Alright, here is the last chapter. I hope y'all like it.
It had been three months since Casey had received that text from Derek. She never replied; she barely knew what to think about it. She put it out of her mind. She had been going out more lately, mainly with the girls. She was trying not to cry anymore.
She was looking through her fridge, trying to figure out what she wanted to eat, when there was a knock at the door.
"Hmm, who could that be?" she said out loud before heading to the door.
She opened the door and was in complete shock by who was standing there. He couldn't. He shouldn't. But he did. Apparently he had flown all this way and now was standing on her doorstep, looking incredibly cute and adorable and she didn't know what to do with herself.
"Hey, Case!"
"Uh...come in, I guess..."
He walked in and made himself comfortable on Casey's couch. She couldn't help but be confused by why he was here. It had been three months since his text, the text that pretty much sealed the deal, and he didn't ever try to get in touch with her again. It made no sense as to why he was here in Ontario.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in Vancouver?"
"I came to see you," he said calmly. She hated how calm he was.
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
"Look, I've got to be honest, you're wasting your time."
"Case, I've got to be honest. This feeling, it's real."
"What do you take me for? Someone to believe something like that after all we've been through?"
"Case, you're beautiful and your smart and you've got passion, but you've got this wrong. Give me another chance. I'll be true to you. I'll be yours. I'll belong to you, if you just let me. This should be easy as lovers go. Don't complicate it. Don't hesitate. Case, we're made for each other. So why are we playing these games? I'm sorry."
Casey just stared there in shock. She hadn't heard Derek ever say this much romantic stuff. Ever. She wanted to smile, but she couldn't let him win. Not this easy. She was a woman of principle. But she realized that he wasn't done talking.
"Being so far from you was hard. I didn't know if I could do it. That's why I didn't call or anything. I was trying to make it easier for you. I know that sounds dumb but I thought a clean break would be easiest. What if we had been in a relationship and I messed up? I couldn't hurt you like that. Instead, I had to hurt you this way. And I feel horrible. But, Case, all that time up there, I never dated anyone. I looked at your picture every night before I went to bed. I told your picture goodnight. I told your picture 'I love you.' Now I know that it should have been you. I should have been telling you goodnight and I love you on the phone. I messed up. I know that. But being with you here, tonight, makes me realize I made the right decision. I quit the Canucks."
Casey was close to crying. She couldn't believe this. But he looked so sincere and so much in love with her, she couldn't help it.
"You quit the Canucks?"
"No. I wanted to sound more romantic. Actually, they traded me to the Senators. So, for home games and off season and training, I will only be a mere two hours away."
Casey laughed. She knew Derek would never quit hockey. It was his passion.
"I should have known. You'd never quit, it is your reason for living."
Derek looked at the woman he loved and was a bit angered by her saying that. Hockey was not his reason for living.
"No, you're wrong. You're my reason for living."
He got up off the couch, took two strides, and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
"Oh, Derek."
"Do you forgive me? Please say you do. Case, if I can't be with you, I don't want to be with anyone."
"Of course, you just owe me big time."
Derek smirked, "As you wish."
And he kissed her again.
A sweet ending. I couldn't help it. I'm a sucker for it. I just intended to make it sad and bittersweet, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. Don't hate me!! :D
