Page 152 of Holding You
Okay, well, I’m on my own now.
“Susie, why are you …” Declan’s words are cut short when he sees Max, his head immediately jerking to the entrance where I’m standing.
My heart slams into my chest, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can finally breathe again.
All by just seeing him.
It’s him, but different. He’s not in his day-to-day sweats and T-shirt. He’s in a suit and tie, and he looks really good.
Because I don’t know what to do and we clearly now have an audience, I wave.
His stunned expression changes to fighting a smile.
He waves back.
I step toward him.
I had a whole speech planned, but the moment we are toe to toe and he looks into my eyes, I simply speak from the heart.
“I miss you,” I whisper and then hold my chin high.
He doesn’t reply.
I swipe away a tear and then sniffle. Nothing about this ispretty, but I won’t give up. “Every day. And I don’t care where it is, I just want to be where you are. I know I said all that stuff about not repeating my past, but this is different.Weare different. This is myfuture. I need you in my life. Max and I need you and Susie.”
I pause, waiting for Declan to move, flinch, or say something. He only stares at me with a look of disbelief in his eyes.
“I know what I said back in Lovers. I?—”
“Alright, it’s ready. I just had to have … oh shit.”
Colt steps out of an office.
My heart immediately sinks as I look back and forth between them. Are they working together now? Why else would Colt be here? If they are working together, does that mean Declan is working with Barton?
“I have to go.”
“Wait,” Declan says.
“I …” I spin around and point at Colt. “I texted you hours ago and told you Max and I were headed to Chicago, but you never said you were here.”
“You knew she was coming?” Declan asks him.
“I did, and yes, but I wasn’t going to ruin this.”
“Too late,” I say “Max, we’re leaving.”
“Ruby, hold on a second,” Declan says again.
I don’t listen. I start jamming my finger on the elevator button. “Come on. Come on.”
“Ruby.”
I drop my chin to my chest as Declan’s voice surrounds me.
Just once, once, I’d like something to work out in my favor.
The simple thought makes me want to cry all over again.
