Adam had planned an elaborate proposal. He took me to a fancy dinner and put the ring on a silver dessert tray. Anyone else would have swooned their heart out, but I’d felt nothing.
Dominic running back to my apartment to ask me to marry him because he was too excited to wait would have been the greatest moment of my life.
I propped my elbow on the arm of my couch and rubbed my forehead. We were cheated out of so much. The unfairness of it all infuriated me.
I turned to the last page and found one more letter.
Dear Thea,
Unlike the rest of the letters in this book, this one was written in the hopes you’d actually read it.
I hadn’t read through the letters myself until now. I’d scribble in anger and shove the book into the drawer, never giving them a second look. I think it’s pretty clear that I was beyond messed up for a while and realized what I’d done when it was too late.
But maybe it’s not. Maybe there’s a reason that of all the hotels in the world, you ended up working at this one this summer. I promised I wouldn’t stop fighting for us until we made it, and I’m not giving up, because we still can.
Come back to me, Thea.
I love you. Then, now, and always.
40
Dominic
“I am sohappy for you guys!” Caterina beamed at Joe and me, almost bouncing up and down.
We had finished walls, tables and chairs, and a state-of-the-art kitchen that made Joe almost drool all over his shirt. The Beach Pub 2 was three weeks away from opening for business.
I was also three weeks away from possibly telling the only woman I ever loved goodbye. That quelled any excitement I’d had over starting our new business venture. I still held out hope I’d hear from her before then, but each day without a word made it hard to keep it up.
“Violet said they already have reservations booked. And we’ll be the only restaurant in the general area, so that’s good news for us.” Trying to sound upbeat was exhausting as hell.
Caterina came up to me and dropped a hand on my forearm.
“Still no word?”
“Nope. And I have no idea what else I can do but wait. Maybe reading the ramblings of a madman turned her off completely.”
She shook her head. “Not possible. Give her a little time. It hasn’t even been a week. I don’t doubt she’s coming back.”
“She has to come back. She’ll make sure the hotel is open and on budget then leave.” I shrugged, gathering up the tools I’d been using all afternoon to hang things up and assemble some of the furniture. I made sure to spend every second of every day keeping busy so I wouldn’t think about Thea, but it never worked.
“This place looks fantastic,” Joe mused, scanning the dining area.
“It’s the same as we talked about.” I lifted a shoulder. “Little shinier than the original but not different.”
“No, Dom. This place is you. Great things are about to happen, I know it.” He slapped my back. “And I’m with my wife. Thea is coming back, and not just for the opening.”
I wasn’t giving up, I was just out of ideas. Grabbing her ankles and begging her not to leave when she was here was all I had left.
“You guys are a chain now.” Caterina cracked a wide grin. “That’s pretty freaking awesome.” She wrapped one arm around each of us. “I can say I knew you back when.”
“Make that your next marketing campaign.” I laughed, despite myself.
She dropped her arms with a chuckle. “That’s not a bad idea. We can talk about it at the next marketing meeting.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “You’re making me do that, too?”
She narrowed her eyes and strutted up to me.
