“Yeah,Max.”Charlottebacks her up. “Thewoman has a speech.She’sin charge of this room right now, not you.”
Absolutelyshe is.Andin charge of every tingling nerve ending in my body.
“Ialways knew there was a bunch of squishy stuff inside you,”Pollysays. “Isaw it the moment you held this little girl and fed her.”Shepoints at the goat. “Isaw it when you told me about what happened when you were a kid.”
Oh, goodGod.Myracing heart pauses for a second’s panic that she might be about to tell the secretI’veonly ever told her.
“AndIknow that’s what’s driven you and fed all your decisions.Iknow now that was all part of what got you here, of the business life that became hardwired into you.Ididn’t understand before, butIdo now.AndI’msorryIthought you used me for info on the councilmembers.”
Ishould have known better than to think she’d spill my secrets.OfcourseIcan trust her—with my childhood stories, my heart, and the rest of my life.
“IthoughtWarmSpringscould teach you about community and thinking about others and that you were the one who had everything to learn.ButIwas wrong.Ihad so much more to learn thanIrealized.”Hermouth turns up at one side as she gives a self-deprecating shrug. “IthoughtIhad everything figured out.Obviouslynot.”
Herdefiant self-belief and resourcefulness has been one of her most attractive features from that first morning on the sidewalk.
“I’msorryIsent you away.Ionly hope you can forgive me.”Evenfrom hereIcan see her eyes fill up. “Imissed you.”Hervoice cracks. “Iwant to be with you.”
Oh, myGod.Iclose my eyes and let out a giant sigh of relief.Shewants to be with me.I’mthe luckiest man alive to get another shot at this.Imust not screw this up.
Silencehangs in the air for a second.
“That’sthe end of my speech,” she says. “It’syour turn now.”
Alleyes are back on me.
Wherethe hell doIeven start?Withmy wonder that she would want me?Withhow ridiculously adorable she, the wreath, and the goat look together?Orwith the monumental impact she’s had on every part of me?
“Itwas a beautiful speech.I’llnever be able to compete with that.”Iput the side of my fist to my mouth and cough asItry to pull myself together. “ButIcan tell you that those few days inWarmSpringschanged me.Youchanged me, made me see everything afresh.Mademe realize there can be other things in life that are just as fulfilling and rewarding as chasing the next deal.
“Imight have fought like hell to get here.”Iindicate the fancy boardroom we’re in. “Butyou’re right,Ihave enough already.I’veachieved enough already.AndnowIcan use my powers for good.”
Thegoat lets out one loud bleat.Anaffectionate chuckle runs around the room.Pollyand the kid have already won everyone’s hearts.ApartfromTarquintheTerrible’s—he rolls his eyes.Butthen,I’venever been sure he actually has one.
“TheGrowTogetherinitiative wouldn’t be happening ifIhadn’t met you,”Itell her.
Pollystoops to pet the goat. “Ijust heard about it this morning.AndIcame straight here.”Sheswallows hard. “Totell youI’msorry.”Hereyes glisten in the overhead lights.“AndthatIlove you.”Sheplays with a bit of vine sticking out of the wreath. “Evenif you are shit at making wreaths.”
“That’sthe most beautiful thingIever heard.”Charlottewipes an eye. “Howthe hell did you get this lucky,Max?”
Islowly turn my head from side to side. “Ihave no idea.”
Ireally don’t.AndIsure as hell can’t keep my hands offPollynow.
Thequickest route is straight across the table.Isit on the edge, swing up my legs, and scoot my backside across the polished surface.
EitherI’mso keen to get toPollythatI’vedeveloped super-human strength, like a mother who can lift a car when their baby’s trapped under it, or the cleaners have used some extra slick furniture polish, but one quick push andIslide straight to the other side.
Ican’t get my feet on the ground in time.
Theentire room flinches on my behalf and emits a sharp gasp in anticipation of a painful impact.
Witha winded “oomph,”Iland on my butt atPolly’sfeet.Andat perfect goat face level.
Pollydrops to her knees beside me. “OhGod, are you okay?”
Acrossthe room,Tarquinshakes his head and turns his back, muttering, “Ican’t fucking believe this.”
“Yeah, in one pieceIthink.”Irub my tail bone. “It’ssweet of you to wear this hideous thing.”Ireach for the chaotic bundle of twigs around her neck. “Butplease take it off.”
