Page 131 of The Innovator

Natalie dug into her purse for change and gave me a quarter. She held one in her hand, then closed her eyes and tossed it in. Then she looked at me. “Go ahead. Make a wish.”

“I don’t have anything to wish for. I already have everything I need, but for you, I’ll make a wish.” Closing my eyes, I wished in silence.

Make Natalie’s dream come true.

CHAPTERSEVENTY-FOUR

NATALIE

He stood with me by the wishing well, and Igrabbed his hands, studying them. They were rougher than when I first met him. More calluses and scratches covered his palms and fingers—the result of him working day and night on The Prism for me.

“I truly appreciate what you’ve done for me, Grayson. The Prism is spectacular. It’s better than I imagined.” It looked like a modern version of the old building—a rectangle shape with a gray façade and window panels that were wider and more reflective.

I kissed his hand and touched his cheek, which wasn’t hollow anymore. He’d been sleeping and eating better since the completion of Three Point Park. He didn’t have to fly around the globe to support me, looking like a zombie.

“You’re welcome. Building those floors for you was like building up my heart again. When we first met, my heartwas in pieces. You’re the architect of my heart, rebuilding me from within.”

My heart bloomed like a giant rose, and I felt each petal unfurl inside my chest. I didn’t know my heart could expand that large. I didn’t know I could fall more in love with him, but here I was, diving into the depths of love.

“Being loved by you is like walking in a gentle drizzle while having pink raindrops kiss my face.” I had no idea why I was being so poetic, but the image popped into my head and I had to let him know.

“Pink raindrops? Is there such a thing?” he asked.

“Of course. It comes from having an open heart and an open mind. When those two things are free, anything is possible. Your love opened me to possibilities. My world is painted in unconventional colors because of you.”

I embraced him, wrapping my arms around this stable form that had always offered me protection. An orange autumn leaf with red specks detached from a nearby tree branch and floated in front of me, falling beside my boot.

The simple moment helped me pour out my soul to him.

“When we met, I was living a life full of dissatisfaction, instability, fear, and losing faith in love. I felt like I was trying to catch up to the world and failing miserably. House of LaRue was unstable, and I had to sacrifice my dreams to maintain my family’s legacy. I was afraid that if I dared go after my passion, it would backfire. But then you bought my first design, sat with me in the dark, and showed me the meaning of love. You proved to me that something can emerge from nothing.” I bent and picked up the autumn leaf. “Like this leaf, I’ve let go of all those things that once attached me to fear and unhappiness. I’m nowfree, Grayson. You showed me how to do that with your love.” I kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you.”

His eyes beamed with warmth. “You’ve freed me too, buttercup.”

Hand in hand, we walked to Dream Key and Freedom Heights before stopping at The Prism.

Standing on the ground, I glanced up. “It’s magnificent, Grayson. You brought the building to life. My dad would’ve been so proud to see what it has become.”

Grayson embraced me from behind, pointing up at the building. “See those three floors with the colorful, reflective glass?”

“Yes.” How could I miss them? The way the evening sun touched its surface made it seem like the building blushed on contact.

“Those are yours.”

I turned and gaped at him. “Mine? What do you mean?”

“I own the building so I can do whatever I wanted with it. The Prism was yours before it became mine. I want it to beours.I think that would’ve made your dad happy. I built those top floors for you to do as you please. I didn’t work on the other seven floors. It would have taken forever, and I’m not that patient.”

Tears misted my eyes, but I blinked them back.

Cupping his face in my hands, I gave him a big, fat, sloppy kiss. “I suppose that makes us an official couple again?”

Confusion twisted his face. “Buttercup, I thought that was a given when you moved back to Providence.”

“We never discussed it. I assumed, and you assumed.” I poked him in the chest playfully. “I don’t want to assume. I like facts.”

He grabbed my ass in public and squeezed it hard. I yelped with laughter.

“That’s your confirmation.” He offered another squeeze. “You’re mine. Period.”

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