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The sooner you get used to it, the better.
Oak came around a corner. “How you holding up, pretty lady?”
Just the sight of Oak made me sad. He’d been such a good friend and advocate. I was really going to miss seeing him all the time. A giant man with a giant heart.
“Hey…before I forget to tell you…” I said. “Thank you for everything this summer…for looking out for me here and for your support through the worst of everything. I’ll never forget it.”
“Whoa. That sounds an awful lot like goodbye.”
I shrugged. “Well, it sort of is. It’s our last night of work. Just a few more days, and I’ll be back in Queens.”
Oak looked like he was at a loss for words. Then he finally said, “I refuse to believe Rush is gonna let you go, Gia. I refuse to believe I won’t be seeing you anymore.”
“He’s made no effort to stop me.” I looked around the crowded room and my voice cracked. “I haven’t even seen him all night. Have you?”
“He’s around, yeah. He’s probably struggling in his own way with the same thing you are.”
A wave of sadness hit me. At that moment, I saw Rush’s mom, Melody, walk in.
Great. There was no way I was going to be able to hide my tears now.
She headed straight toward me.
I tried to act happy as I hugged her. “Melody, I wasn’t sure if you’d be here.”
“I never miss this party, and tomorrow’s the employee brunch, but I certainly couldn’t miss any of it knowing that you’re leaving soon.”
“Rush and I…we aren’t…”
She smiled sympathetically and reached for my hand. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”
“I haven’t seen him around much tonight,” I told her.
Melody didn’t seem surprised. “That’s probably intentional.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“I wouldn’t take that to mean he doesn’t care…just the opposite, Gia. Pretty sure this is one of the hardest nights of his life. He’s probably avoiding you to keep from getting upset. He won’t be able to hide all night, though.”
Hearing her say that made me want to go find him.
Things were busy, and I was standing around ignoring customers. “I have to get back to work. Will you make some time for me after closing?”
Melody placed her hand on my arm. “Of course. That’s why I’m here. Spending the night at Rush’s tonight.”
“Okay.” I smiled.
Melody went to mingle, and I resumed my duties, seating people and flashing fake smiles to customers.
It wasn’t until about an hour later that Rush finally appeared. I swore I felt his presence before I even noticed him standing there. Something in the room just shifted. Then I turned and there he was.
He took my breath away. Rush was more dressed up than usual, wearing a black polo that showcased his tatted arms and pants that hugged his beautiful ass. Damn, he looked amazing.
I guess I assumed he would continue to ignore me. But he did the last thing I expected. He came over to me and grabbed my hand. He was leading me outside.
My heart started to pound. “What are you doing? I have to finish up my shift.”
“I’ve got it covered. You’re off for the rest of the night.”
“I am?”
“Yes.”
It felt so good to be holding his hand. It had been too long. He led me out the door and all the way down to the water, then sat down on the sand and patted the ground, prompting me to situate myself between his legs. Rush enveloped me in his arms and placed his cheek on my back.
My entire body seemed to calm down instantly. He was quiet, and I relished the heat of his body against mine as we sat there together.
I didn’t understand what was happening, and I didn’t question it. In my mind, silence was good. It meant he couldn’t tell me that whatever this was between us now was over. As far as I was concerned, silence bought us more time.
Finally, I had to ask, “What are we doing?”
Yes, that question was both literal and figurative.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We’re just sitting. I want to enjoy this moment with you out here. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just surprised. You were ignoring me all night.”
“You really think you were far from my mind, Gia?”
I didn’t answer because it was a rhetorical question. Of course, I was on his mind.
He continued, “You’re all I can think about tonight. Hell, any night.”
We were silent again for a long while. It felt damn good to be in his arms again, a feeling of safety like no other. I looked back at The Heights in the distance, and all of the chaos of the party seemed like a distant memory compared to our peaceful retreat.
He spoke against my back. “I’m sorry I was MIA tonight. It was hard for me to deal with it being your last night at The Heights. It was easier for me not to deal with it at all.”
