Page 88 of Bumping into You

“And,” I add, “I hope it helps to know that Greg isn’t upset anymore.”

“Really?” she asks, surprised.

“Yeah, Greg, Trent, and I talked.”

“Oh,” she says, eyeing me tentatively.

“I had to tell him we were officially together, but he was understanding after that.”

“That’s sounds like it went better than I thought it would. When I found out about him and Holly, I lashed out at him; I was pretty angry. I’m surprised he didn’t act similarly.”

I wince a little at her comment but decide not to give her the full details of Greg’s reaction.

“Well, at least they know about us now,” she says.

“Yeah, no more secrets,” I agree.

A man starts playing the piano as Gwen and I finish our pizzas. “I love listening to the piano,” says Gwen.

“Maybe I could play you something,” I offer.

“You play the piano?”

“I do. My mam always loved the piano, so she had me take lessons growing up. I still fiddle around with it every now and again.”

“I’d love that.”

I stand and walk over to ask the man playing the piano if I could play a song.

After he agrees, I glance over at Gwen and adjust the piano bench to sit. Her eyes are as round as saucers, watching my every move.

Before I know which song I’m going to play, my fingers make up their own mind and begin playing “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal. As I play, I start humming along.

Gwen’s eyes are locked on mine and I only have eyes for her. Continuing to play, I sing to her. She’s my rose, my everything,mo anam cara.

As the song ends, the bar erupts in applause. I smile, shake the hand of the original piano player, and make my way over to Gwen.

“That was beautiful,” she says as I sit down next to her.

At the start of the next song, Gwen leans in close to me, and Iwrap my hand over her shoulder.

“Thank you for how kind you’ve been to me this week,” she says. “I know I’ve mostly been a jerk and get frustrated so easily.”

“You don’t have to thank me, and you haven’t been a jerk,” I reply.

“Yeah right.”

Shaking my head, I say, “No really, it’s a stressful week. Anyone would be flustered under the same circumstances. I just hope you’ve had a bit ofcraicthis week, because I know I have. I’m not looking forward to the cruise being over.”

“I’ve had fun. Honestly, I think this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

I grasp her hand in mine. She stills slightly, but after a moment, she gives my hand a slight squeeze. That squeeze has my heart doing the same. I don’t know what it is with this beautiful lass, but she means so much to me.

So much that you’re willing to uproot your life?

I think about what all I’d be giving up if I decided to leave Boston so we didn’t have to date long distance. And if this is going where I hope it’s going, I wouldn’t want to be far apart from her for long. I’d have to leave the firehouse I’ve come to know as family. It would be difficult, but they’d understand. After all, they’d been rooting for me to find someone on this cruise, and I did. With my occupation, I’d be able to find a job in Tennessee fairly easily. The only other thing I’d be leaving behind is my childhood home. It’s the only thing I have left of my mam. Leaving that home would be one of the hardest things I’d have to do.

I glance over at Gwen then give her a kiss on the head. She looks up at me and smiles, her features softening as her eyes sparkle.

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