Page 60 of Four Simple Rules
It’s these moments I’m not willing to give up.
“It was nice to be here, too. Thanks for having me.” I run my fingers through my long blonde strands, tamping down the chaos brewing. Heat swells behind my eyes, misting my eyes with unshed tears. “I missed this. Us. I... Umph,” my voice muffles in his chest when he tightly wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.
“I was a bad father. I went through a lot of grief in a crappy way, and I pushed you away.” Pulling away, he cups my cheeks with tears cascading down his face. “You reminded me of the ones I lost, but I lost you, too. If you give me a chance, I’d love to get to know you again. On your terms. Whatever you want. Even if you go to Boston.”
I lick my lips, sniffling when I nod. “Of course,” I rasp. “Thank you, Dad. I’d love to.”
“Good.” A heavy sigh of relief pours through him. “So, are you excited for Boston?” he asks, stepping back to wipe his tears. “I bet you can’t wait to go. What an amazing opportunity for you.” His lips lift in a soft smile. “I’m so proud of you. I’ll come to visit whenever I can.”
Warmth fills every molecule in my body at his words.
“Yeah,” I whisper, “I’m excited.” But not for Boston. For my new future. A tear leaks down my cheek. “I’m not going to Boston, Dad. I’m…staying close.”
Light fills his expression. “You mean it? Where?” he trails off, staring out the door where Jesse stands by my car with a sour face.
He’s trying not to show how upset he is that I’m leaving and moving away. But I know he is. We’ve built something special with each other in just a few short weeks.
Dear Dr. Angela Ruckus,
I regret to inform you that I will not be accepting your kind invitation. After much thought and deliberation, I’ve decided to stay on the West Coast. Family dynamics have changed, and although your offer was extremely generous, I’m respectfully declining. Thank you for the opportunity.
Sincerely,
Blake Reynolds.
“Got a plan?” My father asks, trying to hide the joyful smile begging to release across his lips.
He’s more excited about me staying than he wants to lead on.
“A flower shop. I have to come up with the loan and…”
“I'll help," my father immediately interjects. "I can co-sign or give you a down payment. We can make this work."
"Dad, no. I can't let you…"
"You can and you will. I've missed ten good years with you. This is our refresh, and I want to be there for you. This is the best I can do. Please let me help you."
I swallow hard. "Thank you," I breathe. "That means so much to me." I launch forward, wrapping him tightly, silently sobbing into his chest.
Closure. Renewal. This entire trip closed so many books. Yet, it opened new ones with crisp pages and new covers. This was everything I didn't know I needed. Heck, maybe drunk Blake knew what she was doing, after all.
"So, where are you going now?" Dad asks when I pull away and wipe my eyes.
"I need to clean out my apartment, pack, and find somewhere closer to live. You know, all the fun adult stuff." I shrug, earning a chuckle.
"Come back if you need to. You can have your old bedroom until you can find a place near your new flower shop."
I kiss his cheek, a grateful feeling fueling me.
"Thanks, Dad." But I might have somewhere closer to stay if I wanted. First, I need to talk to him about it.
My eyes hone in on Jesse, moping beside my car. Patiently, he's waiting to tell me goodbye for what he thinks is a few months. Before my decision, I promised I’d venture back on holidays and video chat every day.
Memories pour through me, and the ghost of his fingers working over my body in the art room sparks fireworks.
The night after the reunion, when my fingers explored every inch of Jesse's body, something clicked for me. My happiness. My future. It was all in front of my eyes.
The thought of Boston sent panic swarming through my veins. I thought it was normal anxiety about moving away from everything I had come to know. It wasn't until I met with Olivia, did I understand what I truly wanted. It may seem fast or stupid, but my heart desires him.
