“Wow, the room looks amazing. Who did all this?” Gillian asked with a sinking suspicion she already knew the answer to her question.
“Garrett. Who else? He did a great job and cleaned up after himself. By the way, he looks incredibly hot in coveralls, just saying.” Saje walked up and pulled her into a quick hug. “He's so lost without you, Gillian. You should call him and put him out of his misery.”
Gillian tugged free and tried not to think too much into the gesture. “Throwing some paint on the wall doesn’t change anything.” She hadn’t bothered to return the sudden barrage of calls and texts from him. What was the point?
“He's a keeper for sure,” Brooke agreed. “And not just because of the coveralls, although that doesn’t hurt.” Her cousin’s laughter sounded more and more like her old self. Color warmed her cheeks, and her posture wasn’t as stiff and withdrawn as it had been a few days back.
One step at a time, Gillian supposed. Being here with the girls would make all the difference for Brooke.
“He found someone to sublet my apartment.”
“What? How? I’ve been gone for a few days,” Gillian said, surprised by this new revelation.
“He said his partner needed a place.” Brooke sipped her coffee. “It’s all set. Natalya stopped by to pick up the keys and hung out for a while with everyone. She’s awesome. She’s moving into my place as we speak.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Gillian shook her head, still in shock by the sudden news.
“I want to hear all about your interview, but you need to reach out to Garrett first. He’s been calling nonstop to see if you’re back. He wanted to pick you up from the airport, but I figured you needed some space and you’d want to do this on your terms.” Saje lifted her fingers. “Three, two one.” The doorbell chimed. “Go get him, tiger.”
“Crap, nothing like an advanced warning.” Gillian glanced down at her sweats and oversized sweatshirt. She imagined looking her best the next time she ran into him. Of course, she looked like a mess.
Pushing her shoulders back, she walked to the door and swung it open. Her whole body swayed when she came face to face with Garrett after six long, agonizing days. She missed him so much she ached. His face looked drawn, and he smelled different. Dark smears appeared under his light blue eyes, but to her, he looked just as handsome as ever. Her heart gave a little flutter. He wore a navy flannel shirt and jeans. She’d never seen him dressed so casually and reluctantly she had to admit, the look worked for him.
“Garrett, what are you doing here?”
“Gillian, God, you don’t know how good it is to see you. I’ve been calling but you don’t pick up your phone. Can I come in? Or better yet, can we go somewhere and talk? There are some things I need to stay to you, starting with I’ve been such a fool.” Garrett reached up to touch her cheek, and she flinched away. Hurt flashed in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not intending to hurt him. “But you’re giving me all these mixed signals, and I don’t know if I’m ready to do this again. I just got in a little while ago. I need to go for a run and clear my head.”
“Let me take you to dinner tonight. There’s something important I need to tell you. Gillian, sweet, sweet, Gillian,” he murmured, and the endearment made her throat tight with tears. He leaned closer, and she caught a whiff of his clean laundry scent. Every part of her body responded to his smell, and it was all she could do not to fling herself into his arms.
She took a step back, holding her ground. “I’m not ready to go to dinner with you, Garrett. You hurt me too deeply.”
“I need to explain. Please, meet me at my place. Where we can have some privacy. Give me that much,” he pleaded.
Maybe it would be good closure for both of them. “How about I stop by after my run, in say, an hour?”
A wide smile lit up his face. “It’s a date.”
* * *
When Gillian got to Garrett’s apartment, he stood at the door. His face lit up when he saw her, and her pathetic heart somersaulted.
He stepped aside as she walked past him into the hallway. “Why don’t we sit down in the living room?” He gestured for her to go in front of him and rested a warm hand at the small of her back. A wave of heat and longing washed over her.
“Please come in and make yourself comfortable.” She took a seat on the couch. He sat across from in her in a winged back chair. A myriad of emotions flashed in his eyes: relief, regret, and maybe even love. “Thanks for meeting me here. Can I offer you something to eat or drink?” Sitting here with him like this gave her a strange sense of déjà vu.
“I’m fine. I want to thank you for doing the renovations at the coven and for getting Natalya to sublet Brooke’s place. It was kind of you.”
“My pleasure. Anything for you.” She tried to ignore the conviction in his voice and swallowed hard.
“What happened with your job interview?” He pinned her with his intense blue gaze. “Please tell me you’re not moving.”
She shook her head. “As much as I loved what they were offering, I could never leave. My home is here. What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked, getting right to the point. There was no sense dragging this out.
“Where do I start? I’ve been foolish and stubborn.”
“Don’t forget pigheaded,” she said, trying to break some of the tension.
