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A moment later, he leaned over and I moved so our lips met. This time, there were no electric currents. Instead, I was flooded with warmth, like standing in front of a bonfire. I sat back on my heels and smiled at Harry when our moment wasinterrupted.
“Hi,” Ty murmuredshyly.
“Hey, I thought you were at the hospital.” Harryfrowned.
Ty nodded. “I was. Now I’m here. Drew is sleeping. We won’t know more until tomorrow. I am where I need to be.” He passed Harry two pastry boxes. “I believe there was an order for cheesecake and chocolate cake.” Ty grinned. “And wine.” He held up the bottle he’d had tucked underhisarm.
Kate returned with four goblets. “Enough with the theatrics. Pour me a drink.” She laughedquietly.
He kissed her forehead, and murmured, “You got it,beautiful.”
Harry reached over and took my hand, then he brought it to his mouth and grazed my knuckles with his lips. Soon, we all held a glass of Moscato. As I prepared to take my first sip, Tystoppedus.
“So, I thought we should toast.” He blew out abreath.
“Oh?” Harry’s browsquirked.
Ty nodded. “Yes. We’re in this. The four of us.” He wrapped one arm around his wife while he held up his glass. “This is forever because true friendship, like true love,neverends.”
Our glasses clinked and Harry caught my eyes. “I’ll drink to that,” hemurmured.
My cheeks were on fire and I realized that all hope had beenrekindled.
17
Harry
The next daywas the longest day ever. Laney, Kate, and Ty went to work. Don’t get me wrong, I had plenty to do: I cleaned all the alcohol out of Drew’s room. I needed extra trash bags after I emptied the bottles and filled both wastebaskets in the room. Then I had to meet with the realtor so I could sign the rental agreement and attain the keys. I moved in my bags and Drew’s, but I’d have to wait for Laney to be done working before we could grab herthings.
Needless to say, by lunch time, I was bored. So, I picked up lunch and decided to surprise Laney in her conference room. Kate was in there with her. I’d already passed the office Ty was using. He waved, but pointed to the phone and mouthed ‘sorry, it’s my father’ before I nodded and scampered away. I was about to knock on the conference room door, but they seemed deep inconversation.
“I’m sorry, Kate,” Laney murmured. “I seem to have lost all enthusiasm for this job.” She sighed and set downherpen.
Kate sat in the seat beside her and swiveled the chair to face her. “Is itHarry?”
I watched as her cheeks turned red. She shook her head. “No. Not really. I like him so much. And I really enjoy our time together. It’snotthat.”
Kate leaned back in her chair and studied Laney silently before speaking. “Is it all the healing?” She pursed her lips. “I think you’re seeing this jobdifferently.”
Laney’s head tilted. “I think that might be closer to the truth.” She sighed in frustration. “I became an accountant so I’d never need a man, never struggle financially. It wasn’t my passion, but it paid the bills and the security meant everythingtome.”
“And now, you understand that there’s more to life than security. You may have even given up things you love for all the wrong reasons.” Kate noddedknowingly.
“Exactly. Maybe I didn’t need to have a ton of money to be happy, to feel safe. There’s a special kind of comfort in following my dreams.” Laney shook her head. “Of course, I’m about five years too late.” She shrugged. “Accepting that is going to be a bitter pill toswallow.”
Kate frowned. “Why would you say that? Bonnie Rait didn’t even start performing until her fifties, I think I readsomewhere.”
“Yeah, but that’s not Broadway.” Laney shrugged. “I think I read somewhere that being thirty on the stage is like being forty in real life. It’s a really competitive business. I’m practically past myprime.
Kate, I just turned thirty,” Laney whimpered. “I missed mychance.”
Pushing the box of tissues closer to her, Kate murmured, “So if you’ve decided you missed out on that dream, you better find a new one, fast. There’s nothing worse than waking up one day only to realize you’re at the end of your life and never trulylived.”
I couldn’t stand being an outsider any longer. Or maybe I hoped that by seeing me, Laney might consider inviting me to be part of her new dream. Whatever the case, I basically knocked on the glass, smiled slightly, and entered the room without waiting for the officialinvitation.
“Oh, Harry.” Laney offered me a watery grin. “What bringsyouhere?”
“I ran out of things to do. I thought I’d offer you lunch.” I lifted the bag. “I picked upItalian.”
