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“May I?” she asked, waiting for his permission before she sat beside him. She wanted him to have that feeling of control, that he was giving consent for her closeness.
“Will you be working with Judith?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“Not really. I’m working on marketing strategies to get your name out there.”
“Do you think it will work?”
“I think you can do anything you set your mind to.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smile. “I couldn’t stay, Trina. Please forgive me for leaving.”
She inhaled deeply, his forlorn expression tugging at her heartstrings. “I think I finally can. Though I must admit, I always thought it was my fault that you left.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“But you’re back now,” she continued. “But Ren, tell me...how long ago did you find me?”
“I’ve been watching your profile picture change for about five years.” His head was hung low. “I didn’t know how to approach you. I didn’t want to disrupt your life, not with the mess my headspace was in. And when I could find you, I always thought that maybe you’d try to find me.”
“And I always thought you didn’t want to be found.”
He turned his gaze in her direction, his eyes searching hers, and when he found what he was looking for, his gaze softened.
“I guess,” she continued, “that we were both wrong.”
“Yes. Yes and no. I have slowly been piecing my life back together, and I wasn’t ready to see you. I wanted...hell, I always imagined you’d find Cade’s and just waltz back into my life, and we...” His voice trailed off as he eyes moved back to the sketch.
“And we what?”
He shrugged and took a drink of his beer. “But I just...instinct told me to have them call you. I knew you’d come.”
“And then what?”
“Then I’d get to say goodbye.”
She remained silent as she took a drink of her beer. He’d wanted to say goodbye to her, the way he hadn’t all those years before.
“I thought I was dying,” he continued. “I really fucking thought I was. They told me I coded in the ambulance.”
“They told me that, too.” She turned the bottle around in her hands, then asked, “What about now? Are you just wanting a proper goodbye?”
“No.” He said the word softly, his eyes on her.
“What are you wanting?”
“I don’t know.”
Her eyes widened at his admission.
“You have no idea what it’s done for me to see you again,” he continued.
“Bet me,” she said with a laugh.
The silence that stretched between them as they held one another’s gaze wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable. It felt good.
Right.
“It’s getting late,” he finally said.
