“So do you want to buy the tavern?” Red asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Of course I do,” she shouted. “Thank you so much,” she said, hugging him tightly. “The two of you have changed my life in ways you can’t imagine.” She leaned down and kissed Hattie on the cheek before pulling her in for a hug.
Hattie and Red exchanged a furtive glance.
“What was that look about?” True asked. The expressions etched on their faces hinted at them withholding something from her. “Spill it,” she said, her hands on hips.
“You’re going to have to thank Xavier, if you’re still speaking to him,” Hattie said. “He’s the one who put all the pieces together and made it possible.”
“He did,” Red confirmed. “Based on something I’d said to him weeks ago, Xavier realized that the tavern might notbe of interest to me. Then he told me how owning Northern Exposure was your heart’s desire.”
“What? I wonder why he did that,” she said, feeling confused. Why would Xavier care if her dream was realized? He had shown her that she didn’t matter to him at the bowling alley. She had received the message loud and clear.
“That’s not for us to say, True. Only Xavier can give you that answer,” Hattie said, a sweet smile playing around her lips. She turned toward Red. “And on that note, give me a hand. I think there’s someone else waiting to see the new owner of Northern Exposure.”
Before she could think of a response, they had sailed out of her office, leaving the door wide open. Suddenly, Xavier was standing there, looking a little rough around the edges.
He was still handsome, but his eyes looked tired, as if he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. The petty part of her thought it was just desserts for ending things with her.Rise above it, a little voice told her.He’s still a good guy.
“Hi, True,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Hi, Xavier. Come on in,” she said, her heart thumping as he brushed by her, their bodies having slight contact in the process. She closed the door behind him and turned to face him. She drew in a deep breath. All she really wanted to do was melt into his arms.
“Congratulations,” he said. “Dreams do come true.”
“I heard you had a big hand in it. Thank you. For everything,” she said, tearing up. “It was really generous of you.”Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.
He leaned back on the arm of the chair. “My father and I hashed things out a few days ago about the past, and it really allowed me to see him through a different lens. And although there are still issues we need to work through, we’rein a much better place now. That allowed me to approach him about Northern Exposure.”
He was gazing at her with such an intense look, True didn’t know what to do with herself. Locking eyes with him made her feel vulnerable, as if he would see every single emotion in their depths. He had made it very clear he didn’t want her love.
“That’s good,” she said. “I think it’s important for the two of you to have a decent relationship.” She wasn’t going to say anything else. Xavier’s personal life was no longer any of her business.
Xavier stood up and closed the distance between them. “I’ve been a fool,” he said. “There was only one thing that I truly needed to tell you last night. I love you, True Everett. And I cut you off before you could tell me, but I think you love me too.”
This was everything she wanted to hear from him, but it didn’t erase everything he had said to her or the pain he’d caused. “You thought I was using you,” she said, taking a step backward, away from him. “I wasn’t. I never would.” Emotion clogged her throat. “I can’t get your words out of my head.”
“Forgive me for being short-sighted and idiotic and ridiculous,” Xavier said in a tender voice, his eyes never veering away from her own.
She folded her arms across her chest and scowled at him. “I could add a few more adjectives.”
Xavier took another step toward her. “I let my past mess with me. My ex, Heather, got married to my friend Chazz. It made me feel like I’d been used and abused.” His jaw clenched. “They portrayed me as a laughingstock. That hurt, True. But it doesn’t excuse my lashing out at you.”
He once again closed the distance between them andreached out to cup her face between his hands. “I know you didn’t use me. And I’m so sorry for the things I said.” He winced. “I allowed pain from the past to mess with my head, and I’ll always regret that. I love you, baby.”
He loved her. Xavier hadn’t just said it once. Hope blossomed inside her, threatening to sprout wings and fly away.
“What about California?” she asked. “Isn’t that your chance to get back into pro football?”
“I’m not going to California,” he said, running his hand alongside her cheek. “I’m not running away like my father did. And everything I’ve been chasing is right here in Moose Falls. I don’t need to prove anything, True. I’m enough as I am.”
“You are enough, Xavier,” she said softly. “More than enough.” And he was.
He dipped his head down and rained kisses all over her face. Tender kisses that spoke of his love for her and his deep remorse. “Forgive me. I’m still a work in progress.”
“Oh, Xavier, I love you too. And that makes it easier to forgive you, because I want this to work out between us. I want you.” She didn’t know where things would lead, but she wanted to be with him. Love him. Build a life with him. Combined with ownership of Northern Exposure, she couldn’t think of anything more wonderful.
“That’s music to my ears,” he said, closing his eyes. She rested against his chest, then wrapped her arms around his waist.
