Page 82 of Eternal Hoptimist

If a human could embody that emoji with hearts for eyes, it would’ve been Parker at that moment. “Let’s go.”

“It can’t be over yet, can it? I know I’m late, but surely dinner wasn’t that fast. There was a huge accident, and I lost track of time earlier talking to Seth and the guys to work out some ideas to spend more time with you.” I kept up the word vomit while Parker pulled me out of the room. “I thought you said the program would come after the dinner, but wasn’t dinner supposed to start already? I’m sorry for missing your big announcement.”

He pulled me along a path lit by café lights above and solar lights stuck in the ground. Rain dripped down my face until we reached the cover of a gazebo with sparse soft ivory lights hanging around the edge. I hadn’t bothered to stop him so I could open the umbrella.

His eyes glittered in the low light, and his smile was wider than I’d ever seen. “I quit.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “Quit what?”

He grabbed my other hand and squeezed them together as he stared into my eyes. He was downright giddy. “My job.”

“But you look so happy.” My brain tried to work through his words, but the hamster running the wheel was out to lunch.

“Iamhappy. I realized I don’t want a job that expects to be my number one priority. I don’t want to be someone who’s reached my sixties with a successful career and a big bank account but a heart full of regrets. I don’t want to let life pass me by or work so much that my relationships fail. I want more time with my family and withyou.”

“Butpartner. You want that so much. You got it. It’s everything you’ve been working for.”

“I did want it. I wanted the prestige and the bragging rights of achieving it so young, but my priorities have changed. Evolved, I guess. I’m not happy with the work I’m doing. Hell, I haven’t been happy in a long time. The past two months have been the happiest I’ve been in years because of you.”

My breaths grew shallow. He’d done all that for me? What if it didn’t work? What if the excitement wore off, and he realized he didn’t want me after all? I couldn’t stand to be a regret.

Parker cupped my cheek and rubbed his thumb under my eye. “I don’t mean to put pressure on you or on us. I quit because I now know other things in life can make me happier than my job ever could. No matter what happens to us, I won’t regret what I’ve done. I needed a change, and being with you has given me the courage to make it. Hell, I want a social life. I want more time with my parents and siblings and their kids when that happens. I want time for friends. I want time foryou.”

Parker had pinned all my fears on a wall and thrown darts through each one.Accept him at his word. Take a chance.

“Was your boss pissed?”

Parker let out a startled laugh at my random question. “You could say that. I got a few choice words about timing and making a fool of him, but he calmed once I helped him brainstorm how he would spin the news to the other partners.”

“Well, I suppose your job was good for something.”

Parker tilted his head and stared at me.

“If you and your firm didn’t have such terrible boundaries, you wouldn’t have spent New Year’s Eve with your coworkers, and we might not have met.”

He ran his fingertips across my cheek. “I’d like to think I would have met you eventually. My brother would’ve dragged me to the brewery, and I would’ve fallen for you at first sight.”

I swooned and swatted his arm. “Romantic. But it was Hector’s persistency that really sealed the deal. Don’t you think?”

Parker’s smile was infectious. “You’re right, but don’t tell him. His smugness would be insufferable.”

“I’m so proud of you.” I wrapped my arms around Parker’s neck and stepped in close. Parker’s eyes were full of affection as he stared down at me. “Thank you for supporting me in the way I needed with Rosie. You did more than I could have dreamed of.”

Parker’s expression turned vulnerable. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”

“Positive. Rosie is already planning to use some of her new money to come visit us.”

“I can’t wait.”

While we were talking about serious things, I figured I might as well get everything out there. “I talked to the guys about a plan to adjust my duties. Seth will take over more of the serving, so I can shift my schedule and come to Portland more often. I can do the ordering from your place and some other admin work, and we’ll get more time together during the week.”

Parker’s grip tightened around my waist. “But you love working the bar and talking to people.”

I shrugged. “I love you more.” I hadn’t clocked the words spilling out of my mouth until Parker stared at me, stunned, before a sunny smile spread over his face. The words had been skirting around the edges of my consciousness for a while, but I’d been too scared to let them in.

“I love you too, Ethan.”

Tears burned in my eyes. “You do?”

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