Page 85 of Here We Go Again

Mom’s expression tells me she heard it too.

She looks like she’s about to say something, but then her eyes shift to a spot behind me, and I instinctively know Kim has returned. And judging by the new worry in Mom’s eyes, she heard every word that just came out of my mouth.

I turn, and sure enough, Kim is standing in the entry to the changing rooms, bottom lip caught between her teeth.

I’m immediately embarrassed. The last thing I want to do is make Theo’s loss, Kim’s loss, about me. I’ve accepted Theo’s apology. And we’ve had such good conversations in the past couple of days. I do forgive him. I don’t blame him. Last night’s worries were a me problem, my own insecurities making me doubt.

I stand to face her. “Kim, I’m⁠—”

But she cuts off my words when she takes two quick steps, closing the distance between us and pulling me into an enormous hug.

“Becca, listen to me,” she says as she pulls back, keeping hold of my shoulders. “It was never about you. It just broke him, honey. He pushed everyone away.”

“No, I know,” I quickly say. “He told me the same thing. Truly, I don’t hold it against him. I don’t blame him at all. What he went through—what you all went through—I can’t even begin to imagine.” I shake my head and drop my gaze. “It feels so silly to be making this about me. Not when you lost so much more than I did.”

She gives me a wry grin. “I mean, we did turn your vacation into a week-long date without your knowledge or consent. I think we can afford you making this a little bit about you.”

I huff out a laugh. “Well, when you put it that way … you did do that.”

“Do you want to know why?” Kim asks, blue eyes blazing with an intensity I’ve never seen before.

I nod.

“You can’t know this because you’ve only just become reacquainted, but Theo has been different this summer. More focused. More intentional. Seeing you woke him up, Becca. You make him want to be better.”

Tears suddenly spring to my eyes. It’s nothing that Theo hasn’t already told me. But it’s still nice to hear it from his mom.

She tightens her grip on my shoulders. “When my boys were little, I promised I would never be the meddling type. I would let them live their lives; I would love their chosen partners no matter what, be supportive in every way possible.” She looks over at my mom. “And yet, here we are, meddling like two old hens. But I just couldn’t spare the thought of you leaving Atlanta without giving Theo the chance to show you the man he’s become.”

My heart squeezes with a sudden longing to see the man in question. Right now. This very second.

As if summoned by the thought, my phone buzzes from the bench next to my mom, and I look over to see a text from Theo.

He’s here.

Right outside.

“Will you get my clothes?” I say to Mom, tilting my head toward the changing room where my sundress and Birkenstocks are still piled on the floor.

“Of course,” she says. “Now, go! Have a wonderful time.”

I pause long enough to give Kim a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper before I pull away.

I leave the boutique and step onto the street, temporarily blinded by the brightness of the late afternoon sun. I don’t see Theo, but I do see his car parked directly in front of the curb.

I look up and down the street and spot him stepping out of another shop a few doors down, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

We make eye contact, and his whole face changes, a smile lighting his eyes in a way that makes something click and settle in my chest.

Maybe I don’t know what’s coming next.

But for the first time in a very long time, I’ve suddenly forgotten to care.

22

BECCA

Theo stops directly in front of me. “Hi,” he says, a little breathless. He looks me up and down, then leans forward and brushes a kiss against my cheek, sending a cascade of goosebumps across my bare shoulders and down my arms. “You look incredible.”