Page 127 of Company Ink

Blake holds out his hand. "Well? Shall we?"

I place my hand in his, my chest rising at the connection. "I'd love to," I say, and Blake leads me to the dance floor.

He wraps his arm around my waist as we begin swaying to the sweet soulful voice of Otis Redding. Flashbacks from the gala swirl around my mind. The retreat. The canoe. The kiss. Everything.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, looking up at him. "I'm sorry that I hurt you, Blake."

Blake, swallows, his grip on my waist tightening ever so slightly. "I'm sorry I asked you to resign. I shouldn't have done that. Not without talking to you first.Alone."

I nod, a melancholy smile capturing my lips. "I guess we both made a few mistakes."

Blake's eyes flutter around my face, his breathing shallow. "Yes," he whispers. "We did."

"I wish..." I close my eyes. "I wish I knew how you felt sooner. I wish, I didn't—"

Blake lifts his hand up, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "Me too," he says softly. "Me too, Cassie."

As the song ends, I tilt my head up and our eyes meet. "Is this it?" I ask him.

Blake studies me, his eyes full of questions and what-ifs. "The song is over," he finally says, and I know he's not talking about music.

My breath hitches. "Yeah, you're right. It is."

Blake lifts my hand up to his lips, placing a gentle kiss along my knuckles. "It was a good song," he whispers.

"It was..." My eyes flicker down to the ground, my heart heavy. "I guess this is goodbye."

Blake nods. "Bye, Cassie."

Taking a deep breath, I turn around and start making my way to the head table. I got it. Closure. That was it. Right?

"Cassie," Blake calls out and I spin around, too hopeful.

"Yeah?" I ask eagerly.

"Good luck in New York," he says warmly, his eyes bright.

Oh.

"Thanks," I mutter, disappointment washing over me.

And that's the last time we speak all night.

"Lucy! We're going to miss our flight!"

Lucy crosses her arms and scowls at me. "You have time for a cup of tea, my dear. The security checkpoint is right behind us and there's a big line. Just wait for it to die down.Please?"

I roll my eyes and look at Ness. "Tell your mother we're running late."

Ness giggles. "We have time," she says quietly.

"Hah!" Lucy exclaims. "Two against one, we win! Now sit down!"

Begrudgingly, I plop down at the airport cafe. "They better not give away our seats! I didn't pay for business class just to get booted."

Lucy passes me a to-go cup. "What is the rush, Cassie? They won't leave without you, and I for one would like to spend as much time with my daughter and niece as I can, before you move to the other side of the damn country."

"Fine, sorry, I'm just antsy," I admit, checking the time again. "I just want to leave. I want to be in New York."

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