I didn’t harbor any resentment. I meant what I said about letting her go to chase her dreams. I wouldn’t be the one to hold her back, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t wish things happened differently.
It was a stark reminder of everything I missed out on. All the years of highs and lows, celebrations and hardships. I wanted it all and I wanted them with Taylor. I was tired of wasting our time. It was time for a change, which is why my eyes never leave hers as I step off the stage and walk towards where she stands at the back of the room.
Taylor’s a tall woman, and even taller with the heels she’s wearing with her wide leg dress pants, but she stillhas to look up at me when I reach her. This close to her, I can’t help but take her in. The smoky eyeshadow she’s wearing that highlights her brown eyes, the red lipstick that matches both the pants she’s wearing and the sole of her heels because she’s always been a fan of Louboutin.
When I still don’t speak, Taylor says, “All in all, the press conference was a huge win for the organization.”
“Have dinner with me to celebrate.” It’s not a question as much as it is a deliberate request.
Her eyes widen momentarily as she surveys our surroundings to see who is paying attention to us. The answer is no one. Gabby ducked out as soon as the conference ended, and Chase walked out with Mike to head back to the locker room for tonight’s game. Everyone else is preoccupied with jotting down their notes and being the first to report on what was said here today.
“There’s a game tonight,” Taylor says in an attempt to thwart my invitation, but I can already see the interest sparking behind her eyes. The way her body involuntarily leans toward mine.
Stepping closer so we’re toe to toe, I inhale her floral scent, using it to fuel my drive to get a dinner date out of her. “Skip it.”
“It’s Chase’s first game back and you want to skip it?” she asks with an amused smile on her face.
“My staff is more than capable of handling things around here. I don’t need to sit in the owner’s box and make sure they do their jobs.”
She plops a hand on her hip and quirks a brow at me. “And what if I wanted to go to the game?”
“Do you?” My lips twitch in an attempt to hide my smile at her sass.
If she does, I’ll just ask her some other time, even if spending another night without her might kill me.
“What would I tell the girls?” she asks half-heartedly, and I know I’ve already won.
I grin. “You could tell them you’re having dinner with your husband.” I rock back on my heels with a smug satisfaction
“Grant,” she hisses and looks around the room again.
“What?” I ask, innocently.
“Someone could hear you.”
“No one’s paying us any attention, Stella.” The nickname slips out, and she momentarily freezes before she responds.
“It’s been ages since anyone’s called me that.” She sounds almost wistful. A good sign for the prospect of dinner together.
“It’s been ages since I’ve been able to say it aloud.”
Reaching out, I tuck a stray hair behind her ear, pausing when she leans her cheek into my palm. The world disappears around us and all I can see before me is the twenty-two-year-old version of Taylor peering up at me as a million different memories flit through my mind.
She closes her eyes with a small smile on her face as if she’s remembering it too. When she opens them again, it’s like a spark to the heart. I’m consumed by the need to keep her. Forever and always.
“I need to change,” she says.
“You look great in what you’re wearing.” The truth is I don’t want to let her go. I’m worried that if she goes home to change, she’ll talk herself out of dinner with me. I can’t risk it. Not when we’re so close to a breakthrough. I need this more than air. I won’t survive if she walks away again before I have the chance to prove to her how much I’ve missed her. How much I still love her.
I’ve never stopped. A love like ours is infinite. At times, it may have been a barely flickering flame, but it would never extinguish. My heart is hers. I will always be hers.
She sighs. “Fine. Let’s get out of here. I could use a drink after having to explain to Toddler Tom why his client needed to make a statement for the thousandth time this week.”
Her words catch me off guard, and I can’t stop the deeplaugh that escapes me. She giggles too, and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve heard in a very long time.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive.” As much as I want to reach for her hand and lace our fingers together, I hold myself back. I might be sure of us, but I get the feeling she needs to get used to the idea again. That’s fine. I can take my time.
Tonight is the first step toward our future. Now that the press conference is over, I need to find a way to get her to stick around. We won’t be able to rebuild our relationship if she takes off for New York or Los Angeles again. Proximity is my friend.
