Page 93 of Valentine Nook
“Then give it to fucking charity. I don’t want it.”
Ignoring me, he tips back the remainder of his whiskey and turns for the door. I expect him to walk out without saying a word, but after he’s unlocked all the bolts, he stops with his hand gripped around the handle.
“Take care of yourself, my friend. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
I stay where I am, staring at the cardboard box. I marvel at the mundanity of it. That something so nondescript contains so much power.
Taking another slug of whiskey, I rip the seal and open it up.
Inside, I find cases of jewelry, dozens and dozens of leather and velvet boxes. Some black, some navy, a couple of red, but more than that, I find memories I’d forgotten. Blocked.
The ruby drop pendants I brought back from China whenI’d had to travel last minute, the diamond tennis bracelets for the months I’d spent at the yard helping Hendricks during the first winter we were dating, earrings for every complaint Caroline made that I spent more time with Thunder than her.
The last case I pick up is a small black leather one. I don’t need to open it to know what’s in it. I should have known then that we were doomed before we’d even begun.
Caroline’s engagement ring, her second one.
It’s nothing but four million pounds’ worth of evidence. A sum total of bad decisions I’ve made in my personal life. A clear-cut sign of everything I should have done differently.
Four million pounds’ worth of jewels. Because in my heart of hearts, I was marrying someone I didn’t really like, and it was the easiest way to assuage my guilt.
A payoff.
For six months, I’ve stewed in bitterness and wallowed in my own self-pity. Everyone around me has moved on with their lives.
My mother’s words from the last few weeks sound loudly in my head. Hell, even Miles’s are ringing in my ears, followed by Clementine’s, Hendricks’s, Alex’s, and somewhere in the background, Eddie’s.
They’re all right.
I’ve been happier in the past six weeks than I’ve been in a long,longtime.
And it’s not because of Holiday, but it’s taken her arrival for me to see what was missing.
I think back to what Miles said this morning.
It’s time for me to start doing what makes me happy.
Shoving the box under the bar, I call out to Eddie that I’m leaving and sprint out the door.
I have until the end of the year to enjoy my life without anyone breathing down my neck.
And a date to salvage.
CHAPTER 18
Lando
Holiday’s eyes are puffy when she answers the door.She’s been crying.
“Did you fall down the stairs again?” I ask, immediately regretting it when her tears start up again.
Now is not the time for stupid jokes, but I’ve never been great with women crying, and there’s a box of precious gems in the pub that’s testament to that.
But for the first time, I’m determined to see it through and fix it—with more than money.
She shakes her head, and I want to kiss her better. Kiss everything better.
Kiss her until we need to come up for air, and everything’s forgotten.
