Yesterday, when he thought I was asleep in my bed, I was listening to him.
He was telling Kristin that he loved her and hoped that one day he could show her Times Square and the Empire State Building.
She must have
handed the phone back to Madison because his tone changed before he said that he wanted them in Manhattan.
Once that call ended, he spoke to his attorney for more than thirty minutes.
Half-way through that discussion, I knew what I needed to do.
It’s what I want to do.
I’ve already set the wheels in motion so I can move back to California and build a life with Gage.
I had breakfast this morning with my two best friends so I could break the news to them.
They cried. I wept, but we promised each other that we’d do video chats every day and I’d fly back to Manhattan as often as I can to see them.
Olivia had a million questions about Kristin and her mom.
Tilly was silent, lamenting the fact that I won’t be around to drink martinis with her and share sandwiches at lunch.
I’ll miss them.
They’re like sisters to me, but Gage is my love.
Kristin is his daughter. He needs to be with her and I need to be where he is.
“I need to talk to you,” he says once he’s in front of me. “I fucking love you. Do you know how much I love you?”
I can’t answer because I’m swept into his strong arms. He spins us in a circle before he lowers me and takes me into his arms for a deep, sensual kiss.
I hear a smattering of applause from the customers in the showroom.
“Gage,” I say his name on a sigh. “I have to say something.”
“Let me be your husband.”
“Oh my God,” Natalie screams from the right. “Is this a proposal?”
Gage huffs out a laugh. “That’s coming, but this is a promise that I’m going to honor and cherish this woman until I die.”
“I love you,” I say, my head spinning. I can’t tell if it’s from him picking me up or his words. “We need to talk about California.”
“We need to thank Olivia,” he answers back.
“Olivia?” I feel like we’re having two different conversations. “What does Olivia have to do with anything?”
His hands cup my cheeks. “You don’t know?”
“I don’t know what?”
“Natalie, you’ll keep an eye on the store, won’t you?” Gage glances over at her. “I need to take the woman I love to see her best friend.”
***
“Oh, shit.” A smile blooms on Olivia’s lips when looks up from her desk and sees us. “I’m busted, aren’t I?”