My dad leaned forward. “You’re not leaving The Coast because this guy asked you to, are you?”
“That guy has nothing to do with it. I don’t even have another job lined up, okay? I just had to get out of there. I tried to make it work and I couldn’t. It was–”
The doorbell rang. We all froze. I got up to get it and my dad waved for me to sit down. “Forget it. It’s probably just a package.”
I ignored him and headed for the door, anxious for any chance to get a breather from the argument at the table.
I pulled the door open expecting to see a delivery person waiting for a signature. Instead, I saw him.
Dominic Lockwood was standing on my parents’ front porch in a long black overcoat with flecks of snow stuck in his dark, perfect hair. There was a grim look on his face and a manilla folder in his hand. “Can we talk?” he asked.
I’d told Charleston I just wanted him back–that I didn’t care about apologies or proof that he’d changed. Apparently, that wasn’t true. When I saw him, I felt the old anger rise up again. He’d hurt me, and I still hadn’t forgiven him for it. He’d taken something good and ruined it. Without thinking, I slammed the door in his face, but I didn’t walk away.
I leaned my forehead against the wood, breathing hard.
“Darcy, please,” he said, voice muffled and coming from outside. “I promise it won’t take long. I just want you to hear what I have to say. You don’t even have to speak. Just let me say my piece and then I’ll leave you alone, okay?”
I took a deep breath, then pulled the door open. “Why should I?” I asked.
“You shouldn’t, but I hope you will give me one last chance.” His breath puffed out in white wisps as he spoke.
“Come in,” I said reluctantly.
I headed inside and my dad started talking when he heard me. His back was to me and he didn’t turn to look. “If you go back to them tomorrow and say you were being rash, I’m sure they’d give you the job back, Darcy. You’re just being emotional. Think rationally.”
Dominic sucked in a sudden breath and took my arm in his. He seemed to realize he was touching me when I looked down at his hand on me. He pulled it back, but frowned. “You quit your job?”
My mom and sister had already seen him and weren’t saying anything, but my dad turned then. “Oh,” he said. “Dominic, right? Sorry, I didn’t realize Darcy was bringing a guest.”
“I thought you two had some kind of fight?” Eloise said. “Are you back together?”
“We did have a fight,” Dominic said. “And I’m trying to make up for it.”
“Oh,” my mom said excitedly. She rubbed her hands together like she was getting ready for a show.
My heart was absolutely pounding. What was in that folder?
“I didn’t expect to do this with an audience, but fuck it,” Dominic said. He stuck the folder out toward me. “I spent a long time thinking about how I could find the right words to say I’m sorry. I realized there aren’t any. You deserve more than words. You deserve proof, and this is it.”
I took the folder and swallowed hard as I bent the little metal flaps holding it shut. I unfolded the top and pulled out a few sheets of paper. They were packed with text, so I scanned through and my eyes caught on a few key words. “Offer”, “Partnership”, and “The Squawker.”
I looked up at him. “What is this?”
“It’s an offer. With Marcus and Tristan’s help, we boughtThe Squawkerfrom my dad. It’s completely mine, now. That means I have the authority to offer you a fourth of the ownership. I also bought out the appropriate amount of Marcus and Tristan’s share. But there are also two other offers. That second page would give you all of my shares, too. In that scenario, the shares I acquired for you would transfer back to Marcus and Tristan, making you an equal partner with them in the ownership. The last scenario is I sell my shares and we start a new magazine together.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand.” My voice was quiet. I did understand, of course, but it was all rushing around in circles and none of it was sinking in. “Why would you be willing to give me all of your shares?”
My family was watching all of this like a grand finale tennis match, eyes wide and mouths shut.
“Because you made me realize what actually matters. Fuck success. Fuck what I thought were my dreams of proving myself. None of it means anything if you’re not beside me. I’ll give it all up just for another chance with you.”
“Basil would’ve never said that,” Eloise whispered, almost to herself.
I was surprised to feel a tear roll down my cheek and splash warm against my hand. I wiped at my eyes, still shaking my head. “I don’t…”
“You don’t have to decide now. Just think it over. Oh, and there’s a fourth option. My lawyer said I didn’t need to draft up a document for it, though. The fourth option is you tell me to fuck off and never bother you again. I can’t promise I’ll listen, though. I’m crazy about you, Darcy. Absolutely fucking crazy. You made me better and I didn’t even realize it until you were gone. Every night I think about what an idiot I was for thinking I could get over you if I let you go. And now, here I am, ready to pay any price to undo my mistake.”
He nodded after a moment, then turned to leave. I was still standing there with the papers in my hand. It felt like I could hardly think, let alone speak. My mom chucked a crouton at my head. It doinked off me and landed on the paper. I looked at her, stunned.