Runaway Love by Pamela Washington Read Free Book Online

on a huge drinking binge. Something I haven’t done in a long time. My heart was crushed because I knew I hurt you. I couldn’t handle the anguish in your voice because I knew I put it there. I finally admitted to myself that I regretted not waiting to see you that day.”
    I stop pacing and look at him rubbing his temples. For the first time, I see the weight he has carried with him all these years as well. Our eyes meet, and I can tell he’s finally being honest about how sorry he is for all that he caused.
    “When you left, I made myself believe you were going to come back for me. I stayed at Ms. Allen’s until I was eighteen, longer than I ever wanted to, because I thought that was the only place you’d be able to find me. I searched high and low for you, but I couldn’t find you. Not knowing where you were or what happened to you drove me crazy. I kept imagining the worst scenarios! It was like Scott Fordham just ceased to exist one day! Why the FUCK did you change your last name?” 
    Scott relaxes and looks up at me as he says, “Please sit. I changed my name because who likes Scott Fordham? I didn’t, so I changed it to Peters.” I don’t sit down; I knew he hated his last name but come on – changing it without telling me was a little extreme.
    “Well, Scott Peters , even if I did know you were playing soccer in England, did it ever occur to you that I never would’ve found you with your new last name? I thought you were dead. I went into the deepest depression that I never thought I was going to come out of. I was drinking and getting high with people I didn’t even know. I finally had to come to reality that you weren’t coming back for me and suck up my pride and call Tony.”
    I remember all my lows, and I know without Tony as my support system, I would’ve gone over the deep end. Scott stands up and wraps his arms around me. I don’t fight him this time; instead, I return the hug and melt in his embrace. I feel so little in his strong arms.
    “I didn’t know that changing my name would make it hard for you to find me. I’m here now, and I want to make it up to you. I’m going to take a break from soccer, so I can move here and spend as much time with you as I can.”
    I’m in shock. Can this really work? Can I have Scott and Tony in the same town together? Can I finally have everything I ever wanted? Is my happiness truly at my fingertips? My phone chimes, but I ignore it and look into Scott’s eyes. Before I can stop myself, I reach up to kiss him for the first time in over ten years. God, the depth of passion in that kiss reaches all the way to my core, making me instantly wet. I have a difficult time ending our connection.
    “Yes, Scott, please stay here. I need you more than anything; I always have. I have so much to tell you about what happened to me. I need you to know everything.”
    Scott kisses me again before promising me, “Okay, I won’t leave. I’m not going to lose you again.”
    I know I need to head back home soon when I hear my phone chime again. “I need to leave, walk me to my car.”
    We start to walk back to my car, but it takes a while because we keep stopping to hug and kiss. I feel the butterflies in my stomach. It feels wrong, but how can I not kiss my first love after all this time? I get in the car and stare at Scott.
    “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you - I named my son Scottie after you.” If I could’ve taken a picture of him, I would’ve. The look on his face is so priceless! I smile as I put my car in reverse and wave to him as I drive off.
    I’m feeling so good that I turn the music up and drop the top on my Mercedes. I feel like a new woman with a big secret that nobody can ever know about. I pull into my driveway feeling more confident and content than I’ve felt in a long time. I notice a note on the door from Kimberly wanting to come over, but I just ignore it. I don’t want any visitors today; I need some alone time to get my thoughts