Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Thane
As I followed the GPS through a couple of towns, I prayed Amara would be at her apartment when I got there. It took some digging, but I managed to find her business and an address for her.
Considering I lost my phone soon after she left, I’d lost her number with it. Most of my information carried over, but I hadn’t backed up my information in a while. Amara’s number went down the drain with my phone.
I knew I could’ve found an email for her, but I wanted to see her when the surprise I had for her was finished. So, I bided my time, worked night and day to bring her idea to life, and now the bare bones were assembled and ready for her to see.
Her very own flower shop come to life.
She probably hated my guts by now. Probably assumed I ghosted her. But like I said, an email didn’t feel personable to me. I wanted to talk to her in person, show her why I’d been so busy the past couple of weeks, and ask her to be mine.
Because while I tirelessly worked on her shop, I realized I was falling for her.
The night and days we spent together were magical.
Unlike anything I’d ever felt before. My guys said I was stupid for letting her get away.
They’d never seen me so worked up over a woman before.
It was true. I focused on my career, had the occasional hookup when I was horny and that was the extent of my love life.
Yet the moment I laid eyes on Amara, I knew she was different. I wanted to give her the world. And I wanted to surprise her while doing it. If I’d had her number, I wouldn’t have been able to keep it all a secret. I’d take one look at her and confess.
So maybe losing my phone was a blessing in disguise.
At this point, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was bringing my girl home.
You see, I built her flower shop on the same land my cabin was on. I owned acres of land so why not give some to her? Her shop didn’t deserve to be tucked away in a plaza of office buildings. It needed to stand out, to be on its own to show how special it was. Not hidden among other buildings.
Would she get upset about the location?
I hoped not. Because I wanted her to move in with me, to become my forever, to be my wife, and have my children.
Something I never saw myself having.
But after watching my brother Ryerson fall in love, I thought maybe there was someone for me too and now I’d found her.
The GPS directed me into a lot up ahead, a small apartment building set back from the street.
I parked my truck and killed the engine.
My nerves were shot, afraid she’d slam the door in my face, afraid she’d reject me, and I’d have to turn her flower shop into something else, a stark reminder of my failed attempts.
There was only one way to find out.
With a deep breath, I made my way to the front door and located the button for her apartment number. I pressed it, the buzzer sounding, and waited.
A couple minutes passed and there was no answer. Maybe she wasn’t home even though I was pretty sure her car was parked in the lot.
I buzzed again, this time for longer, when finally, her sweet voice sounded over the speaker. The mere sound of it sent my mind into a tailspin. “Can I help you?”
“Hey, Amara. It’s me, Thane. Can we talk?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I know I’m the last person you probably want to talk to. But can I please explain?”
Silence.
Seconds turned into minutes. I swallowed over the lump in my throat.
“Okay, fine, I’ll explain right now. It sounds crazy but I swear it’s the truth.
Somehow, I lost my phone, and I hadn’t done a recent backup so when I saved your phone number, it didn’t transfer onto my new phone.
Then work got insane, but in a good way, as I’ll explain in a second.
It took some digging, but I found your business and your address, and I came here to apologize for ghosting you, but I honestly lost my phone and then I worked day and night on a project.
A special project. For someone who means a lot to me. ”
“If I meant that much to you, then you would’ve come a lot sooner.”
“I should’ve but the reason I waited was because I was working on something. For you. I want you to come with me so I can show you.”
“Thane, I don’t think that’s a good idea. We should just cut our losses and move forward. I found a new contractor to help me.”
Her words were like a stab to the chest. It was as if the wind was knocked clear out of me, a throbbing wound. “You…you did?”
“Yeah. Goodbye, Thane.”
Her words were so abrupt. So final. I couldn’t manage my own goodbye, so I said nothing.
My arms fell to my side and my shoulders slumped. I hung my head low and turned away from her door. Tears welled in my eyes at the thought of never seeing her again. Never showing her what I built for her.
This was what I deserved. I did her wrong. I didn’t deserve a second chance. I deserved nothing.
I slowly walked back to my car, desperately trying to hold back my tears. But it was no use.
My heart was breaking.