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“I was lying!” she said. “When I told you to go because we’d had our fun. We were having fun, but that wasn’t all, at least not for me, because really, I was falling in love with you. And that made me scared, so I pushed you away, and I shouldn’t have, I really shouldn’t have, because all I wanted to do—all I still want to do—is keep you close, keep you with me, always and forever.”

She broke off, eyes welling with tears, but she had to keep going, to say everything she felt. It was the only way.

“And you’re probably already back in Ireland,” she continued, exasperated, “and I don’t even know what time it is there, but when you get this, call me back. I want to be with you, Grayson, however possible. Call me back, please.”

She hung up, feeling like she would vomit as she slipped her phone back into her purse. Her hands were trembling, but she was relieved to have finally, finally said everything. She couldn’t remember exactly what she’d said—she felt like she’d blacked out a little in the middle there—but she hoped it was enough for him to call her back, at least.

They could go from there.

Heart racing with adrenaline, Lucy turned around to leave—only to find Grayson standing there.

She shrieked, clutching her heart.

“You scared me!” she yelled, blood pounding.

God, she had missed him. She wanted to run into his arms, grab on to him and never let him go.

“Should I go, then?” he asked.

“What?” she cried, irritation flashing through her. “No! Why do you always have to be impossible?”

His jaw dropped open. “Me? That’s rich coming from you!”

They had both stepped closer as they spoke, and she grabbed the back of his head, covering his mouth with her hand.

“Ugh!” she groaned. “Stop arguing and shut up for once!”

His eyes widened.

“Even though you were probably eavesdropping and already know what I’m going to say,” she said, pissed off. “There isn’t much else to say except: I love you.”

The anger and adrenaline she had felt were gone, leaving behind only the fear. Her legs shook, and she dropped her hand from his mouth. His lips parted with surprise. Feeling overwhelmed, she blinked back tears. “I love you, Grayson Crawley. Please stay.”

His breath hitched at the words, and she was astonished to see his eyes were shining, too. “May I speak now?”

His tone made her roll her eyes. “You really are insufferable. Yes, you may speak.”

“Good.” His lips tilted. “I love you, too, Lucy Ansari. Thank you for asking me to stay, you’ll be happy to know I already am.”

Shock rippled through her. “What?!” she shrieked.

“I never left, Luce,” he said, expression soft. “On my birthday, you were what I wished for. When I fucked it up between us, I figured I’d come up with some plan to eventually win you back, and when I did, it would help to be on the same continent.”

She was astonished. “You never left?”

“Nope.” He shook his head.

“But the store … Charles said you weren’t there anymore.”

“I’m not at the store, but it’s because I got another job,” he told her. “That’s where I was the day of Sophie’s death anniversary. I was interviewing for a professorship.”

Lucy’s mouth fell open. “What?” She couldn’t believe it. “Even back then?”

“Yes,” he said with a little laugh. “I’ve been interviewing for a while.”

“You never said!”

He looked away, voice quiet. “I wasn’t sure you’d want me to stay—Charles, either.”