“You’re a partner now, so I’m your social media manager. How about Mondays at eight? We can figure out which restaurant each week.”
“Wow, you’re really selling it.” I squinted at her, but couldn’t hold back a smile. “For what it’s worth,” my voice dropped to a whisper, “whatever happens, thank you.”
She squeezed my hand. “What are friends for? And I’m friends with both of you. She’s coming back, Dominic. Have faith.”
I squeezed back before I heard a knock at the door.
“It’s probably Violet.” I nodded to the fuzzy figure on the outside of the frosted glass. “She likes to peek in around this time and see the progress.”
Joe padded to the front to answer, and I took a minute to look around. It really did look amazing, but it felt hollow to celebrate it alone.
“Looks like a real restaurant now,” I said before I turned around, almost falling over when I noticed Thea standing next to Joe.
“It sure does,” she said, a hint of a smile crossed her lips as the both of us stood in silence, like that first time I spotted her at the pub. There was so much I needed to say, but the words jumbled up in the back of my throat.
“I’ve been meaning to check out the deck,” Caterina chirped as she pushed Joe toward the back door. “We’ll be back, don’t mind us.”
“She’s subtle,” I told Thea. My chest swelled when her smile widened. “When did you get back?”
“This afternoon, I had a few things to take care of, and they took longer than I thought.” She crossed her arms and stepped closer to me, the pounding of my heart echoing in the silence.
“I didn’t expect to see you this soon. I mean, not that I didn’t want to, but because…” I trailed off and scrubbed a hand down my face. “I missed you. A lot.”
“I missed you, too. A lot.” She inched even closer, her arms still crossed and my hands still at my sides. “I was reassigned this week. A new position with no travel.”
“That’s what you wanted, right?” My mouth was dry, and my lungs fought to hold air. What was she here to tell me? That she was moving across the country and stopped here to tell me one last goodbye? I wanted to believe she wouldn’t come all the way out here to say fuck off.
“Since I have experience with the area, and the hotel is opening on budget and on time, they wanted to know if I’d be interested in managing something bigger. They offered me a position with a rental home development near the beach, except this is scoped out for years not weeks.”
“What beach?”
“Pentier Beach.” Her lips twitched. “I’d have to move out here indefinitely.”
The uptick in my heart almost made it burst out of my chest.
“What are you telling me, Thea?”
“That whether or not I was offered this job,” she said, placing her hand on my chest, “I was coming back, anyway. I love you. We got a little sidetracked,” she sputtered out a nervous laugh before biting her quivering lip, “but my home is with you. It’s time, Dominic. It’s finally time.”
I was still too scared to feel the joy and relief filtering through me.
“Unless you don’t want me to take this job? I can always say no and go back—”
I lifted her by the waist and crushed my lips to hers, burying my head into her neck holding her as tightly as I could without cutting off her air supply. I didn’t deserve the woman in my arms, but I was never letting her go again.
“You aren’t going anywhere. I’m so sorry,” I put her down and weaved a hand into her hair. “I’m so damn sorry for everything.”
“Stop. I’m sorry, too. I had no idea what you were going through,” her voice cracked. “I’m glad Joe gave you somewhere to go.I’msorry I never answered when you called.” She rested her forehead against mine.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I lost our baby. I couldn’t hurt you. You were already hurting so much. But I should’ve told you instead of resenting you for not being there when you didn’t know I needed you.” Her hands drifted up and down my arms. “I’m done looking back, and I’m ready to start the life we were cheated out of.”
“Please tell me I’m not dreaming, again,” I pleaded as I drew her closer.
“Nope, I’m real,” she chuckled against my lips. “You can pinch me if you want.”
“Later,” I whispered, my grin so wide my cheeks ached as I threaded my fingers into her hair. “I love you. I was terrified I’d lost you for good, this time.”
Her smile faded as she shook her head. “You could never lose me for good. Oh, I forgot to tell you the best part!” Her eyes widened as she clutched my biceps. “I can stay at the same rental. Part of my salary package.” She wrapped her arms around my waist. “A perfect commute for someone who works at the hotel.”
