“I made French toast,” he says. “Seemed like a celebration was in order.”
“French toast is always a treat.” I slide onto a stool at the counter, the leather warm from the morning sun. “Thank you.”
He sets a plate in front of me and pours two mugs of coffee. We eat in silence for a minute. Not a bad silence. Just… cautious.
Finally, Nash leans back against the counter, cradling his mug, and asks, “Are you excited?”
I should lie.
Say yes. Smile big. Talk about how unreal it feels to get a second chance at a dream this size. That’s what I’d do with my parents.
But Nash deserves more.
I glance down at my plate. “I’m gonna miss you.”
His brow creases. Just a little. But it’s enough.
“I’ll miss you too,” he says, voice low. Steady. “But we’ll figure it out. This isn’t goodbye or the end. This was always inevitable. The goal behind this whole thing. I’m proud of you for achieving it.”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
Nash sets his coffee down and steps toward me. I meet him halfway, slipping into the hug like I’ve done a dozen times in the past few weeks—but this time, it’sdrenched in goodbye. His arms wrap around my shoulders, his hand resting lightly at the base of my neck.
“I’ll take good care of your stuff,” he murmurs near my ear. “And it’ll all be here when the tour’s over. You’ll have a place to land.”
That shouldn’t make my eyes sting. But it does.
He pulls back, just enough to look at me. “You okay?”
I nod, blinking fast. “Yeah. Just tired. I guess I should call my agent. Tell Stella and Gabby. Gosh, my parents too.”
It’s all happening so fast, and oddly enough, I’m realizing there’s a part of me that thought it wouldn’t happen at all. Like if I stayed quiet long enough, avoided thinking about it, didn’t look the inevitable in the eyes, it would pass me by and leave me here in this blissed out state with Nash.
“Call your agent. Tell him the good news. Maybe ask Stella and Gabby to coffee or something. I’m sure they’ll want to celebrate with you too.”
I manage a half-smile. “You trying to get rid of me already?”
The look on Nash’s face is unreadable. “Just trying to make sure you don’t overthink yourself into oblivion.”
Holiday’s is warm and crowded, the scent of cinnamon rolls and espresso curling around every conversation. Stella’s already commandeered a booth by the window, waving wildly when I walk in. Gabby’s across from her,sipping an iced coffee. Violet lifts a hand and Simon grins when he sees me.
“So, what’s this oh so important news?” Stella asks, cocking her head as I slide in next to her.
“It’s good enough she had to tell us in person,” Gabby adds with a giggle. “I’m thinking this is big.”
“Oh, it’s big.” I offer them my best excited smile and Stella recoils.
“Okay. That’s the face you make when you’re talking to your parents. I assumed good big, but now I’m thinking bad big.”
I pause to smile up at Violet as she brings me a coffee, dropping a reassuring hand on my shoulder without a word. “My agent called yesterday,” I say when she’s gone. “My spot on the tour opened back up and they offered me the job again.”
Gabby freezes mid-sip. “That’s wonderful?”
Stella draws her brows together in concern. “That is definitely big.”
I nod. “I called this morning and accepted the offer. I leave in three days.”
“Wow.” Stella’s face falls even farther. “Three days. That’s fast.”
