Page 84 of Until Then

“Thank you.”

My heart lifts, floating like a buoy. I needed her love and support even more than I realized.

“Are you telling Mom and Dad?”

I grimace. “Not yet. You know how Mom is.”

My relationship with our parents might be less strained than hers, but it doesn’t mean our mom doesn’t judge me as well. There’s no way she’d ever approve of this.

She laughs. “Believe me, I know. I don’t blame you for keeping it to yourself. Should we head down to the shop? Are you in the mood to paint?”

I sag against the back of my seat, thankful for her ability to lighten the moment and get life back on track. “Yeah, that would be great.”

Outside, drink in hand, I link my arm with hers.

In this moment, I feel eons away from the girl who was canceled all those months ago. I still have plenty of healing to do and mountains of details to figure out, but I think I’m finally stepping into the person I was always meant to be.

24

DERRICK

Spinning,Izzy takes in the newly renovated restaurant space. She’s been filming as we go, but a lot has changed at this jobsite since the last time she was here. It almost feels like she’s seeing it with new eyes—likeI’mseeing it through new eyes, her eyes.

The restaurant is located about an hour and a half from Parkerville, tucked into the corner of a small inland town.

“I love that you kept these original stones exposed.” She taps them with the toe of her pink sneaker. “They’re incredible. They have to be really old.”

“This place was built in the 1700s.”

“Wow.” She looks around, lips parted in awe.

I might be in the business of building, but even I can admit things aren’t made with the kind of craftsmanship they once were. Back then, things were meant to last. Now, everythingwe touch seems designed to only function until the next trend comes along.

I trail behind her as she enters the party space we’ve sectioned off.

“If this place were mine, I’d paint the walls navy. Or maybe a burgundy. Ooh, I might even do black.” She spins in a circle, her hair flying behind her. “I’d want it to be moody, with a few large art pieces displayed as a nod to the 1700s.”

I lean against the wall, watching her, my chest swelling. God, she’s so damn beautiful and smart and talented.

“The owners mentioned needing help with design. Want me to tell them you’re interested in helping and see how it goes?”

She stops in front of me. Her eyes are wide and shimmering with gratitude. “You’d do that?”

Head tilted, I frown. “Why wouldn’t I?”

It’d be easy enough. I can’t guarantee they’ll take us up on the offer, but it’s worth asking.

Izzy closes the distance between us, and when she loops her arms around my neck, it’s like the rest of the world fades away.

Playing with the hair at the back of my neck, she murmurs, “Could you stop making it so easy?”

“What?” Confusion laces the word.

“To fall for you.”

Oh.

“Oh.”

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