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“No,” she says quickly. “It’s not that. I don’t want to say the wrong thing.”
My grip on the phone tightens, my heart pounding. “Falynn, tell me what’s on your mind. Don’t censor yourself.”
“It’s good to hear your voice. I haven’t let myself think about what happened too much because it’s been so hard trying to move on. But when you showed up earlier…” She inhales another soft breath, shakier than before. She’s nervous. Maybe more nervous than I am. “I do miss you, Gio.”
I haven’t felt this instantly happy since I was a child on Christmas morning, waking up to a mountain of presents. Nobody’s around to see the immediate and rare smile that forms on my lips.
She misses me!Falynnmisses me!
“I’ve missed you too,” I say, a deep throatiness to my voice. “You have no idea. It hasn’t been easy for me.”
“You looked so…composed.” She releases a small laugh.
“Because I made myself be that way. I didn’t want to make you feel like I hadn’t kept my promise. But I have. I’ve forced myself to stay away from you to respect your wishes.”
“How’ve you been? If it’s been hard? Are you doing okay?”
There’s genuine concern in her voice. It really has been that long since we’ve been in contact. Falynn must not know about the breakdown I had many months ago after she’d left; I’d been driven to the edge and given in to the darkest thoughts.
But the last thing I want to do is burden her with them. She doesn’t need to know about that period. At least not right now.
“I’m okay,” I say. “But I’m not going to lie and say I don’t still feel the same about you. I won’t say the words to make you feel obligated in case you don’t feel the same anymore. Just know I always will.”
She sniffs. I wonder if she’s tearing up. “Tasha’s birthday is tomorrow.”
It’s such a pivot from our conversation, I’m not sure what to make of it. Seconds pass before it occurs to me why she’d mention this.
“You can stay and celebrate with her. You don’t have to fly back tomorrow. Stay a while.”
“When do you leave?”
After whenever you leave…
“I’ll be in town for business for a few days,” I fib. My courage surges to a new high as I figure I have nothing to lose. Falynn’s admitted she misses me and I’ve hinted at still loving her to no rejection on her part. Now she’s open to staying longer than planned. I go for the greedy idea that comes to mind. “If you’re celebrating Tasha’s birthday tomorrow, what are you doing Sunday?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t planned that far ahead.”
“Let me take you out. It doesn’t have to be romantic. I will keep my hands to myself. We can just spend some time together. Maybe catch up some more. Then, when you’re ready to go, you can go. Is that all right?”
I can practicallyhearher smile. “Just us?”
“Is that okay with you? My security will be hands-off. We’ll have some privacy.”
“Okay,” she answers. “It’ll be great to catch up.”
Hope has never been something I’ve held onto, but when she agrees and we wish each other good night, it’s never beat harder inside my chest. I’m grinning like a fucking sappy lover boy as I begin counting the hours until Sunday.
