Page 63 of Holiday at Home
While he’s said nothing wrong, every alarm bell in my system is ringing. Every flashing light, every flag, they’re all red. I cross my arms—brows furrowed—and wait to be walloped by Simon Holiday once again.
“Over the course of the last several years, I’ve been developing an idea that has the possibility to take the markets by storm. My mentor has even been talking about the potential for franchising. For legacy.”
I frown. He came home to talk to me about something business related, then spent weeks winning me over with romance. There’s more than a wallop waiting for me at the end of this conversation. My heart clenches. The room tilts.
“What’s the idea?”
Simon swallows hard, arms crossed like he’s bracing for what comes next. He scrubs a hand over his mouth then says, “It’s our idea, Vi. The one we dreamed up together. I came down here to ask you to sign a contract relinquishing your rights to any claim of trademark or IP, so I could move forward without fear of a lawsuit.”
Every hope, every wish, every dream I had foruspops. Betrayal drops like a rock into my stomach.
“That’s why you’ve been so nice to me?” I’m stunned. I’m frozen. I’m…
…pissed.
“The gifts on my porch every morning? Helping me decorate the house? The dinner at the lighthouse? The talks that lasted long past my bedtime? The whole ice-skating extravaganza? Are you saying none of that had anything to do with me and everything to do withmoney? Because you thought I’dsueyou?”
I cock my head, staring at the man across from me, searching for a sign—any sign—of contrition.
And then I’m pacing. Head shaking. Hands trembling.
What a fool I’ve been!
“Violet…” Simon reaches for me and I step back.
“No, Simon. No. You broke my heart once; I can’t believe you’re so willing to do it again.”
“Damn it, Vi! Will you listen to me? That’s not what this is about.”
I cross my arms over my chest and jut my chin.
“That’s why I came, yes. But it’s not why I stayed. And it certainly isn’t why I’ve spent this month with you.”
“Then why did you spend this month with me?”
“Because I’m still in love with you.”
The words drop into the conversation. My heart wants to recognize the ring of truth, but my mind? My mind is spinning and confused and terrified of being hurt again.
“I felt it the moment I stepped into Sterling’s,” Simon continues, holding out his hands like he’s offering me all of him. “I’ve felt it every day since. I told myself that first day that the timing was wrong to talk to you about the contract. And every day after that…the timing’s wrong.But I’ve come to realize it isn’t the timing that’s wrong… the whole idea was wrong.”
Simon rakes a hand into his hair and suddenly his energy is weird again. He paces from one end of the kitchen to the other. “I don’t want to do it without you, Vi. That’s what I’ve learned this month. That all the money, fame, fortune, and glory in the world isn’t worth it if I don’t have you.”
He reaches into his back pocket and brings out a small package. “This is why I’m so nervous tonight. Because I knew I had to tell you the truth and it wasn’t going to be easy. And because I knew I was going to give you this.”
He hands the package to me. It’s so light, it almost feels empty. I cock my head, then carefully unwrap it, my heart pounding, my mind questioning, my soul already rejoicing—though I don’t know why.
Inside the box is a printout of a ticket from Florida to New York, leaving January first.
I stare at the thing, baffled. “I don’t understand…”
“The ticket’s for you, Violet. I want you to come back to New York with me.”
I’m already shaking my head, staring at the box like it might bite. “Simon… My life is here. My bakery is here. I can’t just move to New York because you came home for a month…”
And yet, I don’t know if I can live without him, either.
So now what?
