Page 41 of Fall Surprises
Now or never.
I leaned forward, my lips nearly touching his ear, feeling his breath catch. "Diana offered me a job."
His whole body stiffened but he didn't let go. I pulled back to see his face, watched him process the information, saw the exact moment he understood what it meant. His jaw tightened, then deliberately relaxed.
"That's..." His voice came out rough before he cleared his throat. "That's amazing, Sam. You deserve that kind of recognition."
But his eyes told a different story. They were already saying goodbye even as his arms still held me close.
"It's in LA," I added unnecessarily. "Triple the salary. Heading up her entire event team."
"Of course it is." He managed a smile that was more grimace than joy. "The big leagues. Everything you've worked for. Your chance to show the world what you can do."
"Gus—"
"I should—" He stepped back, his hands falling away from me like cut strings. "The crew needs help with cleanup. We've got the kitchen to close down, final inventory, and I should really check that Jake properly stored the—"
"Please don't go."
"I'm happy for you." The words came out forced, each one clearly costing him. "Really. This is what you wanted. What you've been building toward your whole career."
He turned and walked back toward the inn before I could form a response. I stood alone on the stone pavers, surrounded by romantic lighting and the last gasp of our magical night, feeling like I'd lost something I'd barely had time to find.
"Rough conversation?" Rory appeared beside me, still glowing with the success of the evening but her eyes concerned.
"The party was truly special," I answered numbly.
"That's not what I meant." She studied me with those perceptive innkeeper eyes that missed nothing. "Diana made you an offer."
It wasn't a question. "How did you—"
"Small town. Word travels faster than you'd think." She smiled softly. "Also, she was bragging to anyone who'd listen about stealing you away to Hollywood."
"It's an extraordinary opportunity. Career-defining."
"It is." Rory was quiet for a moment, watching Gus's retreating figure through the French doors. Then her face shifted entirely, joy replacing concern. "Speaking of life-changing—Cass proposed!"
She held out her left hand where a simple but elegant ring caught the light—vintage-looking with a center sapphire surrounded by small diamonds.
"Oh, Rory! It's beautiful! When did he—"
"We snuck off to the gazebo for a few minutes during the party—he said he had something important to ask me and couldn’t wait another minute." Her eyes were bright with tears. "Which brings me to my question—do you have room in your calendar next year for a real Wintervale wedding?"
My heart clenched. Next year. When I'd be in LA, planning glitzy entertainment industry events, living in some soulless condominium complex with a gym I'd never use and neighbors I'd never meet.
"One that will definitely go off as planned," Cass added, appearing behind Rory and wrapping his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Even if I have to tie this one down with my bare hands to keep her from overthinking every detail."
"That won't be necessary," Rory laughed, leaning back against him. "But it does sound fun."
They were so easy together, so clearly meant to be. The kind of love that made everything else fade into background noise. The kind I'd been planning for other people while keeping myself safely isolated from the risk of it.
"Sam?" Rory prompted gently. "Will you do it? Plan our wedding? I know you'll probably be busy with your new Hollywood life, but maybe—"
I opened my mouth to explain about LA, about the opportunity, about how I couldn't commit to something so far in the future when I'd be building a new life on the west coast. But then I glanced toward the kitchen and saw Gus through the doorway.
He was wiping down counters with sharp movements, shoulders rigid with tension. As if he could feel my gaze, he looked up. Our eyes locked across the space—past the dancing couples, through the romantic lighting, beyond every logical reason we couldn't work.
In his expression, I saw everything he hadn't said. The invitation to stay. The promise of what we could create together. The fear that I was already gone, just another person he couldn’t trust passing through his life.
