Page 150 of Late Nights & Love Lines
Leaning back in the chair next to her, I laugh. “Isn’t it always?”
Lottie smiles into the firelight.
“I can’t take the job, Lottie. I wanted it. I’d love the work, but I’ve found my home, and I found love here.”
She slowly lolls her head side to side. “In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you at peace. Even when you were happy, there was a riot behind your eyes I couldn’t reach. All that angst is gone now.”
For many years, Lottie was the only friend I had, but I kept her at such a distance we never got as close as we probably would have otherwise.
“What do you see now?” I ask, no longer fearing answers.
“Love,” she says simply.
“I feel loved,” I admit.
She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “I’m happy for you, Row. Really, I am.” There’s a sadness in her tone that she’s usually better at masking.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I think the hotline is in trouble.”
“What?” I jump to my feet, ready to fight by her side. “What do you need me to do?”
“Shh.” She tugs me back into my chair. “I don’t need you to do anything. It’s my own fault. My software and the science behind the questionnaire are so good, competitors are trying to copy, and in some cases, steal it. Lots of people.” She hisses the word while glaring over my shoulder. When I tilt my head, I find Thane glaring back. “They think I should adopt a new business model and branch off to create a dating service with it in addition to the hotline. Something about trademarks and other stupid shit.”
“You’re always searching for a challenge.” I bump her shoulder with mine. “And while I don’t want to move to Europe right now, I would like to stay on and help you however I can.”
She bolts upright, and her eyes flash faster than lightning. “That’s it,” she says, popping up, wrapping me in a hug, and then sprinting away from me.
“What’s it?” I call after her.
She waves her hand without looking back while Thane stomps off behind her. “I’ll be in touch,” she calls over her shoulder. “And I accept your help. We have plans to make, Row. Big plans.”
With a frustrated sigh, I stare up at the stars. I smell Pappy and his old cigar scent before he even sits down. A sense of calm washes over me, and it relaxes my entire body. I love this old man.
“You did good today, kid,” he says, patting my knee.
I roll my head in his direction to find his eyes welling with tears.
“I was worried about you for a lot of years, Rowan.” His voice cracks, but he holds my gaze.
“I’m sorry, Pappy. I never wanted to worry you.”
“Pfft. There’s nothing to be sorry about, kiddo. That’s part of loving someone—the fear, the happiness, you couldn’t have one without fully understanding the other. Now that you know both, make sure you hold on to all the love you deserve with both hands—especially when your mind tells you to run.”
My shoulders sag. “I’m done running, Pappy.”
He lifts a brow in my direction.
“I am. I never realized how exhausting it was running from my past. Now that I’ve had this, here, with Sebastian and you and the kids, I’m terrified of losing it.”
“You can’t lose us, kiddo. That’s not how families work.”
“Once you’re in, you’re in?” I joke.
“You know it.” He rests his head back and clasps his folded hands over his belly.
We sit in silence until a shooting star lights up the sky.
