Page 97 of Peppermint Bark

My heart swelled at the rightness of it all, seeing the future unfolding. Everything I’ve worked towards, everything I need.

“But … what would I do?” her brows furrowed.

“San Francisco has hospitals, Grace. Yoga studios too, tons of hippies.”

“This is …” she tucked her head into my chest. I wanted to keep her safe with me, protect her from the world. “This is a lot.”

“I know, darling, but …”

I don’t want to go without you.

I don’t like who I am without you.

I love you.

The truth resonated in my chest, down to my bones.

“You'll never have to worry about being recognized by somebody from your past. We can come here for the holidays with my family. Our family.”

Her shoulders started to shake in what must be tears of joy.

“I’ll cover the expenses so you can do what you love,” I said. Maybe we could adopt, no way would an agency turn me down. I could still see Grace holding that little girl, could still feel her arms around my neck.

“We’ll close on a place quickly,” I dreamed out loud, still imagining that townhouse as my hands rubbed her back. “The merger bonus will cover the down payment. I want to be near the office, so maybe Pac Heights. Or a short commute like Sausalito, I can take the Ferry and you can visit me for lunch. On the weekends —”

“Stop,” she said, running a head through her hair. “I haven’t said yes.”

Was she being dramatic? Maybe she wanted me to make a big deal out of the request, like a proposal. Oh damn, I had to plan one of those soon, didn’t I? I wasn’t letting her get away.

“Do you need me to officially ask?” I grinned cockily. “Grace, please move to San Francisco.”

Hesitation flickered across her face. My hands slid to her biceps to hold her more firmly. Didn’t she see how perfect this solution was? This was what I needed, what we deserved. “Please, Grace. I need you there.”

“You need me to pick out your house,” she repeated. “You need me …”

“It’s not like —”

“What if …” She dropped her gaze down to the floor. “What happens when you change your mind?”

“I wouldn’t, Grace, I —”

“When I’m living in your house with no job and you decide I'm too much work to take care of, will you at least pay for my plane ticket home?” Her arms trembled under my palms.

“That’s not what’s going to happen.”

“You don’t know that!” she cried, her voice ragged. “You’ve known me for a month, and you want me to give up my entire life because you need me.”

She twisted away and slumped down on the couch, her glassy gaze staring at the ceiling. I knelt down next to her leg with a steadying hand on her shin, desperate to show her what I’d seen in my dream. To explain that this was forever for me. “That won’t happen, because I lo—”

She jolted forward, her index finger on my lips stopping my confession. Her voice was a warning. “Don’t say it, Alex.”

I peeled her hand away from my mouth and pressed my lips into her palm. Maybe if she knew … “I love you,” I said confidently.

“You promised,” she whispered. “You promised not to fall in love.”

“I’m sorry, darling, but I told you that pinky promises aren’t legally binding.“ She huffed a laugh. I placed her hand over my heart, feeling my heartbeat under her fingertips.

“I can’t …” She pulled her hand away like she couldn’t stand to touch me. The first tear descended her cheek and she wiped it off before it hit her mouth.

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