers. This girl. This blue-eyed, black-haired girl, who had no one and wanted nothing, chose me. She let me in, let me love her. And she loves me back just as hard. She’s my everything and I’m her only. I squeeze her tighter, pulling her closer. “I love you, baby.” She smiles, a big beautiful one she’s only ever given me, and my heart stops. “I love you, Handsome.” She’s so beautiful. So perfect. So… mine.