“I know you would have. You aren’t a quitter.”
“You’re right about that. I probably would have moped for a few days
then got right on it. I would have gone to the college, like you said. I would
have tried to find someone to help me. I would have applied for jobs and
found something to cover the bills. I would have made it work. But really?
Me? I made you change your mind?”
“Yes. You. You’re way more inspiring than you know. You’ve been my
friend, my co-worker, and, through some amazing twist of fate, you’re my
partner. I already feel so different than I ever have before. About work,
about my family, about being able to open up and trust. I got back to the
office and got swamped with all that work, and I don’t know… I called you
and then I just sat there, and it came to me. I thought about why I started
doing all of this and where I truly wanted to be. I was so scared to think
about doing it alone, but then I realized that there was no way I would be
alone. You would be there. You and Chloe.”
“So, you want to start your own firm here? Or— or do you mean—
back in New York?” Taylor wanted Christina to be able to live out her
dream, just like she was doing, but she was also suddenly filled with terror
at the thought of Christina leaving. Or at Christina asking her to leave. She
knew that she couldn’t leave her family. At least in Austin, she was still
close enough to the farm.
“Here.” Christina stated firmly. “Believe me, I’m not ditching. This
isn’t me trying to have a panic attack or trying not to commit. You and
Chloe— meeting your family, working on the business— all of it has just
been so— so amazing. I’m not saying this to scare you. I’m not trying to
rush anything either, I’m just telling you where I’m at.”
Taylor had to look up at the ceiling and back down at the floor to keep
the onset of tears from spilling out all over the place. “You have no idea
how much I appreciate that. I actually thought that you were coming here to
like— break up with me or something.”