Page 59 of Persuaded

“Isn’t it? I think it’s romantic when love is about more than seizing the day, when it’s about everything in two people’s lives coming together. That’s not something you rush into on a whim.”

She put a hand on his arm, squeezed. “But sometimes, if you don’t seize the day, you might miss it.”

“Then it’s not love.” That much he knew for sure. “Love doesn’t vanish just because you missed your slot. It’s not conditional on time and place. It...it stays.” He gave a rueful smile. “Whether it’s wanted or not, sometimes.”

From over by the piano there came a soft noise. Finn had dropped something and was bending down to pick it up. Tejanaglanced at him, and then looked back at Joshua. “Then I take it back,” she said. “You can’t get much more romantic than undying love.”

“I guess.” He huffed out a laugh. “But I’m hardly an expert. Maybe Liz has it right? At least she’s happy.”

“And you’re not?”

“I’m trying. Endeavoring to be a little more like her, I guess?Carpe diemand all that.”

Tejana hugged him. “Don’t change. I like you just the way you are.Everyonedoes.”

From the other side of the room, Michael’s voice cut into the gentle moment. “You’re all welcome, of course. It’s just a small gathering—family, friends, and so on. Anytime from eight.”

Joshua cringed as Tejana let go and exchanged a curious glance with Sean.

“Michael’s invited us to a party for his father’s, uh, return,” he said.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh.” An awkward beat, then, “Well, we’ll check our schedules and let you know.”

Joshua felt a flash of emotion somewhere between mortification and hilarity. Michael’s party for their crook of a father was the last place on earth any decent person would want to be. Had his brother possessed a single decent bone in his body, he might have understood that.

“Finn?” Sean said. “We should probably get going.”

Perched on the piano stall, head bowed like he was looking at his phone, Finn looked up with a start. “Huh?”

“Are you...?” Sean’s mouth pinched into a tight line. “Did you need to talk to Joshua?”

Finn shook his head. “We’re good.” But he gave Joshua a look as he got up—such a look, it stopped his heart.

“Fine.” Sean sounded exasperated as he extended a hand to Michael. “Well, good to see you.”

Michael made some response that Joshua didn’t hear. His attention was fixed on Finn, who fiddled with the music on the piano before heading over to join Sean. He didn’t look at Joshua again, just put on his coat and made his own goodbyes.

“We’ll see you soon,” Sean called to Joshua, and Tejana blew him a kiss.

And then they were gone and Michael turned to Isabelle with a sigh. “Well, I imagine we made their day—I hope you don’t mind me inviting them?”

Joshua winced at his arrogance and drifted over to the piano to escape the conversation. He’d just sat down when Finn suddenly reappeared. “Sorry,” he said, looking flustered as he barreled into the room. “Forgot my phone.”

Joshua caught Michael’s expression—embarrassed, in case he’d been overheard—and then Finn was at the piano, retrieving his phone from on top of the sheet music. As he did so, he turned over the top page and on the back Joshua saw writing. Finn’s writing. He gave Joshua another serious look, and then strode back across the room to the door without a backward glance.

Heart kicking against his ribs, Joshua reached out an unsteady hand to the music. Perhaps Michael and Isabelle had more to say about Finn, but Joshua didn’t hear. Nothing existed in the world but the note in his hand.

Josh, you’re killing me.

You’re right. I wanted to tell you yesterday—I should have told you months ago, years ago—that you’re right. Love doesn’t burn out just because the timing’s wrong. It stays. Even when you don’t want it to, even when you try to deny it, it stays. It grows. It never leaves.

God knows I resented you, Josh. I tried to forget you, I tried to hurt you, but I never stopped loving you. I’ve never loved anyone but you.

Can you forgive me? You deserve so much more than me, but if there’s any part of you that can still love me then I’m begging you to give us a second chance.

Tell me I haven’t screwed it up forever. Tell me it’s not over, Josh. I love you—let me show you how much.

Joshua bolted to his feet. “I have to go.”

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