to be true. That he isn’t everything that I think he is. That we’ll move in together and then I’ll find out something about him, or he’ll find something about me and that will end it and I don’t think I can deal with it ending again.” Never again.
“Right. That’s all true. But if you don’t try, and don’t give this relationship everything you have, then what’s the point? It’s scary as hell throwing caution to the wind, but sometimes you have to take a huge risk to get a huge reward.” She’d taken a huge risk with Harmony and the reward hadn’t paid off. That was what I worried about. Because she’d been destroyed when that relationship ended. Utterly destroyed.
“I know you’re scared, but don’t let that stop you from something that could turn out to be everything you think it’s going to be. What if he is wonderful and your relationship is the kind everyone dreams about? Would you give that up because you’re scared? No, it’s not going to be perfect, but sometimes you can get pretty damn close.” She was right, I knew in my soul. I was giving into fear. Still, I just needed some more time to be ready to make that leap.
“Look, you don’t have to decide anything right now. You have time. And I don’t think Fin is going anywhere. He’s obsessed with you.” I laughed.
“I’m pretty obsessed with him. I guess it’s because so much has gone wrong so far that I keep expecting things to go wrong.” There I go again.
“Things will go wrong. And you’ll learn how to face it together.” Now she sounded like me and I sounded like Fin. I wasn’t so confident when he wasn’t with me. It gave my brain time to wonder about all the bad stuff.
“When did you become good at giving love advice?” I asked.
“I have no idea. I feel like I’m just repeating lines I heard in movies.” That made both of us laugh and she drained the rest of her wine.
“Okay, enough about me. Tell me about your day.” She rolled her eyes and set her glass down.
“Well it all started when one of our waxers gave a girl a Brazilian by accident…”
“You’re late. I was just about to call and see where you were,” Fin said when I let myself into his apartment.
“Sorry. Chloe came over to chat and we lost track of time.” He smiled and came to give me a kiss before we walked back to the kitchen together.
“That’s fine. I was just wondering.” He stirred some sauce on the stove and then gave me a taste. Everything Fin had ever made was beyond delicious. In another life, he might have been a chef.
“Sorry, should have texted you. How was your day?”
“Really good, actually. I think it’s actually going to work. But I have something to tell you that I don’t think you’re going to like.” Crap. I braced myself.
“What is it?”
“I have to go away again. Just for a few days, but still. I’m so sorry, but this has to be done. There are signatures and all sorts of things that I need to do in person. Plus I need to close up the old offices and go through everything and I can’t even tell you how many other things.” I tried not to be too disappointed, but I couldn’t help it.
“That’s fine,” I said, and I cringed at how pouty my voice was.
“I want you to come with me,” he said, setting the spoon down.
“You want me to come with you?” I asked.
“Yes. I know I’ll be working all day, but you can go sightseeing and visit museums or just hang out in the room. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to—” I stopped him with a kiss as I threw myself on him.
“I would love to come with you! I don’t care if I have to hang out in the hotel all day. I’ll find something to do with myself.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!” I was planning on heading to Italy soon anyway. I still hadn’t told Fin about that trip, but I planned to get another ticket and surprise him with it. He’d probably insist on paying for everything, but I really wanted to
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