The Stolen Boyfriend

Chapter 24| So Close, Yet So Far

Laura:

Did he see me? That was an useless question to ask because his exhausted blue eyes were fixed on me with what appeared to be longing. He was smiling at me with what appeared to be yearning.

He was so close, yet so far away. We were just standing there, staring at one another, but we were not ready to approach one another. 

Kyle came over to me. "I told you it was time for you to find a boyfriend, too." He whispered in my ear. I turned to face him; my eyes wide. 

"How did you find the surprise?" He looked at Ryker and remarked, "Your one is waiting for you; go to him." 

He began approaching me before I could even gather my thoughts. My heart is racing with each step he takes. I turned around and walked away.

I have no idea where I'm heading, but I just want to go far away. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him approaching me. It had been years since we had seen each other. 

Do I truly deserve this second chance? Is this a sign that I should finally give in and just be with him? And, most importantly, has he forgiven me for all of my wrongdoings? 

I came to a halt as I thought about the last question. I can't stay here and do nothing. I need to find out if he has forgiven me or not. I'll just ask him. 

I turned around to go back inside, but I came to a halt when I saw him standing in front of me. I gasped, unsure how to react. How do I start this conversation? Hi? I'm sorry? No, wait, how about: I love you? 

I shook that thought away. I didn't have to start a conversation because I'd been looking down the entire time, never meeting his gaze. He eventually decided to break the silence. 

"Please, Laura, look at me." He spoke in a shaky voice. I missed hearing him say my name. No, just hearing him talk is enough for me. 

As soon as we made eye contact, tears welled up in his eyes. I fidgeted, unsure of what to do. I just stood there staring at him as tears fell from his eyes. 

He soon stopped crying and moved closer to me, but he kept a large distance between us. Even after everything that had happened between us, he was still considerate.

We made eye contact, and I missed seeing his eyes after all these years. However, they didn't look the same as they did then. 

"You told me never to trust an actress. You are no longer one. Can I trust you now?" He smiled sadly as he asked. 

My heart ached at his words, and I realized how pathetic I am. I should be crying, not anyone else. I should be hurt, not him. He never deserved what happened to him because of me. 

My legs weakened, and I collapsed to my knees. He called my name and walked closer to me. My lips trembled as I closed my eyes and allowed the tears to flow. 

"Please forgive me for everything I've put you through. Please forgive me for hurting you and then leaving you to suffer for years. I couldn't sleep every night without feeling guilty about what I'd done." I cried, looking down, hesitant to face him. 

"Laura, look at me." He got on his haunches and raised my chin. I finally met his gaze. My eyes widened when I noticed his reaction.

He offered me a warm smile. I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat when his smile reached his eyes, making them sparkle under the moonlight. It was as if he was silently promising me that everything would be fine. 

"Don't worry, Laura. Just seeing you again made me forget about years of pain." He reassured me with a smile. He then helped me in standing. 

"Congratulations. I'm very proud of you." He smiled. I noticed how tired his eyes looked after smiling at me. I couldn't help but smile back.