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“Jonathan.” Phoebe swallowed. “You had a life. I had a life. It’s not like we could have…” She trailed off, unsure what she was trying to say.

“I would have done anything for you.”

“Then why did you ask me to move to New York?” The question took them both by surprise. It must have been lying dormant in Phoebe’s brain all these years. As soon as she said the words aloud, she felt a surge of long-repressed anger.

“What?”

“When you”—Phoebe waved a hand through the air—“you know. You said, ‘Why don’t you give up your job and come to New York with me?’ If you would have done anything for me, then why didn’t you give up your job and stay in Seattle?”

Jonathan was silent for a second. Then he said, “I’ve relived that moment a lot. I was nervous, making such a—a declaration. I didn’t think that part through.”

“No, you didn’t. Because what if you had said, ‘Phoebe, just say the word, and I’ll stay here to be with you’?” Phoebe’s voice cracked slightly.

“I think your answer would have been the same. You would have had the same reasons for saying no. And you would have told me not to give up on my dream job just for some girl.”

At this, they smiled at each other, though Phoebe’s eyes blurred with tears.

“Am I right?” Jonathan asked.

“Yeah. You’re probably right.”

“But if you had? Phoebe, if you had asked me to stay?” Jonathan’s voice was husky. He cleared his throat and gazed at her, his eyes intent on hers so she wouldn’t miss a word. “I would have stayed. I would have gone anywhere with you.”

Phoebe’s breath hitched. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

“Anyway, at least now I have this.” Jonathan gestured between them. “I think this conversation is the closure I’ve been needing for a long time.”

At the word closure, Phoebe felt a visceral displeasure. She inched one hand across the table and rested her palm on his forearm. “Is there anything else you’ve been needing?”

“Phoebe. What are you…?”

“Because I will admit. Since we’re being honest.” She dropped her eyes, unable to look at him as she searched for the truth. “One of my biggest regrets in life is not letting you kiss me when I had the chance.”

Chapter 32

Arden

Arden snuggled deeper into Sam’s bare shoulder. The quilt on his bed was rumpled down by their feet, the sheet pulled up over Arden’s torso. His bed smelled like him in the best way.

“When I left for The Nutcracker this afternoon, I was not expecting it to end like that.”

Sam chuckled into her hair. “What were you expecting when you stopped by my apartment before the show?”

“I should have known you’d be busy. It was weird of me to show up out of the blue.”

“It wasn’t weird. It was romantic.” Sam traced from one shoulder blade to the other, making her shiver. “At least, I think it was. What were you going to say if I’d been there?”

“Oh, I was just coming to say goodbye and return a scarf you left at Phoebe’s.” Arden’s voice was so casual, she could tell she had him fooled.

“Wait, what?”

“I’m joking, Sam. I came looking for you after I texted with Phoebe. After she told me, well…”

“That I’m crazy about you?”

Arden stilled. She smiled into Sam’s shoulder. “She did not say it quite like that.”

“I see. Well, I’m saying it now. Just so there’s no misunderstanding.”