“I need more than that.”
“After the charity event, we kissed. Then he left me alone in my apartment. The next morning I went to his place to talk, but he got a business call, and I ended up falling asleep. For the next week, we didn’t get a chance to discuss anything. It was killing me. Then he left me out of the board meeting, sending me on a useless errand that our assistant could go on. It made me feel undervalued. Like we were regressing back to when Iwashis assistant.”
“Not a good look, Max. I was rooting for him too,” Clint chimes in.
I roll my eyes. “That’s not all. So, after the board meeting two days ago, I was at home. He came over and kissed me as soon as I answered the door. I thought to myself,‘Maybe this is it. Maybe I don’t need fancy words.’Unfortunately, at the same time, I got a delivery from our competitor. The ones in London I told you about. They are still courting me. I didn’t know that was what it was, so I opened it in front of him. It opened up a whole-ass can of worms.”
“I feel like I should have popcorn. Continue. Is this when he admitted he loved you?”
I sigh. “Not exactly. He first accused me of taking the job. Then he begged me to not leave him. There were tears. Both his and mine. Then he admitted that the board meeting was about moving the company to Boston, and it was approved. That he loves me and always has. I don’t know. It was what I wanted to hear, but the moment was wrong. It felt tainted. Like I always wanted his love, and now that I have it, it feels too little too late?”
“You know I love you, right?” he asks once I finally get it all out.
“Yeah…”
“What I’m going to say is going to be a little harsh, but I think you need to hear it.”
“Okay, hit me with it.”
“You’re being stupid.” Before I can say anything, he raises his hand. “Hear me out. You’ve loved Max for years. You’ve wanted him to confess his feelings for you the entire time. You’ve waited and waited, and then when he finally does, his method isn’t up to your standards? That’s ridiculous. Sure, it wasn’t the smoothest way of communicating or how I would have done it, but at least you aren’t left wondering anymore. He loves you. He wants you. For fuck’s sake, he’s moving an entire company back to your hometown so you guys can be around your family, for you, and yet you’re mad?” He shakes his head. “That doesn’t make sense to me.”
I think about what he has said and consider his words.
“I don’t know. It feels wrong to me somehow,” I murmur.
Clint touches my arm. “Look at me,” he demands.
Reluctantly I meet his eyes.
“Please tell me you are going to take this opportunity for what it is. If you walk away because he is a male and doesn’t always know how to effectively communicate…” He shakes his head. “Look, if I were you and it was my dream girl who finally laid it all out for me, I wouldn’t hesitate. I would jump in with all ten toes, ankle deep, and never look back. Take it from me, Iris, life is fucking short, and you two have wasted enough time circling around each other. You really need to think about this rationally.”
“I know that.”
“Then why are you hesitating?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Let me ask you this. Do you want to be with him? No buts or explanations. It’s a simple yes or no question.”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes,” I repeat.
“Then none of the noise matters. So tell me the truth. What is really holding you back?”
I toss my free hand up in the air and yell, “Because I’m scared!”
I feel people turn to stare at us and feel my cheeks start to heat.
Jesus, could this get any more embarrassing?
“What are you scared of?” Clint presses.
“I’m scared because what if this is too good to be true? What if we don’t work out? Everything would be gone in an instant. My job, my best friend, my family. All of it could disappear, and where would that leave me?”
Clint shakes his head. “Sweetheart, that’s just your fear talking. I haven’t met your friends back in Boston, but I think it’s safe to say they wouldn’t drop you like that. I know the man I met at that charity event would never let you leave so easily. I could see the love shining in his eyes every time I looked at him. You didn’t notice, but he never once took his eyes off of you. He followed us around, from a distance, but he always kept you in his sight. As for your job, fuck it. You don’t like your job anyway. Even if you do decide to get with Max, I think you should quit. You deserve happiness, and being CFO isn’t making you happy.”
