“I saw it coming, so to me it’s like yass! About damn time. I’m so happy for you. Jealous AF, but happy.”
“Your man’s out there looking for you, too. “
“Where’s he at? I’ll send him my location.”
I laugh. “He’ll find you when the time’s right. You got a campaign to win first.”
The flight attendant announces our departure.
“Getting ready to take off, cuz. Thanks for everything. Miss you already.”
“Me too. And don’t get in your head. Enjoy this, boo.”
After we disconnect, I set the phone to airplane mode, tuck the carrier under the seat in front of me, and plug in my earbuds. I listen to one of Dice’s DJ sets and watch the clouds swallow the Midwest, feeling like I’ve left my heart behind. A small part of me is still a little afraid that he’ll get cold feet or realize it was just another heat-of-the-moment impulse. But the other part urges me to follow Rayne’s advice and not overthink it.
Once we land, and I’m at the baggage claim, I flip my phone off airplane mode. A video pops up from him. He’s in his car, handsome face lit up by the afternoon sun, that cocky grin softened by sincerity.
“Hey, Web. It’s your man, Dice. I wanted you to have recorded evidence. Just in case you’re still asking yourself if I really mean it.” He looks straight into the camera. “I love you. Cross my heart,” he says, making the sign over his chest, “and I’m gonna prove it every day, no matter the distance. Hold me to it. I’m all in, baby.”
Damn him. I was done with crying. Now tears fall again. He’d spoken directly to my inner doubts, giving me that boost of reassurance. I wipe the waterworks away and send a video back.
“You’re really pulling out the romance, Jones. Setting the bar high. You can hold me to loving you too and giving this my all.”
I blow him a kiss and hit send. Then I scoop up my bags and Queenie, returning to New York a changed woman.
I’ve made some kinda peace with my father.
I’m bringing home a cat.
Taking a shot on Dice.
I’ve done lost my damn mind. And I’m not mad about it one bit.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Dice
I’m happy to take an L.
Imade the jump. Scared shitless, heart hammering, adrenaline on ten. No safety net. Just free-falling intoI’m in love with you.I want this.Take a shot on me.Every second of that drop was terrifying.
But then heryescame like a parachute snapping open.I love you too.And just like that, the fall shifted from panic to thrill. The air rushed past, everything sharp and alive. I could breathe. And as we kissed, leveling out midair, I felt that rare kind of calm that only comes when you’ve risked everything and landed somewhere better.
It wasn’t a promise of smooth skies. But it was a promise to give it our all.
And part of that is me standing up to Maurice and stating my intentions.
I could wait. We just locked this down a couple hours ago. I couldlet Lot tell him first. But that doesn’t sit right. Not given our history and bad blood. He should hear it from me before the news gets out.
I pull up to Dock’s, cut the engine, and grip the wheel, letting the nerves crawl around before I shove them off. Can’t show up shaky when I’m about to tell the man who hates me that I love his daughter.
No parachute for this one. No safety net.
I pull out my phone and watch Lot’s video again. That’s all I need. Her Lot smile. Her voice. The whole truth in her eyes. If she’s willing to put her faith in me, then I can’t start this off by avoiding the hard parts.
I unlock the side door and head inside the quiet bar. It’s just past two, a couple hours before opening. I find Maurice in his office, reading glasses low on his nose, reviewing the paperwork spread out on his desk.
When I knock on the open door, he glances up with that sharp look he always has. Lot’s got the same one. The kind that lives somewhere between suspicion and irritation, whether they are or not. In this case, he’s squarely on the suspicion side.
