“Hey,” he says.
“Hey.” I straighten. “I see Emily told you where I was.”
Before I left dinner early to pack, I asked Emily to tell Damon where to find me. I hate that I’m doing this now, but he deserves the truth, a proper goodbye.
“Yeah. Everything okay?”
“Great. Better than it has been in a while.”
“I’m guessing your filled suitcase has something to do with that.”
I nod. “I’m leaving.”
“I’ve gathered that.” He pauses, as if he’s just realized something. “You’re going after him.” He moves to the edge of the bed across from mine and sits, forearms on his knees, unhurried. “I’ve been watching you all day. All week, if I’m being honest.”
I meet his eyes. “I’m sorry, Damon.”
“Don’t be,” he replies earnestly. “I’m not.”
“I should have been clearer with myself sooner. With you.”
He shakes his head. “You were figuring it out. I understand. When are you leaving?”
“Now,” I reply.
He nods slowly, looking down at his hands for a second before looking back up. “Then in that case, can I tell you something?”
“Please.”
“I knew it wasn’t going to be me.” He chuckles lightly. “The way you went still when he walked into any room. The way you froze at that ceremony. I kept telling myself maybe compatibility was enough, that maybe you just needed time to adjust.” He exhales. “But then I realized you need more than what I can give you.”
My chest tightens for him as I sit beside him. “You deserve more than something safe. You deserve happiness, too.”
He gives a small, tired smile. “Sweet of you. But that ship sailed a long time ago.”
He reaches over and takes my hand for a second, steady and warm. “You need someone who makes you feel everything. Not someone who makes things easy. And watching you try to settle for easy…” He shakes his head. “That’s not you. Never was. I see that now.”
He stands, pulls me into a quick, solid hug, then lets go.
When he steps back, his face is calm. Decided.
“Now, go get him,” he says. “before he does something sensible like move on.”
I laugh at his facetious joke as my eyes sting.
I start for the door, then stop. “Damon?”
“Yeah?”
I turn back. “I meant what I said.”
He smiles then. A genuine smile I haven’t seen since we met. “Maybe so.” He picks up the handle of my suitcase and hands it to me. “You know…I’ve always wanted to visit Dallas.”
“Hope to hear from you soon then.” I return the smile.
I take the bag, tuck the envelope under my arm, and walk out the door.
Chapter Nineteen
