“I’m scared,” I admitted. “I’m scared I'll uproot everything and it won’t work out. Then what will I have?”
Miranda’s voice softened in a way it rarely did. “If you stay, will you get to keep him?”
My throat went tight again, and I shook my head. “No. I don’t think I will.”
“And if you go, there’s a very good chance he’ll always be yours. And,” she added, pointing a stern finger, “if it doesn’t work? You come home. Your job is waiting. Your aunt and cousin aren’t going anywhere. You owe yourself the chance to try. That’s my opinion anyway.”
I drew in a shuddering breath. “I don’t know what to say.”
She stood, smoothing her blazer. “Say you’ll think about it from the new perspective I offered.”
“Okay. I’ll…think about it.”
“Good.” She tapped my desk. “Now stop pretending to read that document. We have work to do.”
Chapter Forty-three
Mazzy
Iheardlaughterfirst—Ben’sriotous chuckles mixed with Bea’s more musical giggles. Then, as I drew closer to his house, I had to stop on the sidewalk, between the beams of sun cutting through the trees, and watch.
Ben was in his tiny, postage-stamp front yard hopping in zigzags across the patchy grass, trying to dodge a very determined Benjamin. The dog launched himself like a furry missile every time Ben changed direction, ears flapping, paws skidding, letting out high-pitched barks that sounded like pure happiness.
Ben gasped, pretending to flee for his life even though he had maybe three steps of space to work with. “He’s too fast—Bea, call him off!” he shouted over his shoulder, but he was laughing, bright and unguarded, being the man I had come to deeply love and adore.
Bea snorted. “You started it. Face your consequences.”
Benjamin nipped at Ben’s heel again, victorious, and Ben gave a dramatic yelp before flopping down to allow him to climb on his lap and lick his face.
Bea was perched on the top step of the porch, laughing as her dog attacked Ben with kisses. The scene was so sweet and perfect it was nearly impossible for me to lift my feet and move forward. As soon as Ben saw me, I would ruin it, and any lightness he was feeling would sink to the bottom of the ocean.
I could almost feel Miranda’s hands on my shoulders, shoving me forward. Bea spotted me first, waving happily.
“Hey, Mazzy. I’d stay on the other side of the fence unless you want to be mauled by my dog.”
I stopped on the sidewalk, just outside the low picket fence. “He does look particularly bloodthirsty today.”
I smiled as Ben struggled to get out from under him and push to his feet. Bea helped out, attaching Benjamin’s leash to his collar and tugging him to her side.
“Is Kat okay?” Ben asked, an edge of panic in his voice.
“She’s fine. Aunt Barb’s going to pick her up from preschool.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I thought maybe we could talk.”
“Yeah.” He nodded hard, slicing his fingers through his curls. “Yeah, we should.”
Bea passed me on her way out, squeezing my shoulder. “He really loves you,” she murmured. “Be gentle, all right?”
“Of course I will,” I whispered, and I meant it implicitly.
Ben’s expression was wary as I approached, and when I grabbed the front of his rumpled T-shirt, he grunted in surprise.
“Can we go inside?”
“Sure. If you want.” He touched his cheek. “I should probably wash the dog saliva off my face.”
I smiled faintly. “Probably. He really was giving you a bath.”
“Guess I needed it. I’m…uh, kind of a wreck.”
