Page 147 of When Fate Breaks
She shakes her head at me, a grin on her face, as Blake releases me and I jog forward, throwing my arms around her. “What are you doing here?” I ask her in disbelief.
“I live here, Annie. I’m getting take-out,” Grammy says. “The better question would be, what areyoudoing here? But I think I can see the answer to that right in front of me.” She pulls back, taking my hands in hers and giving me a wink. “Took you kids long enough.”
“Yeah…” I chuckle. “It's a long story.”
“Those are always the best,” she smiles, giving my hands a squeeze before dropping them. “Now, I’ll get out of your way. You’ll swing by and see me later?”
“Sure,” I nod.
“Bothof you?” she asks, leaning around me to see Blake.
“Yes, ma’am,” Blake grins sheepishly.
Grammy grabs her bag of take-out from the counter and sends us a wave as she walks out the door.
I turn back to Blake, rubbing my palms on my jeans, my stomach filled to the brim with butterflies.
“Hey,” he whispers.
“Hey,” I whisper back.
He smiles, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me to him. I wrap my arms around his back, settling into his chest. “Do you really mean it?” he asks into my neck. “Because you need to mean it. Because there’s no way I’m letting you go now.”
“I mean it,” I confirm. “And you better mean it too. Because you couldn’t get rid of me now if you tried.”
Blake laughs, pulling me back from his chest just enough to press a kiss to my lips.
“It’s too bad, you know,” he says.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my brows furrowing.
“I built you such a kick-ass greenhouse.”
Laughter shakes my chest. “You really did.”
“This really sucks,” he deadpans.
“Yeah, it does.”
“Such a waste.”
“Wanna call it off?” I ask.
“Don’t even try it, Jacks,” Blake grins, shaking his head. He starts to lean in again, but the sudden appearance of Emily clearing her throat at our side brings us back to reality. I push Blake away, my cheeks reddening.
“Hi,” she says, lips upturned. “I need to show you something, Blake. Would you two come with me?”
31
PRESENT DAY
Blake
Iturn off my truck, reluctantly detangling Evangeline from around me, kissing her one last time before I open the door of my truck and step out onto the pavement. The time it takes to walk around the front of my truck to the passenger side already feels like too long apart, my fingers itching to touch her again by the time I’m opening the door to let her out. We left her purple rental PT Cruiser back at The Olive Pit. We can get it later. It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is this.
I really do love that greenhouse, Blake…but not nearly as much as I love you.
I love you, Blake Di Fazio.
