Page 133 of One More Chapter

I come back to the present, and Anthony James has a silly wistful gleam in his eyes, his hand clenched dramatically over his heart. My shoulders hitch in a quiet laugh.

“I still can’t listen to that song without rolling my eyes. You ruined The Beatles for me.”

“I amtrulysorry. Is there anything I can do to make up for it? Can I put your name into Blackbird?”

“Don’t you dare!” I guffaw, reaching over to playfully slap his wrist.

“Hey! Watch the finger knitting! I’mveryattached to this hat.”

We’re smiling. Giggling. Can it really be this easy?

He coughs, shakes his head, and looks down at the yarn wrapped around his fingers into the semi-shape of a hat.

“So, uh… Did you sign the contract yet?”

My veins freeze while my skin heats. My eyes track back to my own knitting.

“Nope. I have to turn it in by next week though.”

“You’re going to though, right? Youhave to,Pen.”

I catch my breath in my throat at his desperate plea, one formeto do something for myself. I nod, knowing that I have some T’s to cross and I’s to dot tonight.

My, “Yep,” is clogged with a torrent of emotion.

We’re quiet again, drowning in the clinking of knitting needles and the gossip of old ladies.

“I’m going to read it,” he says, popping our bubble. “I want to know. And then, I want to hold your hand while we jump over the fences together.”

Never did I imagine that we’d be having this all-important conversation in public, with yarn spinning its way into hats for babies, but it’s now or never. I take a deep breath.

“It’s my best work. And more importantly, it was how I processed all that happened. You can be upset—you have every right to read what I wrote and feel your feelings. It’s not going to change my experience. But hopefully, it will clear the air for both of us. And then…”

Ant’s yarn-covered hands cover mine. He waits until I meet his gaze, then levels me with stone serious eyes.

“And then, we step into the next chapter together.”

His head dips until I nod, until I agree with what we both know to be true.

“I’m proud of you, you know.”

Here is where his gaze falls. When it ticks back up, the seas of turquoise are my own private pool of hope. The corners of his mouth tick up just slightly enough for me to see. It’s not hiswords that convince me, but the pure candor written on his face. Like the two are finally done being at odds with one another.

“You built an empire with your own two hands. I can’t wait to be standing beside you as you go out and claim what’s yours.”

Over the next several minutes, my heart feels like it’s on a steady inflate, the edges fuzzy with newness. My needles clack, while Ant’s fingers are silently weaving back and forth. There is so much to say, but I’m also content in this purgatory. We both have things we need to do, to work out, and for once, the unknown of what comes next is a slow river of peace.

“Not too shabby for a first timer.”

He holds up his lopsided blue hat, his smile just as crooked. There’s tired in his eyes, and I wonder how many bees are buzzing about his head after all of this.

“Looks good,” I say, offering him a cheesy thumbs up. Ant nods, looks at me as if his tired heart is in his eyes, and then exhales harshly, pushing to stand up.

“I should, uh… I’m going to go turn this in then, I guess. One more to add to the pile.”

He slaps the hat soundlessly against his palm, and my brows and smile turn up.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you…?”

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