“D-do you have an appointment?” she asked. That meant he was.
“No, but I have to see him.”
“Who should I say is here to see him?” she might have started asking but I walked away, making my way towards where I knew his office was. I heard her call for me, but I ignored it. Seeing him was more urgent than looking crazy. At his door, I meant to knock but I barged in instead. I regretted it after seeing his face, totally bemused looking at me. And then he laughed.
The receptionist came up behind me, saying something about how I couldn’t be there, and Easton stood up. He was in dark jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. On the casual side but still work-appropriate, especially in the kind of office this was.
“It’s okay, Lucy, she’s fine. I’ll talk to her,” he said. He closed the door behind me then turned, taking in my outfit again.
“I can explain.”
“Please do. Quickly.” There was mirth in his eyes, but I knew I had majorly overstepped boundaries.
“I’m sorry for showing up like this but I had to see you.”
“For what?”
“I had to apologize in person, and I had to make sure…”
“Make sure of what?” he asked. It was the first time being that close to him in a while and I was a bit overwhelmed.
“Make sure I wasn’t wrong.” He furrowed his brow.
“Wrong about what?”
“I… I think you’re the one, Easy. I know how that sounds. I know I wasn’t wrong when I thought you were Mr. Right. Someone told me that when I finally found Mr. Right, I wasn’t allowed to run away. I’m done running. I had to do this because I’d never forgive myself otherwise.”
“What are you talking about, Missy?”
“I’m so sorry about the interview. I said what I did because I was angry and jealous seeing you with another woman. That’s a bad reason but it’s the truth. I said things that I felt when we met, and you were doing your best to annoy me, and I was haughty and unbearable. You’re probably my best success story. I can’t believe I said those things and I know more reasons why you shouldn’t accept my apology than why you should, but I really hope you can.”
He was silent and it made the seconds feel like days.
“You were jealous?”
“I was jealous and drunk, and it felt like I was getting you back for making me feel that way. It was a small and petty thing to do and I’m disgusted with myself. I want to ask you for forgiveness, but I understand if you don’t feel I’m worth it.”
“You’re worth it, Missy. You’re worth everything,” he said. I wasn’t done debasing myself with my speech yet, so his words disoriented me.
“Huh?”
“I can't tell you what those words did to me. I should have been more upset, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. It fucked me up let me tell you.”
“So… you forgive me?”
He came closer.
“What was the part you said earlier about being Mr. Right?”
I blushed. “It’s kind of embarrassing, really. I came to New York with no intention of ending up like this, but then I did. Romance found me and I can’t let you go without trying to see if there’s something here. So… do you forgive me?”
“Looking like that I feel like I have to. You’re clearly a mental ward escapee and we need to take you back immediately.” I laughed.
“What, you don’t like the look?”
“I hate it. Take it off.” I blinked.
“What?”