Page 92 of A Favor Owed

Um, hell yeah.“Yeah, if you want. I mean, if it’s okay.”

“It’s okay.”

The garage apartment is marginally nicer than it had been before the fire. It still isn’t great, though. But I don’t care. All that matters is that I’m with her.

I follow her into her room and sit on her bed while she puts her books and laptop away. I don’t know what she’s thinking, if she wants to talk, if she needs some time to wrap her head around everything, if she’s tired and just wants to sleep. I would sit on the sofa under a blanket with her and watchDirty Dancingon repeat all night if that’s what she wanted.

She flops down on the bed, closes her eyes, and stretches out her long limbs. She’s wearing a pale gray sweater with pearl buttons down the front. I can just barely see the outline of a pink bra. Her black pencil skirt skims her knees but hugs every curve. A 1950s secretary with a hint of badass.

“Don’t you have to work tonight?” I ask, stretching out next to her.

“I got someone to take my shift.” She opens her eyes to glance at me and taps her mouth with her fingers absentmindedly.

I’ve been staring at her mouth all day. I haven’t kissed that mouth in two months.

“Your hair’s down. It looks really pretty.”

“Thanks,” she says. She sits up and starts unraveling the braid that she’d somehow woven like a ribbon through her otherwise loose hair.

“I’ll do that if you want.”

“Sure,” she says softly.

I sit up behind her and slowly pull apart the long, soft, coconut-scented strands of her hair. “I missed this, too,” I say. When all her hair is free she turns around, her face wet with tears.

My heart crushes in on itself like a can. “You look like maybe you’re not ready to forgive me yet,” I say. “It’s okay, you know? I did a seriously messed-up thing. I can wait.”

“But you know I’ll forgive you.”

No.I shake my head, realizing how presumptuous I must have sounded. I’m watching her, mesmerized by everything Angela, drunk on every delicate plane of her face and curve of her body. I feel my time with her slipping away again, and I use what’s left to take her in. For once, there’s nothing for me to say.

“I’m done,” she whispers, and I feel my heart crack. She pulls my face to hers and rests her forehead against mine. She smells like licorice and Angela and every hope I’ve ever had.

No, no, no. You can’t be done with me. You are my entire world, Angela Pines. I have so much to give you. Strong arms and stupid jokes and good times. My crazy family and the one we’ll make together. A lifetime of love and loyalty.

“I’m done being angry,” she whispers. “I’m done living without you. I forgave you before you even finished bandaging my hand. I meant every single thing I said in that stupid message and more. Don’t leave again, Brady. Stay with me.”

Yes… Yes!… YES! Thank you, God.I wrap my arms around her and tackle her onto the bed. She lets out a muffled squeal, and I roll her on top of me. “I didn’t leave you, Angela. I just kept my promise. I won’t be making a promise like that again, I promise you that.” She laughs at my babbling.

“I’ve missed that chatty mouth,” she says, and presses her lips to mine.

The first time I touched her, she felt like heaven wrapped up in betrayal and deceit. Tonight she feels like forever.

Epilogue

Angela

Eight months later

Brady is unusually quiet in the taxi, enough to make me nervous. We’re on a quick trip to New York to celebrate my birthday. He wanted to stay in Dos Torres for the occasion, but I know he misses his family.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Huh?” He startles and looks at me with wide eyes. “Yeah! Everything’s great. You ready to party?” He seems to have recovered, but now I’m the one with wide eyes.

“What do you mean ‘party’? I thought you said we were having drinks with your family at O’Mara’s.” I’m starting to feel alarmed, especially by the innocent look on Brady’s face that I know is anything but.

“Well, yeah, Pines,” he says. “That is what I said. I have a big family, remember? McDanielses, O’Maras, Quinns…”

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