Page 154 of The Best Men
“This is a good surprise, and I don’t just mean the gold in the eclair,” I say, since I think he’ll like my idea. At least, I hope so. But he flew across an ocean to tell me he loved me, and that’s all I need to know to skydive once again.
* * *
We’re at the bakery, sitting inside at a tiny table, sharing a plate of two of the most amazing eclairs, and it’s almost time to tell him my plan.
“So, eating gold is kind of weird,” he says. “Because I suppose you poop gold afterward.”
“The French are so decadent,” I say, then take a sip of strong espresso and gather my courage. My plan crystallized during the hungover cab ride to the airport. Then, when I saw him, I knew for certain that I was about to do something big. I’m the only one of the two of us who can take this step.
He can’t make this leap for us, but I can.
“Babe,” I begin, “I want to talk about the next six months. I want to move back to New York. Right away.”
Mark freezes with the eclair in hand, a serious expression on his face. “Seriously? But what about your job here?”
I shrug. “It’s just a job. It was a passion project. But lately, all the passion in my life is reserved foryou.” I reach across the table and squeeze his arm. “Unless I’m terrifying you right now and you don’t want a mess of a boyfriend parachuting back into your life.”
“Hey.” Mark grabs my hand and holds it. “Don’t say that. You’re not a mess. Except for that hair.” He winks. “But I like it floofy, and I like it swoopy. And if I ever meet this asshole Garrett, I’m going to tell him he’s nuts.”
Warmth blooms in the center of my chest. Does it make me an asshole that I totally want to see him do it?
“No—wait.” Mark sets down his eclair. “I actually don’t want him to know he passed on the best guy in New York.” He raises his cool blue eyes to mine. “You are always there when I need you, Asher. I’m dead serious. You’re the best guy I know. I love you, and Rosie and I will be lucky to have you close by. This is a very good surprise.”
Everything inside me finally relaxes. This decision feels so right, it isn’t even funny. I let out a whoop of joyful laughter. “Then I can’t wait to get started on the logistics. It’s a shame I sublet my apartment. I’ll have to find a short-term rental. Or?wait. I could find a different place altogether. Maybe I don’t want to live in Brooklyn if you guys are in Manhattan. I should start researching neighborhoods.”
Mark frowns. “Look, don’t let real estate rule your life either way. Figure out when you’re ready to come home. And then get on a plane. You can stay with me and Rosie while you decide where you want to live.”
“Really?” I breathe.
“Really.” He covers his hand with mine. “I’ll move some polo shirts to make space for you. We’re doing this, Asher St. James. I’m not scared. I don’t do things half-assed.”
My inner superhot wingman wants to make a joke about asses right now, but I rein it in. “That’s an incredible offer, Banks. Will Rosie be okay with it?”
He threads his fingers through mine. “I think so. I spent the last year worrying about Rosie all the time, and never worrying about myself. But you helped me get past that . . .”
My heart thumps with happiness. I don’t think I realized until this very minute that I was as good for Mark as he is for me.
“. . . And the truth is simple: Rosie is a happy kid who’ll be lucky to have you in her life. I would do anything for her. But setting aside my own needs doesn’t seem like the right call anymore.”
I might actually burst now. “Continuing to make you happy in New York would be an honor, Mark. I don’t even know what else to say.” He’s the only person who’s ever made me speechless.
“Good. Then I’ll say something else. You’re mine, wingman. So let’s go home and make this work. I love you, and I’m ready when you are.”
That’s when I run out of words completely. I lean over and kiss him on the lips instead.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
YOU TWO LOOK FAMILIAR
MARK
I’m sitting on the sofa, eavesdropping, while Rosie manipulates my live-in boyfriend.
“That was a short chapter,” she says. “We could read another one real quick.”
My hands go still on the corkscrew, waiting to hear whether he gives in or does the hard thing and gets his gorgeous ass out here so we can watch TV together. It’s not like I’ve been waiting a whole damn year for the conclusion ofAn Arranged Marriage. Tonight we’re finally getting the finale to season two.
