Even though I know what her choice is, my heart still hammers against my ribs. I almost kick myself for forcing her into this position. I sayalmoston account of I can’t bring myself to entirely regret it. At least now I’ll never have to wonderwhat if.
“You don’t have to say the words,” I tell her quietly when her lips start to tremble. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Out-and-out rejecting me like this has got to be killing her. “I get it. This thing between you and Cash isn’t over. It never was. And whatever momentary madness grabbed hold of you on New Year’s Eve…”
My words trail off when her eyebrows knit together and the corners of her mouth slam down. It’s hard to believe such a sweet face can scrunch into such a severe scowl.
She shakes her head. “I chooseyou, you big idiot.”
I. Can’t. Move.
Can’t. Breathe.
“But I’m absolutelyterrified.” She glances down into her empty coffee cup. “I’m terrified that we’ll try, and it won’t work out, and then, despite what you say, it’ll be bye-bye friendship. I don’t know if I could handle that, Luc. Losing you once was bad enough. Losing you twice could be the end of me.”
I don’t trust my voice to come out as anything more than a wheeze, so I swallow and take another hasty sip of coffee. It helps. But not much. My words still sound strangled when I say, “Aren’t you still friends with Cash?”
One of her shoulders twitches. “Yeah, but—”
“No buts. If there’s one thing that’s true beyond a shadow of a doubt, it’s that you and me, we’re meant to share our lives one way or the other. It’s like the sky being blue or Earth being round. Itis, Maggie May.Nothing’s gonna change that.”
She searches my eyes. I make sure the truth is in them. Still, her voice is a bare whisper when she says, “You promise?”
Reaching over, I take her hand and press it against my chest. Against my heart. That silly organ that has always been hers.
Me.Me!She choseme!
Am I dreaming? Is this a dream?
If so, I never want to wake up.
“I swear it on my daddy’s grave,” I promise her. “No matter what, I’ll always be your friend.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip and, again, stares down at her cup. “There’s a caveat.”
My grip on her hand instinctively tightens. When I feel her bones rub together, I make myself let go. “Sorry,” I whisper.
“I don’t want to tell Cash,” she blurts, and blood pounds in my ears.
She catches the stark look on my face and hastily adds, “But not for the reason you’re thinking. Not because I’m still harboring any hope that he and I will get back together. I just…” She lifts her hands and lets them fall. “I feel bad for him, Luc. He’s dealing with so much. His head injury. His drinking. His father’s death. Even if he claims not to care that Rick is gone, ithasto be weighing on his mind, don’t you think?”
Her eyes are beseeching. Even if I could say no to her words, I could never say no to those eyes.
“If things work out between us, then ofcoursewe’ll tell him.” She places her hand over her heart, a silent pledge. “But why put undue strain on him for something that may or may not turn into something?”
Oh, it’s going to turn into something. I’ll make damn sure of that.
“Okay,” I say when she opens her mouth to continue pleading her case.
She blinks myopically. “Okay? Just like that? You don’t want to hear more arguments? I’ve been practicing a whole slew of them.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “All I want is one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“To ask you out on a date.”
Chapter Eighty-three
______________________________________
