AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No, I wouldn’t miss the days spent with him tagging along on my workdays. Who even cared about those long nights we spent tangled up in each other or the sweet satisfaction he gave me in every little kiss, every little smile.
It didn’t matter that it felt like I knew him in a way that defied time. In a way that had made him vital to me.
When he left, I’d be fine.
Especially if I didn’t think of it now or ever.
Instead, I took in the night for a moment, soaking in the details. The fabric strung in elegant strips from a ring hung from a massive oak over the dance floor. The frame around the rectangular space provided a drape for the fabric and a place for the zillion lights strung up. Tables lit by candlelight were little glowing islands of happy faces and golden champagne around the wooden platform, at the end of which my family sang with all the joy I felt in my heart.
There were moments in life when you knew you were exactly where you’re supposed to be. When everything made sense. When everything was right.
This was one of them.
I didn’t want it to end.
The song ended, and a slow song started. Daisy sang, long and slow and lovely, about the perils of love. And Grant smiled on.
I smiled back.
“I’m still trying to figure out how you put this all together in such a short amount of time.”
I shrugged my almost bare shoulders—only the tiniest spaghetti straps kept my dress up. “This space was already here, we just had to put up the fabric part and set up the tables, and we’re the entertainment. The caterer was kismet, and the guest list was Sebastian. Daisy put together the presentation on development, and the speakers were easy enough. Everybody had something to say.”
“Especially Mitchell.”
My face soured. “God, I hate that he’s even on my property. Can you believe that motherfucker took credit for all of this?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Who gets credit for this dress?”
“What, this old thing?” I playfully glanced down at the pinky-gold sequined cocktail dress, its V deep and its hem short. The high waist banded around the most narrow spot on my torso, the skirt wrapped in the front, draping to make the slightest upside-down V, mercifully giving me a little bit of room to dance without fear of tearing anything. I smiled back up at him. “A friend of mine owns a dress shop in Austin and hooked me up.”
“Send her my thanks.”
“I will. And how about this suit? You didn’t bring this with you, did you?”
“Also Austin, though no friend or hookup.”
“Too bad. I bet my dress shop friend knows a guy. I’d introduce you if she wasn’t hotter than me.”
“Impossible. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in all my life.”
His tone wasn’t joking. It was hallowed, as were his eyes and his fingertips on my back.
So I laughed, my cheeks flushed and my heart aching. “You’ve gotta get out more.”
“Don’t do that, Jo.”
I was quiet for a beat as we swayed under the golden lights. “I have to.”
“Why?”
“Because … well, because.”
“Because I’m leaving?” he guessed.
I met his eyes, searched them. “It’s hard enough even when we’re avoiding it.”
“I know.”
At the acknowledgment, we fell silent for a moment.
A silent war raged behind his eyes. “I didn’t know when I came here that it would change me. You changed me. Somehow, you’ve managed to undo everything I thought I wanted and rewrite it. And now … I don’t want to go.”
My heart flung itself in his direction. I took a breath, soaking up those five words.
“I don’t want you to go. But you have a job and a home and a life a thousand miles away. And I’m here. I’ll always be here.”
“All that’s true about my life, my job, my home. I’m just trying to figure out if they matter enough to go back to.”
My heart ceased its flinging in favor of climbing up my throat.
“I don’t even know if I can leave anymore.”
“But …” I shook my head. “Your job—”
“Is all over the country. I’m in DC maybe half the time, traveling the rest.”
“Your home. Your friends.”
“My home is just a place where my stuff is. And I only have one somebody, remember? You. I don’t want to go.” He held me tighter, searching for words. But all he did was echo, “I don’t want to go,” again, softly.
“Grant …”
He brought my hand, resting in his, to his lips. “I don’t know what it means or what we’ll do or how any of it will work. But say you want me to stay, and I’m here. I’m yours.”
It was too much to feel, too much to answer for. To wrap myself around him, to tell him he could have me, to say it out loud was too scary, too big.
