Page 94 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
He nodded. “I’m proud of you, son. That couldn’t have been an easy thing to do.”
“It wasn’t, but I don’t think she’s mad at me. Not anymore. I think she’s just happy to have some real, concrete answers. You know?”
“I can’t blame her.”
“Me neither.”
“How did you leave things off between the two of you?” he asked.
I sighed and thought of Lina before she left last night. I didn’t like that she was leaving and going all the way back to New York. It guaranteed that I wouldn’t run into her in a grocery store or cafe. “After she told me she cared about me, she said she had to go back to New York. She has a meeting with her agent today to see if they can keep her working. And he might be able to help her refresh her memory when it comes to work stuff.”
“Makes sense,” my father said. There was something mischievous in the glint of his eye as he looked down.
“What?”
He looked up at me. “Hmm?”
“That look you’re trying to hide. What are you thinking?”
He smiled. “Nothing. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that she told you she was leaving. Maybe she wants you to go after her.”
“No, Dad, I don’t think—”
“She could have just said she was heading back to New York soon. She could have left it and not said anything at all. But she let you know exactly where she would be and when. I think you have to go get her, son.”
“Dad, come on. That’s crazy!”
He shrugged. “Maybe. But the two of you have always been a little off. It’s part of your charm.”
I laughed. “I think it’s time I finally let her go.”
“The fact that you’re saying that means it’s time you go get her and fight for her.”
“Dad—”
“Go, Cal.”
“But Asher—”
He cut me off with a shake of his head. “No excuses. I’m here. I’ve got Asher. Get your ass to the airport, and stop the girl you love from getting on that airplane. If you were ever going to take a leap of faith, son, now is the time. Trust me. You’ve done right by her. You came clean. There are no more secrets between you. If she chooses you, you can trust her decision. She knows what you want. And so do you. Now move your ass.”
My cheeks stretched in a grin. “Thanks.”
I ran out of the kitchen. I didn’t even bother with a jacket when I got to the front door. I stepped into my boots, scooped my keys out of the bowl on the table by the door, and raced to my car.
I didn’t wait for the frost to leave the windshield before reversing out of the driveway. I sped off down the street, thankful it hadn’t snowed, and set a course for the airport.
Hopefully, I hadn’t missed her. Hopefully, she hadn’t gotten on the plane yet. Hopefully, I could get to her in time and tell her I wanted to fight for her. Show her that I was willing to put it all on the line to make this work.
I ran through everything I wanted to say in my head.
“Lina, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let you leave without telling you how I feel first. I know I’m being selfish again, but when it comes to you, I can’t stop myself. I’ve never been as relentless in a pursuit of something as I have been with you. You are the missing piece in my life. You fill the dark spot in me that just feels like it’s been growing and growing for fucking years. I have Asher and my father, and I’m a lucky son of a bitch to have them. But you? You’re mine. You’ve always been mine. And I’ve always been yours. I love you.”
I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. I shouldn’t swear so much. That wasn’t very romantic. I had to be more delicate. More intentional with the words I chose.
I ran through my mini speech several more times until I had tweaked it just the way I wanted. By the time every word served its purpose, I was at the airport. I parked the car and booked it inside, where I ran up to the check-in counter. I didn’t know what airline she was on, but I took a wild guess and cut through the line.
People were not pleased with me. They yelled at me to get back in line.
