Page 83 of Saltwater Promises
He sat back, surprised by her firm tone. “Sorry, sure. . Whatever you need to say.”
“Okay.” She let out a sigh. “I really don’t know how to do this.”
Here it was. She was going to yell at him. And he deserved it. “Look, I know – ”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
He fell silent.
She laughed a little, rubbing her head before starting again. “Mike, I’ve always valued our friendship.”
He nodded. “As have I.”
“But…well, it’s not that. Seeing you again – I know that was a surprise.”
“It was. I swear that I didn’t find you on purpose.”
She smiled. “I know. But I’m glad that we met again. Really glad.”
Mike frowned. “Even though I almost killed you?”
She shook her head. “You didn’t almost kill me – no, I’m not even talking about that right now. I’m talking about us, Mike. There’s something I should’ve told you years ago, but I was never brave enough before. After almost dying in that cabin, I realized how silly it was to keep it to myself.”
He sat motionless, heart rate picking up. What could she possibly have to say?
“At the risk of sounding like acompletefool, because I know that you’re a very worldly man and you probably have lots of plans and lots of women that you’ve rescued – ”
He shook his head. “It was just the two rescues, and now you know about both of them.”
“That’s good,” she said with a smile. “Mike, at times, it was hard working alongside you at the FBI.”
He closed his eyes. “I know, I’m a real pain. I don’t think I fully understood that until now, but I get it. I’m so sorry.”
“No, Mike.” She took a hurried sip of her drink. “I don’t mean like that. It was hard to work alongside you because…I was in love with you.”
He sat back. “What?”
“Yes.” She smiled, cheeks flushing pink.
Of all the things he thought she might do – yell at him, cast him from her life – that was certainly nowhere on the list.
They sat in silence for a moment before she spoke again. “I’ve always regretted not telling you that.”
“I had no idea.”
She looked down, staring into her drink. “Yeah, I figured. I know you lead an exciting life.”
“No, it’s nothing like – that’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t call it exciting. Just…busy.”
“Yes, busy. Full. My life was busy, too.” She looked up at the sky for a moment. “Our lives have been very different, but somehow we found each other again. I wanted you to know – I needed you to know.”
She looked so serene sitting there, a slight smile on her face.
Mike felt the opposite of peaceful. His head was swimming. He hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep to be able to process this information. How could he have missed the signs all those years ago?
“I’m just an old fool.”
She laughed. “No, you’re not.”
