Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Hi, dear.” My grandmother held out a shaky hand.
I took it.
Atticus’s eyes met mine. “Is it time to say goodbye?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I should probably try to beat rush-hour traffic.”
His mouth curved into a frown.
Wrapping my arms around my grandmother, I whispered in her ear, “I love you, Mimi. I’ll come visit you soon. I promise.”
“I’ll be counting the days, my sweet granddaughter. Please take care of yourself and be careful driving.”
The plan was for Atticus to stay with her until Fiona arrived in about an hour.
He walked me to my car in the driveway. “So this is really it, huh?”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Thank you again. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Yes, you could’ve. You’re stronger than you realize. But I’m damn glad you didn’t have to do it alone.”
“Are you going to Tina’s after Fiona gets here?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna hang out with her and the kids—I mean, the adults—and spend the night.”
I smiled. “Then you head back to L.A.?”
He nodded. “Tomorrow night. The guys are waiting on me to get started in the studio.” He looked down for a moment then back up at me. “When will I see you again?”
I took a deep breath. “Actually… I’ve been in touch with Emily a few times since that night we all hung out. We were talking about hairstyle ideas for her wedding, and she asked if I’d be willing to fly out and do her hair. And then stay for the ceremony.”
“Really?” His eyes widened. “That’s a couple months from now, right? What did you tell her?”
“Yeah, it’s in two months, and I told her I’d think about it. But I need to let her know by the end of the week so she can book someone else, if needed.”
“I really hope you do it.”
“Noted,” I said, still not a hundred-percent sure I was on board. I hated weddings. They reminded me of a lot of things I didn’t want to remember. “If I don’t end up going, maybe we could grab coffee the next time you’re in New York.”
“I would love that.” He smiled. “That’d be the best coffee ever.”
“Okay.” I grinned. “Well, have a safe trip back.”
“Careful driving, Nicole.”
As we hugged goodbye, I could feel his heart thundering against mine.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered.
I closed my eyes for a moment, relishing the feel of being in his arms. Forcing myself away, I rubbed my hands together, trying to distract myself from the fact that I already missed being held by him.
Atticus reached into his pocket. “Hey, I want to give you something before you go.” He handed me a small box.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I opened the box to find a white gold charm attached to a thin rope necklace. It was a figure-eight infinity symbol.
I rubbed my thumb over the metal. “It’s beautiful.”
“You refused to take anything from me when we split, but I’m hoping you won’t refuse this.”
“When did you have the time to get this?”
“I had Clemson’s make it for me.”
Clemson’s was a local jewelry store.
“It represents who you are to me,” he explained. “And maybe the new normal of our relationship. Even if we’re not married or together, you’re a part of me forever. And I’ll always be here for you.”
Feeling my eyes water, I nodded. “I’m proud of us.” I stared down at the necklace. “Of how we came together these past couple weeks.”
“Me, too, baby.”
I looked up at him. “Will you put it on me?”
“Of course.”
The feel of his hands at the back of my neck sent shivers down my spine. I cherished every second. Turning around, I hadn’t accounted for how close he’d be. His gorgeous lips were right there.
“I hate this,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you.”
As his eyes flickered between my eyes and lips, I gripped his shirt as if to say I don’t want to leave you, either. He leaned in and touched my lips with his. As my heart nearly leaped through my chest, I opened my mouth slightly, expecting his tongue, but his kiss simply grew firmer—intense yet controlled. Closed. Then he pulled back.
He placed his fingers over his lips. “Be careful driving.”
I fondled the charm. “Thank you again.”
“Of course.” He smiled sadly.
I wasn’t sure how to interpret that kiss, but without saying anything further, I forced myself to walk away. As I started my car, Atticus stayed put. I looked over at him one more time before backing out. He waved and blew me a kiss.
I pulled out, and he walked to the end of the driveway, watching me drive down the road until he disappeared in my rearview mirror.
On the way out of town, I drove by the house we’d passed on our walk, the one I’d always envisioned as my future forever home here in Monksville. It was white with window boxes filled with purple flowers. I slowed down to get a better look at it, trying to ignore the pangs of sadness in my chest as I clutched the infinity charm around my neck.