AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As the sun begins to set, the nighttime view transforms when all the buildings in Manhattan light up, as does the Brooklyn Bridge itself.
Then we start for home, walking back to my apartment, which isn’t that far.
“My family loves you,” I say.
Connor smiles. “The feeling is mutual. Your parents were very gracious and kind, but your grandmother—she’s absolutely delightful.”
He reaches for my hand, and it feels so right, so effortless as we walk hand-in-hand along the sidewalk, passing other pedestrians and cyclists.
Connor stops us under a streetlight, and with his free hand, he pulls a folded sheet of paper out of his back pocket. “I have something for you,” he says, dangling it in front of me. “A gift.”
“You don’t need to give me anything.”
When I reach for it, he raises it over my head and out of reach.
“Before you look at it,” he says, “I want you to know that this is given freely. There are no strings attached, no conditions of any kind. It’s yours, even if we were never to speak to each other again.”
“Don’t say that, Connor. Not even in jest.” His words are unsettling. Just the thought makes my heart hurt. After everything we’ve been through, we can’t fail now.
He hands me the paper. “Go ahead. Read it.”
Standing beneath a column of light, I unfold the sheet of paper. Immediately, my gaze goes to the title at the top of the page, written in all caps. DEED. My heart slams in my chest as I skim the first few lines of the document, catching only a few key words and phrases, but enough to tell me this is the first page to the deed to my apartment building.
Kennedy Takahashi
I stare up at Connor. “I don’t understand.”
“I bought your building, paid in full, in cash. It’s yours now. Your name is on the deed.”
My head is spinning. “But—you can’t do that.”
He smiles, looking like he’s pretty darn pleased with himself. “Too late. I already have.”
I stare up at him in disbelief. “But it’s too much.”
“No, it’s not. It’s perfect. Now no one can kick you or your neighbors out of their homes.”
“Connor—I can’t even begin to know what to say.”
“A simple ‘thank you’ should suffice.”
“Thank you. Of course, thank you. But—”
“There’s no ‘but,’ love. Do you honestly think there’s anything I wouldn’t do for you?”
As my eyes burn with unshed tears, I take a deep breath. “I don’t deserve this, Connor.” My breath catches. “After what I put you through, I don’t deserve this oryou.”
“That’s absolute rubbish.” Connor takes my free hand and presses it against his chest, right over his heart. “Besides, you already have me. Good luck trying to get rid of me now.”
“After everything’s that happened—after what I did to you—you go and do something crazy like this? Forme?”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me close, his lips in my hair. “Don’t overthink this, Ken. I know how you get. I saw a problem—you losing your precious apartment building—and I resolved it. It’s that simple.”
“How much did this cost you?” I nearly choke on the words, not sure if I even want to hear the answer.
He chuckles. “I don’t think you want to know. Some things are better left unsaid.”
I laugh then, even though there’s nothing funny about it. “Oh, Connor.” I slip my arms around his waist and hold him just as tightly as he’s holding me. Everything comes rushing back to me—his grandfather’s hateful words, leaving London, leavinghim, trying to learn to live without him. It’s all too much. The dam breaks, and I can’t hold my emotions in check any longer. With my face pressed against his chest, I burst into tears, soaking his shirt.
