My waltz out of The Springfield Sentinel wasn’t like the epic scenes in the movies where everyone applauded my bravery. Instead, they all watched me as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. By the time I reached the parking lot, my breath was shallow and my hands were trembling. The adrenaline that had carried me through my dramatic exit was fading fast.
Dread crept in.
What in God’s name did I just do?
I quit my job.My job. Yeah, I hated it at times, and it was suffocating, but it paid my bills. It gave me structure. Now I wanted to vomit. I fought hard to resist the urge to turn around, go back to Allan, and grovel. Maybe tell him I wasn’t thinking straight because… I was on my period… or something.
“God, you can’t do that, Ava,” I groaned.
Not after I just pointed out his bias.
I kept walking to my car, heart racing. Then I looked up and stopped.
Lincoln stood on the other side of the lot, leaned against a sleek silver car, arms crossed, and sunglasses perched on his nose like he’d stepped out of a movie. He plucked the glasses off when he spotted me, and he pushed off the car with that slow, deliberate swagger that made my heart stutter.
“Finally,” he said when he got closer. “I was wondering when you’d take a break and come out.”
I was so shocked to see him that I didn’t instantly reply. What was he doing here? And at the exact time I needed him, no less. “You’re not stalking me, are you?” I asked, trying for humor even as my voice wobbled. “Because I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime.”
He smirked. “I stalked Derek, not you. He was released from jail yesterday. I figured he’d slither back here. I came to punch his lights out again if necessary.”
I laughed, and the tension in my chest loosened a little. “That’s oddly sweet.”
“That’s not the only reason I’m here,” he added, stepping closer. “I hated how we left things. I haven’t slept a wink since you left. One mistake I made before was letting twelve years pass before trying to make things right. I’ve learned from my mistake, and I won’t allow another day to pass without fixing things between us now. I also came here after hashing things out with your brother — face to face.. I’m determined to be with you, and no one’s going to stop me.”
He paused, searching my face. “Unless… you want nothing to do with me.”
I stared at him, my heart thudding. “I want everything to do with you.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he reached for my hand, threading our fingers together as if it were second nature for us to be connected.
“How did things go with Ethan?” I asked.
“It was awkward at first.” He shrugged. “There might have been some insults thrown, but we somehow managed not to tussle like we did back then. I mean, we’re in our thirties now, so...”
I let out a short laugh. Lincoln always had a way of making me laugh, even when things were serious. “I’m glad you’ve matured.”
“He didn’t quite give me his blessing yet, but I don’t care. This is about you and me. The way it should have been before.”
I sighed. “He didn’t give me his blessing either when I confronted him. He sort of just scowled at me and didn’t say much. I don’t care either, Lincoln. I want to be with you.”
“Good. I’m sorry?—”
I placed a finger over his mouth. “No more apologies. You’ve given enough. Let’s move past everything and focus on now.”
Relief danced across his face. “I love you, Ava. I know Ikind ofsaid it the other night, but I’m making it clear. I love you. You don’t have to say it back. I know you’re still?—”
“I love you,” I interrupted. “I never stopped.”
His expression softened and split into a huge grin as he pulled me to him. The instant his arms closed around me, I felt at home. Right there in the parking lot. So, home wasn’t LA or Springfield. Home wasLincoln.
When we separated, I blurted, “I just quit my job. And I’m on the verge of a full-blown meltdown.”
He didn’t flinch. He took my chin between his fingers. “Well, then now you have all the time in the world to do what you really want to do. You can get that exposé done.”
I shoved my fingers through my hair. “That sounds wonderful, but what am I going to do? I can’t just move to LA and mooch off you as I plunge into independent journalism.”
One corner of his mouth lifted into a smile. “That’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
