Page 65 of Love Letter Lost
I stepped away from the couple, not sure how to reclaim the moment. I needed to talk to Ridge before my insides burst with anticipation.
“Mal!” An arm slipped around my waist, and I turned to find Livvy grinning at me. “I need a breather. Come with me?”
Nodding, I followed Livvy out of the gym back to the kitchen, only faint sounds of music filtering after us.
When the door closed behind us, Livvy leaned against the counter, careful to avoid the desserts. She gave a big sigh and closed her eyes, rolling her neck from side to side.
“Tonight has been perfect,” she said before opening her eyes to watch me. “And to say thank you for everything you’ve done to make that happen, I have something for you.”
She opened her hand, revealing a small box I hadn’t noticed she was holding.
“Livvy, you didn’t have to get me anything. I was happy to help. That’s what cousins and best friends are for.” I took the box, opening it to find a silver necklace with a small skeleton key pendant on it. “It’s beautiful.”
“I got it to celebrate when you finally buy your apartment building, but you deserve it tonight after all the work you did this week. Tonight wouldn’t have been possible without you, and you definitely had every reason not to help me after what I pulled with that letter.” Livvy wrapped me in a hug, and I held on to this cousin and friend who had seen me through countless moves and other hard times.
“Thank you,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes.
We finished the hug and I moved to put the pendant in my purse, managing to knock the bag over in the process. Various items went flying, and I quickly gathered them with Livvy’s help.
“Someday, I’ll grow out of this clumsiness,” I muttered as I returned things to my purse.
Livvy remained silent and I turned, wondering why she hadn’t responded with one of her usual quips. Instead, she crouched on the floor, my notebook open in her lap to the last page I’d written.
“You weren’t supposed to see that.” I reached to grab the notebook, but Livvy pulled it back, flipping to my earlier entries.
“I had no idea you still felt this way,” Livvy whispered.
“No one does, not even Ridge.” I gave a small, self-conscious laugh as I sank to the floor next to Livvy. “I’ve been trying to tell him all night, but Amber keeps getting in the way.”
“Then I guess we’d better fix that.”
* * *
I slipped outof the church, standing in the parking lot as I waited for Livvy to put her plan into action. With Kyle’s help, she was going to get Ridge to come outside with the promise of helping decorate the newlyweds’ car for their grand send off. I had one chance to get the words right.
I paced the sidewalk right outside the doors, a single streetlight and the moon providing enough light to see by. The quiet night was a refreshing change from the noise of people inside.
“I’ve got this. I can do this,” I mumbled to myself as I walked past the front row of cars one direction and then the next, trying to calm my nerves. It felt like someone was using a jackhammer in my stomach.
“Kyle, you out here?” Ridge’s voice filled the night, causing everything inside me to freeze.
“Ridge?” My voice came out in a croak.
“Oh, hey, Mal. You helping to decorate the car too?” Ridge came to join me where I’d stopped next to an old pine tree in front of his car.
“Something like that.” I took one more breath, before turning to face him. Mustering my courage, I said the words I could never take back. “Ridge, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Ridge, who was turning to look at me, froze. His mouth hung slightly open, and his eyes widened. I didn’t wait for him to respond.
“I know this sounds ridiculous. I mean, we haven’t seen each other in years and one week is hardly enough time to fall in love. After reading your letter and spending this week with you, it got me thinking about old times, and yes there was hurt, but there were also good times, and I’ve realized that I’ve let go of the past. I want you in my life. One week isn’t enough.” The words tumbled out, a jumble of thoughts and emotions that couldn’t be taken back.
“Mal, I don’t know what to say. I’ve told you, I love…I’m proposing to Amber.” His words stung, but his hesitation gave me hope.
“But you don’t love Amber!” I yelled the words, all the hurt and frustration spilling out.
“You don’t know that,” Ridge said, defensive.
“I do. You couldn’t even say the words just now. You said you’re proposing to her, but you don’t love her, and I don’t think she loves you. She wants a man she can mold into the perfect corporate lawyer to compliment her as a perfect interior designer. If you propose to Amber tonight, that’s the life you’re choosing. You’ll never be a teacher or basketball coach. You’ll never go camping. You’ll be a man stuck in a stuffy suit, tearing down apartment buildings, wondering what would have happened if you’d said yes to kissing me in the moonlight.”
