AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She wants me to go to New York to see the store before the wedding, take some photos with Carter there and help with production.”
“Before the wedding?” Clay asked, his eyebrows pinched and he dropped his chin. “What about the rehearsal dinner?”
“I’ll be back for that for sure. I’m leaving tomorrow, and I fly back Thursday night, just enough time to attend the rehearsal and fix anything with the dress before she walks down the aisle.”
“You're leaving tomorrow?” Clay dropped his arms.
I nodded. “I’ll be back—”
“You’re walking away?” he stammered.
“No. No, no, no, not at all. I’m not walking away. Clay—” I reached for his hands, grabbing both of them and pulling them to my chin, kissing his knuckles gently. “I don’twantto walk away, but you said you wanted to erase everything.”
“Because that makes sense.” Clay stopped me, his voice beginning to shake. “Phe, I’m so in love with you. I can’t lose you again. I don’t want to remember the time without you. Ten years of regret, ten years of wishing I had never let you go—”
“Clay.” It was my turn to interrupt him. I let go of his hands and cupped his face. His eyes formed tears as he let out a breath. “Ten years ago, I thought I had everything, but the one thing I needed told me to leave. Ten years ago, you shattered my heart. As easy as it would be to pretend that never happened, it’s going to take more than three months to mend it. I’m not giving up on you or on this, but we need those years to determine who we are now. What happens when I go back to New York? Would you even consider going with me?” My hands fell to his shoulders. “I think. . .” I inhaled, trying to form the words that I hoped wouldn’t break him. “I think we took things too fast.”
He shook his head and filled the small space between us. “We didn’t though. I’ve been waiting for you for ten years. The moment I saw you again, I knew I loved you. I knew I made a mistake.”
“I wish I could say the same, but that feeling had to come back. I’ll admit I’m feeling something, but I need to know if it’s real or not.”
“It’s real,” Clay whispered, those two little words hitting my heart, nestling their way into it to stay and live forever. I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against his. He was strong, solid, and warm, and for a split second, I considered telling him everything he wanted to hear.
“I’m leaving tomorrow for New York. I’ll be gone for three days, and when I get back, we can decide whatweare.” I rolled my lips, looking at the details of him. His hair had slightly fallen in his face, his eyes were wet with tears that had yet to fall. His suit jacket was crisp, every edge in place. I ran my fingers through his collar, feeling the familiar fabric between my fingers. “Just give me some time.”
He exhaled, finally letting the tears fall to his cheek. “I know how I feel, Ophelia, and that's not going to change. I’ll wait for you for as long as it takes.” He kissed me then, the same kiss on the dance floor. One that I wouldn’t forget. “I’ll wait, as long as it takes.”
With one final kiss, he let me go, stepping away and leaving the room, filling the empty air with heartbreak and tension, which was the last thing I wanted. I took a few deep breaths, straightened my posture, and left the room, hoping to see Clay back at the table with Milo and Madeline, maybe joking about the trivia cards, but the closer I got, the more obvious it was that he had left.
Chapter Thirty-Five
-Clay-
Iwas tempted to stay hidden all day, but I managed to crawl out of bed, dragging my feet getting ready. I showered, running my hands through my hair as the water hit my scalp. Ophelia had texted early this morning, one that flashed through my mind over and over. I read it again as I poured my coffee. I read it again as I ate my toast and I read it out loud when Milo finally asked me what was wrong.
Ophelia: I’m not done with us. I’ll be back on Thursday, and we’ll talk then, maybe after the wedding?
Milo grabbed my phone from my hands and read the text himself a few times over, until he looked at me, dropping my phone to the counter.
“This is why you left early last night?”
I nodded, my elbows on the counter, my hands on the back of my head. I kept my head down, my eyes closed, still trying to wrap my head around the conversation we had last night. I’ve seen and been in plenty of fights with girlfriends. Rebecca was my last fight, right after I lost my job. Her worry was the money. The credit card she had in her name, the dinners we would go to every night, the life of luxury she had grown accustomed to. When we fought overthat,a bread knife would cut the tension.
With Ophelia, there was zero tension. Not once did we raise our voices, not once did I grow angry with her, and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t angry with me.
What I did feel was fear. From both of us.
I was terrified of losing her for a second time. Terrified that she would go to New York and decide that I wasn’t worth fitting into her life there. My brain wrapped around the idea of going to New York, trying to start my own company there. I could do it. Iwoulddo it. If it meant I could be with her.
Her fear, she even said, was focused on us moving too fast. Me being an idiot again. Choosing something over her. . . again. History repeating itself. That was her fear. And it was a very, very valid fear.
“We. . .” I heaved a sigh. “Talked yesterday at the party. Right before I left.”
I lifted my head to look at Milo. His eyebrows were raised, his palms leaning on the counter. “And?”
“Well, she left this morning for New York -”
“But she said she’s not done.”
