Page 53 of Grumpy Glitter Christmas
He ran a hand through his hair, then showed her his phone. Victoria's message was still on the screen.
Meena read it, her expression carefully neutral. "Ah. The Boston offer."
"She won't take no for an answer," Grant said. "I've tried to tell her I'm not interested, but she keeps... persisting. Calling. Texting. Showing up."
"Have you told herwhyyou're not interested?" Meena asked pointedly.
Grant hesitated. "I've told her this bank is important to me. That my father's legacy?—"
"Not what I asked." Meena's voice was gentle but firm. "Have you told her about Felicity?"
The name hung in the air between them. Just hearing it made his chest ache.
"No," he admitted.
"Why not?"
"Because..." He struggled for the words. "Because I don't even know what Felicity and Iare. Because I hurt her and Idon't know if she'll ever forgive me. Because saying it out loud to Victoria makes it real, and if Felicity rejects me, then I've just..."
"Shown your hand for nothing?" Meena finished. "Risked your dignity? Admitted you have feelings?"
"All of the above."
Meena was quiet for a moment, studying him with those shrewd dark eyes. "You know what your problem is, Grant?"
"I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"You're trying to manage this like it's a business transaction. You're trying to hedge your bets, minimize risk, keep all your options open until you have guaranteed success." She shook her head. "But love doesn't work like that. You can't diversify your portfolio here. You can't keep Victoria as a backup plan while you figure out if Felicity will have you."
"I'm not—" he started to protest, but she cut him off.
"You kind of are, though. By not telling Victoria clearly and definitively that you're in love with someone else, you're leaving the door open. And Felicity can feel that. Women always can."
In love. Meena had said it so casually, like it was obvious. Like it was a fact.
Was he in love with Felicity?
He thought about her laugh, wild and unrestrained. The way she turned disasters into adventures. The fierce determination in her eyes when she set her mind on something. The softness of her hand in his when they'd fixed the tree together. The way his whole world felt brighter, louder, morealivewhen she was in it.
"Oh crap,” he said quietly. "I'm in love with her."
"Finally!" Meena threw her hands up. "I've been watching you two circle each other like emotionally constipated planets for weeks. Yes, Grant. You're in love with her. Congratulations on joining the rest of us in the land of human emotion."
"She saw the text," he said, the realization hitting him. "When my phone went off. Felicity saw Victoria's name on thescreen. That's why she shut down. That's why she looked at me like..."
"Like you were about to break her heart?" Meena finished. "Probably. And can you blame her? From her perspective, you humiliated her publicly, made her doubt everything about herself, and now you're getting texts from your gorgeous, sophisticated ex about offers in Boston. What's she supposed to think?"
Grant felt sick. "I need to talk to her. I need to explain?—"
"No." Meena's voice was firm. "What you need to do is take care of Victoria first. Right now, Felicity thinks you're stringing her along while you decide between her and your ex. You need to eliminate any doubt. Call Victoria. Tell her clearly and explicitly that you're not taking the job, you're not interested in her, and you're in love with someone else."
"And then?"
"And then you grovel to Felicity. Publicly, dramatically, with the entire town watching." Meena grinned. "Lucky for you, we have the perfect venue in about four hours."
Grant's stomach flipped. "The gala."
"The gala," Meena confirmed. "You want to show Felicity you choose her? Show her in front of everyone. No hedging, no private conversations where you can backpedal later. Make it loud. Make it public. Make it impossible for her to doubt."
