“I’ll handle it,” Allison said. “If it’s your agent or the car or something I’ll stall for time.”
I let go of Allison’s hand reluctantly and glanced around my bedroom, which looked like a localized tornado had hit it.
That was how my whole life felt right now, really.
But I knew with such clarity right now that what I wanted to find when the storm passed was that my key still fit into the lock on the front door of Ward’s cabin. That I had a home—a real home—to go back to.
My stomach dropped as I heard the door to my apartment open. Allison had promised to stall, but if it was Astrid, no force on Earth could have stopped her, and I knew it.
I’d just have to brace myself to face her. Tell her exactly what I wanted, that I was getting on a plane right now and going back to Otter Bay and I didn’t care if she took me off her books and blacklisted my name, because some things were more important.
Ward was more important.
Being happywas more important. Definitely more important than a dead-end career that I didn’t even want anymore. Not now that I knew what I could have without it.
I stood up as I heard footsteps approaching, bracing myself to stand up for whatIwanted for once in my life.
And then the door opened, and tears welled up in my eyes all over again.
Ward?
28
Ward
One minuteI was tying myself up in knots wondering what I could possibly say to Ryder, the next he was sobbing in my arms and I’d never been happier.
Not that Ryder sobbing made me happy, but crying was inevitable. Getting to be there for him while he did it meant the world to me.
“I’m sorry,” Ryder gurgled through tears against my shoulder.
“Shh,” I murmured, rubbing circles on his back. “Don’t be. You don’t ever have to apologize to me.”
Ryder only cried harder, arms tightening around me, but I didn’t mind.
How did I ever think I could just let him go?
“I’m sorry for crying all over your shirt and I’m sorry for leaving and I’m sorry for falling in love with you and I’m sorry for always being such a complete pain in the ass,” Ryder rambled, sobbing again.
“Falling in love with me?” I asked, a surge of hope welling up in my chest.
I’d come all this way because I couldn’tnotknow, I couldn’t live with wondering if maybe, if I’d said something, my life would’ve turned out differently. I hadn’t even let myself hope for this much.
Ryder sniffed. “Yeah,” he said, voice cracking. “When we were kids, and then again the minute I set eyes on you, I think.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry for that,” I said. “Any of it. But especially that part.”
He sniffed again, but I could feel him calming down. We’d been here before—not over this, but it was a long way from the first time I’d seen Ryder cry.
And that was fine. This was what Iwanted. I didn’t want Ryder to cry, but I wanted to be there for him when he did. I didn’t want him to get hurt, but I wanted to be there to patch him up when he was.
“Listen, Ryder…” I began.
This was my chance, and I had to take it. How could I not say what I’d come here to say?
I squeezed him a little tighter and braced myself.
“I love you. I’ve always loved you. You’re my best friend in the whole world and… and I know I’m asking a lot, but…”
