But that’s how much I loved her.
I loved her enough to let her go. To set her free. To watch her fly.
I had to believe that our time would come.
But right now, we didn’t have options. I was in the middle of several large projects, and she had the opportunity of a lifetime waiting for her in New York.
“So we just say goodbye?” she croaked. “That’s it?”
“It’s never goodbye with you. You’re a part of me. And I’ll be here, Gracie. I’m not going anywhere.” I sighed as a heavy feeling settled in my chest. And I knew it had to be said, because I would not be another shithead who robbed her of her happiness. “And if you go to New York, and you meet someone, and your life is everything you want it to be—I will love you regardless. That will never change. This is your time, Jeege, and I want you to go do whatever it is that you need to do. I will always be your biggest fan. So you go do your thing. Don’t worry about anything else, okay?”
“What if I’m gone for years?” she asked, throwing her hands in the air.
“Then you’re gone for years.” I kept my voice calm and steady so she wouldn’t see the panic behind those words.
“I’m going to miss you.” She sniffed several times as tears streamed down her beautiful face. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Listen, it’ll all work out. We’re C & G for life, right? We’ll be fine. Just go and spread your wings, and don’t worry about me or about us. We will always be okay.” I pulled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her, and she just stayed right there, tears falling and sobs escaping.
I squeezed my eyes closed because I felt a sense of finality.
And she was crying because she felt it too.
“I love you, Cutler Heart. And if you fall in love with someone else, I’ll understand. I want you to be happy. And whoever getsto be loved by you is the luckiest girl in the world.” She cried as the words left her mouth.
I didn’t want to tell her what I knew to be true.
She was the only girl I would ever love.
And time was just playing a cruel joke on us.
twenty-eight
. . .
Gracie
“I don’t knowwhy you’re insisting on doing this when you only have two days left until you leave,” he groaned when we pulled up at the pound and got out of the truck.
“Because I don’t want you to be lonely.” It was the truth. He was so busy supporting me that he didn’t stop to think about himself and how he would feel after I left. He’d just acted all stoic and brave, after pouring his heart out to me and telling me to go chase my dreams.
This was the kind of love story that you read about in a book, or watched on the big screen.
Who’d have thought my epic love story would be with the boy I’d known my whole life?
The man I felt safest with.
The man I was walking away from in two days.
“Jeege, I’ve lived alone for a long time. And the guys will be so far up my ass after you leave that you won’t have to worry.”
“Listen,” I said as I came to a stop before opening the door. The brick building had large windows with paw print decals on them with a worn sign hanging above. “I came here earlier this morning while you were working, and I had no intentionof finding a dog. I just felt this need to come look. And what happened, you ask?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway,” I chuckled. “I met the dog you’re supposed to have. He even kind of looks like you.”
“He’s undeniably handsome?”
