Page 77 of Seas the Dating Coach

My heart had nearly stopped when she’d gripped me by the shoulders and leveled me with a resolved stare.

“These gifts are wonderful, and I’m grateful for them, but being with you is what matters to me. I’d rather have a purloined hydrangea bloom and the memory of us laughing like hyenas as we flee the scene, or snuggle with you on the couch as we listen to Raven’s musical genius out of my phone’s tinny speaker than something flashy.”

I’d never seen an example of true love in real life, only read about it. It hadn’t occurred to me until Vivian said something that expressing love is more than the stuff of fiction—large purchases and showy proclamations. At its center, it’s the tender, everyday moments shared between two souls.

That simple conversation shifted my perspective.

After that, I made sure we knocked everything off Vivian’s question list, from long beach walks to reading on my deck. We even binged the first season ofWorthingtonin preparation for tonight. I’d also brought her to the library after hours to view the town’s archives. Since Vivian didn’t think my near panic attack the second time we attempted swimming lessons by wading intothe bay water was off-putting, I hoped she wouldn’t mind my fascination with rare books.

At Vivian’s complete and utter acceptance of who I am, I realized there is only one course of action left.

My pulse thrums against the fabric wrapped around my neck as I walk the short distance to Vivian’s apartment. Fortunately, tonight is unseasonably cool, since we’re all dressed from chin to toe in layers. To distract myself from my rambunctious nerves, I revel in the memory of Vivian’s reaction to my final fitting in her shop. My smirk deepens, remembering how she’d drawn her heavy curtains and then kissed me to within an inch of my life. Hopefully, there’ll be a continuation of that tonight, but only after I tell her who I really am.

I can’t wait a day more.

The plan had been to reveal everything after I knew about my promotion to library director, but I love Vivian too much. She should know all the variables that go along with being with me. If she finds out my true identity and decides not to continue our relationship, I’ll understand.

I’ll be decimated, but I won’t blame her.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I answer it without looking at the contact, assuming it’s another last-minute emergency call from one of my staff.

“Finn.” My name is slurred, and loud bar music echoes in the background. “I need some help tonight. There’s this leggy redhead that won’t give me the time of day, but if you were—”

“I told you I have a work event tonight.” I also told Alec that was the reason I couldn’t go out these last two weeks. I’d mentioned that tonight was important for my career advancement, though without any of the behind-the-scenes details.

“All you ever do is work.” He sounds like a petulant child.

I rub the bridge of my nose. “That’s what adults do, Alec.”

“I liked you more when you were fun.”

Yeah, well, I didn’t like me.

The thought resonates like a bomb blast, my ears ringing in the aftermath. I’d been living an inauthentic life when I’d been working in Virginia Beach. Professionally, I was making strides in the field I’d chosen, but every other facet of my life had been incomplete. I’d assumed that was due to my father’s contract stipulations and that I’d needed to conceal so much, but really, I was choosing not to be me. Living in Wilks Beach, being encouraged by Vivian to open up, showed me how small my life had been until now.

For the first time, I feel like I don’t have to hide. I honestly believe that when I tell Vivian all my secrets, everything will be okay. And even if it isn’t, at least I won’t be living a lie.

The weight falling from my shoulders brings a relieved inhale into my lungs.

“I can’t do this anymore. I thought I was being a friend, but…”

It isn’t until this moment that I realize living in this tiny town has taught me more about friendship than anything from my upbringing or the professional networking I’d done since. Sorrow drops in my chest that I’m nearly thirty and finally learning what having true friendship means.

“I’ve only been enabling you, and I can’t do that anymore. You need help.” A thought occurs to me. “I’ve met a man here who got sober. I’ll ask him about some resources to send you, but I can’t be your wingman anymore.”

The tirade I receive in response is so loud and venomous I pull the phone away from my ear. I’d expected bargaining, more whining, not a fury of expletives coming through the line.

“You can forget you ever knew me. I’m blocking your number,” Alex finishes before the line goes dead.

I close my eyes with a steadying breath, making a mental note to talk to Noah and send resources to Alec’s email later. I don’twant anything bad to happen to my former roommate, but I finally understand that I deserve healthy relationships in my life.

When Brynn answers the apartment door in running shorts and a faded high school track shirt, my eyebrows raise. “You’re not coming?”

“Someone has to take pictures.” She raises her phone.

Before I can argue that she could easily do both, Vivian appears at the top of the stairs. To say my soul leaves my body is a grave understatement. All the lyrical lines in all the novels of the world could never compare to how breathtaking Vivian is in this moment. Her Regency gown matches the exact shade of my tailcoat, but a subtle sheen makes the fabric almost liquid as she descends the stairs. The dress’s bodice is adorned with delicate beadwork that must have taken Vivian hours, and the lace cap sleeves ending in elbow gloves make my fingers itch to touch them. Costume jewelry adorns her freckled collarbones as well as accents her elaborate updo.

“I— You—” I chuckle and palm the back of my head. “I was going to compliment you with Regency words, but I can’t think of a single one.”

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