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38
Annie
Blair nudges me and nods at the door behind me. I turn to look and find Enzo walking right toward us. There’s a sheen of sweat along his forehead and he’s heaving for a breath, but he’s here.
Why is he here?
I stand and place my hand on his chest. His heart beats against my palm.
“Not now,” I say.
“Whatever she told you, she’s wrong,” he says to Blair.
I jut out my hip. “I am?”
“Take me off the table. I don’t want the Coddle account, so…”
Blair leans back and smiles.
“Take the job, Annie. You deserve it.” For the first time since he arrived, he pins me with his caramel eyes, and it takes me a minute to get my footing.
“But—”
“No. How many times have I told you to take what’s yours? Take what you deserve. Everything that went down is bullshit. We’re talking about your career, and the best place for you to be is with Coddle.”
I look away. “It would be your biggest account. You quit because of me.”
“I quit because Mr. Jacobson isn’t a man I feel comfortable working for. Maybe I ignored the earlier signs because I was blind to it. Maybe I only saw it because I fell in love with you and I was pissed at the way he was treating you. I can’t say for sure, but you’re not to blame.”
“But—”
“Stop with the buts.” He puts his finger under my chin. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, and I should’ve presented all three ads. I told you I would, and I went back on that.”
“No, you were right. You were the senior ad exec.”
I shake my head, and he shakes his. “We should have talked about it.”
“That I agree with. I think the line between business and personal did blur,” I whisper, stealing a glance at Blair.
“I also should’ve told you my suspicions about Mr. Jacobson instead of letting my fear of losing you get in the way of my better judgment.” He inhales a deep breath. “I won’t let my selfishness get in the way of what’s best for you again. Take the job.” He steps closer.
He’s so warm, and all I want to do is step into him and tell him how much I missed him.
“It’s not just you, Enzo. It’s leaving New York. Beth, my dad…”
“I could go with you. I’m not Beth, your dad, or Cecilia, but you’d have me. I love you and I want to put this behind us.” He lays his hand on my cheek. “What we had? Not everyone gets that.”
My chest fills with joy and I feel as if I could float away like a balloon. I nod and smile. “I miss you.”
“My heart has ached every day we’ve been apart.”
“But you can’t come to Houston with me. Your business would never thrive there like it will here,” I say. “Plus, I’d be taking you away from your family.”
“You’re more than enough for me. Take the job, and if you’ll have me, let’s move to Houston.” He steps closer, his chest pressed to mine.
A tear slips down my cheek. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
