When her parents were here, I thought there was a chance she’d stay here. Maybe that was just her talking shit while she was in a good mood. Hearing that she’d started up with work again made me believe she planned to leave after next week.
“Youuu wanna talk?” I asked.
Her head shook, but she still said, “I don’t think I can go back, GG. My life has been so much better here. The coffee shopcan get stressful, but it’s nothing compared to the stress I was under in The Hills.”
“Then don’t go back, my love.” I took her hand into mine. “All you have to do is exactly what you want to do. If you want to do marketing, go back. If you don’t, don’t. You know you can live with me, and I will take care of you. You can spend your days doing what you want. Hell, you can start your own marketing firm if you want to. One thing you don’t have to do is work for someone that clearly puts you on edge.”
“Zina was so happy,” she whispered. “She accepted her passion. What she loved. She lived fast and loved big, and maybe it was because she knew she didn’t have long. She was so inspiring, and I-I just can’t see myself going back to The Hills to live life under the privilege of the one she wanted me to have. She wanted me to travel and have fun, enjoy my life. Do what I love. Fall in love. I can’t . . . I can’t just turn my back on that.”
“Then don’t. Quit. I’ll have a company pack up your things. We’ll sell your house. Stay here. Work or don’t work. That part’s up to you. Like I said, all you have to do is exactly what you want to do.”
She looked over at me with a smile before relaxing in her seat, and for now, that was good enough.
22
Zoe
End of Week Five
I stopped to smell the roses Haji had gotten me before returning to his create room. It was full of LEGOs, puzzles, and paintings he’d created over the years. It was his turn to choose what we watched for our in-home movie night, so we were bingingJurassic Parkwhile he did the Tyrannosaurus Rex LEGO I’d gotten him, and I did aWickedEmerald City Wall Art LEGO puzzle. This one had more than fifteen hundred pieces, which was the largest one I’d ever done. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to finish it tonight, but I’d get at least a third of it done.
Haji had fixed my favorite party foods for us to indulge in, and I was too tickled and appreciative of his attention to detail. He didn’t just make party food and put it on a paper plate. He’d even gone as far as to get those serving trays with separate compartments so none of my items touched. I really loved this man, and I was finally tired of questioning if I had the desire or courage to leave him. The past five weeks of my life had been amazing, and a lot of that had to do with him. There was no wayon Earth I’d give up what we were building to go back to the stress that consumed me in Rose Valley Hills.
I couldn’t deny The Hills was probably the most beautiful and fun place I’d ever lived in, but the truth was, I worked so much I could barely appreciate it. That wasn’t the case here in Jasper Lane. Life was slow, and I had the time to enjoy it. I wanted more of that.
“GG,” I called sweetly, looking up to catch him meticulously and carefully putting a piece on the fossil.
“Wassup, Precious?”
“Did you mean it when you said I could stay with you?”
His head lifted and eyes landed on me. “Of course. And if you don’t want to stay here, we’ll find another home.”
“I like your home.”
“Ourhome,” he corrected. “You belong here with me, and you can stay forever if you’d like.”
“Well, I guess I’ll pack up the last of my things tomorrow then.”
I intentionally avoided his eyes as I smiled and focused on what I was doing.
“Don’t play with me, Zo. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“What do you think I’m saying?” I teased as he lowered my hands and forced me to look at him.
“Are you staying here? Permanently?”
“I think so.”
“Nah.” His head shook as our fingers interlocked. “I need you to be sure, my love. Don’t get my hopes up if there’s a chance you’re going to change your mind.”
“I won’t ever change my mind about you,” I assured him. “I want to stay in Jasper Lane . . . with you.”
When he picked me up and swirled me around, I laughed and held him close. It wasn’t really a question of there versus here,more so me needing to come to grips with saying goodbye to the life I’d built there for the last ten years. Once I was able to do that, the decision to stay in Jasper Lane was easy.
“You won’t regret staying, Zoe. I promise.”
“Mm, I know, but I’m happy to hear you say that.”
