Page 82 of Second Chance with Seth

“It’s good to see Everly so happy,” he says, putting it down.

“Has she been that unhappy?” I look up at him, and he tips his head to one side.

“Of course she has.”

I nod my head and watch as he gathers the cups and plates from the table beside me, darting back through the swing door, knowing that, even though I don’t really have a plan yet, I have to make it work.

Whatever it takes.

“I hope that was up to our usual standard,” Everly says, coming over and reaching for my plate. I smile up at her, nudging it aside, and grab her hand again.

“You’re a lot less busy now, so why don’t you join me for a minute? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Oh? Who else has been hitting on you?” she says, sitting opposite me, just like she did earlier, although she gets more comfortable this time, and smiles right at me, her eyes locking with mine.

“No-one. It’s just… It’s just, I’m gonna have to leave.”

“Has Aiden called? Do you need to go back to work?” she says, and I shake my head, confusing her.

“No. I haven’t heard from Aiden. And it’s not about work. Not really. It’s more than that.”

“Then I don’t understand.”

“I need to leave town, Everly.”

She snatches her hand away, her face paling, her eyes filling with tears, and although I reach for her hand, she lowers it to her lap, making it impossible.

“How can you do this to me?” she whispers. “After everything we did last night? You said you loved me.”

“I do.” It hasn’t escaped my attention that she hasn’t said she loves me, but that doesn’t make my love for her any less real.

“You expect me to believe that?” she says, anger getting the better of her unshed tears.

“Yes. You know I’d never lie to you.”

“Is that why you told me you’d never leave?”

“Yes. And before you completely overreact, can I remind you that you said to me yesterday, before you invited me to dinner, that we need to get it right this time?”

“I hadn’t forgotten.”

“Well… that’s what I’m doing.”

“By leaving?”

“There are some things I need to iron out in Concord.”

“Like Davina?” she says, narrowing her eyes at me.

“No. She’s an intern at my office, just like I said. Nothing more, nothing less. I told you there’s no-one else. I meant it, although it’s pretty clear that, even if you say you’re trying, you still don’t trust me.”

“Are you surprised?”

“I guess not,” I say, shaking my head. I may not be surprised, but I’m a little disappointed, and I’m struggling not to show it. “Your insecurity around me is my fault. I should never have given you a reason to doubt me, but please believe me when I say I love you, Everly. You, and only you.”

She stares at me for a long moment and then slowly nods her head, which feels like a breakthrough.

“What do you need to iron out?” she asks.

---