Page 55 of Wildest Dreams

We’re normally quite chatty, but this evening we’re relatively quiet. She’s radiant with her hair perfectly curled and the candlelight casting a soft glow on her face.

“This is the best steak I’ve ever had,” she says after her first bite.

“Thank you,” I say. “It’s the butter.”

That is the extent of our conversation at dinner. This is torture. I do not want to leave tomorrow.

After dinner, Kendall helps me clean the kitchen, then we go back to the bedroom. She sees the gift box on the dresser, but I tell her she has to wait until tomorrow to open it.

“Well, you’ll have to wait for your present too, then.”

“Kendall, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I wanted to. Besides, you shouldn’t have gotten me anything else after the fortune you spent fixing up the house.”

“That wasn’t a big deal. I want you to be happy.”

“It was a big deal to me.”

“Understood.” I embrace her and we kiss. She tastes like wine and strawberry lip gloss. My heart wrenches knowing this will be our last night together—possibly forever—but for now, I’m going to make the most of this night. Every inch of her body will get my full attention.

* * *

The morning I’ve been dreading for weeks finally arrives. Neither of us slept well, and I know the drive to Atlanta will feel like a whole day instead of three and half hours.

After we shower and get dressed, I give her the gift box. She opens it nervously, telling me she hopes I didn’t spend too much.

“It’s Bertha!” she exclaims as she opens it. “Oh, Pierre! It’s perfect!” She’s grinning from ear to ear and I hug her, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.

“Now it’s time for yours.” She goes to the nightstand, opens the bottom drawer, and pulls out a box wrapped in childish alligator wrapping paper.

“I’m sensing a theme,” I say. She bites her bottom lip and watches me tear it open. When I see what’s inside, I can’t help but smile. It’s a t-shirt from Cattywampus Brewing. “Kendall, thank you! I’m going to wear it all over LA.”

“Good! I’m glad you like it. I thought it would be nice, since we had our first date there and all.”

“Absolutely.” I hug her again. “God, I—” I almost said the three words I’ve been avoiding for weeks. I sigh. “I’m going to miss you,” I say instead.

She pulls back and looks at me with watery eyes. “I know. Me too.”

We don’t speak as she helps me pack my bags. It doesn’t take long since I had packed light. We load up the rental car and stand in the driveway for what feels like an eternity.

“I don’t care if this movie turns out to be the most massive steaming pile of crap I’ve ever made. This was the best experience I’ve ever had. I don’t regret a thing.”

“Good. Me neither.”

“I know you wanted things to end here, but please keep in touch.”

“We’ll see,” she says, then bites her bottom lip. “I need to see how I feel once you’re gone. You’ve changed everything for me, for the better. Before you came, I was a ghost.”

“And now?”

“Now I want to reimagine my future. Set some goals. Evaluate my priorities. I need to decide what I want the rest of my life to look like.”

I’m tempted to tell her to include me in that vision, but I stop short. She’s made it clear she needs space, and I have to respect that.

“I wish you the best, Kendall. You deserve nothing but sunshine and rainbows from here on out.”

“Thank you, Pierre. You too.”

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