“Thank you, again. For going with me. Even if things turned out differently, thank you, Lea.”
She pulled out of the driveway and I was dreading the ride back to my apartment.
“You’re welcome, Vail. I’m not sorry that I went with you.” I wasn’t sorry or regretful about any of it.
She glanced over and met my eyes. A minute later, she let out a huge sigh.
“I don’t know what to say, Lea. I know we need to talk, but…” Her fingers clenched the wheel tightly.
“Talk about what?” I asked.
“You know what. Everything that happened at the wedding. And when we came back. I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen.” I didn’t either.
“So what are you saying?” I asked. We were still both dancing around things.
Vail put on her turn signal and pulled into a random parking lot of a doctor’s office.
“I can’t do this with you and focus on driving.” Good idea. Safety first.
Vail faced me in her seat and there wasn’t enough oxygen in this car.
“I told myself that I couldn’t kiss you for a long time. That I’d ruin things between us when they were already so good. Reconnecting with you has been amazing, Lea. You’ve been a bright spot in my life. I have a good career and my house and the kittens, but then there’s you and it’s… I like the person I am when you’re around.”
Our eyes met and hers were as shiny as mine. Was she really saying this? Could this be real?
I like the person I am when you’re around.
“I like the person I am when you’re around,” I said. “I like her a lot. You make me feel braver. Sassier.” I could use a lot of both of those.
Vail grinned at me. “You make me nicer.”
We both laughed.
“What does this mean?” I asked. “Do you…are you saying you want to be with me?” The words almost choked me on their way out.
Vail let out a long breath and stared out the windshield at the darkened office. There was a row of succulents in the window.
“I’m bound to fuck this up. I literally don’t know how to be in a relationship. I haven’t exactly had any good models. Maybe I can ask Dallas for tips. He seems to have figured things out.” She met my eyes again. “But what I don’t want to do is not try because I’m scared. I’m not saying spite is my main motivation, but I know that Allegra would hate it. And I…I want you. I want you so much that I can barely stand it.”
I wiped a few tears.
“I want you too. I didn’t have any good role models either and I’m just as liable to fuck this up. So let’s not fuck it up together, okay?” I reached for her and pulled her across the console.
“I’m scared too. But I want this.” There wasn’t anything I had ever wanted more.
She kissed me and I forgot everything else. Yes. This was right. We were right together. Nothing had ever felt like this.
Vail broke the kiss, but kept her hold on my face, stroking my cheeks. “Do I have to take you home now?”
“Only to grab a few things. I’ll stay over tonight if you want. Maybe I should drive my car back. I can’t think what I need to do for work tomorrow, but I might need to film in my apartment.”
It was impossible to think about work right now.
She nodded. “That works for me. I know the kitties would miss you.”
“Just the kitties?”
Vail turned the key and pulled out of the parking lot. “The kitties and me.”
