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“I know. You were so happy you didn’t even notice the look on your parents face when we walked outside. They were ready to congratulate us. Your dad took one look at me and knew something was wrong. It was the most awkward dinner I’ve ever sat through, and you didn’t notice any of it. That just made my assumption feel so much more real.”

She walks over to me and takes my hand. “I’m sorry. You must have thought me the most insensitive person ever.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for. This was all my fault for jumping to conclusions. You were moving on with your dreams—a dream that I didn’t think had a place for me in it.”

She leans forward and lightly kisses me. “You were my dream, Matt. You were all I ever wanted. Sure, I love my business, but that’s just a job. I wanted you more.”

“Then why did you stop calling me?”

She shakes her head. “You’re the one who stopped calling me.”

“Only after you were always too busy to talk to me. We were always playing phone tag. You never answered, and then you neverreturned my call. When you didn’t come to my graduation, I finally accepted that I was right, and you were done with me.”

She squeezes her eyes closed and wrinkles her nose. “I had an investor meeting in New York the same day as your graduation. I knew if I missed it, I wouldn’t get another chance with them. God, I am so stupid and so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. You did nothing wrong. I’m responsible for the damage from those years. I started dating Emily right after your graduation, and well, we know how that turned out.”

“Yeah, well, as much as that whole thing kills me, Emmie is pretty great. It’d be a shame if she weren’t here.”

I smile and squeeze her hand. “Thank you for that.”

She nods quickly and clears her throat. “You’re wrong about one thing, though. I do owe you an apology.”

“What could you possibly have to be sorry for? This is all on me.”

“No, it’s not. I purposefully never told you about my friends or business plans. I’d known David and Blaire for years and never once mentioned them to you. I never told you about my success because I was afraid it'd create a deeper wedge between us. I was afraid if you saw my life in Seattle, you’d use it against me as a reason why you didn’t belong in my world. It was dumb, but there you have it.”

I can’t help but chuckle at her logic because she’s right. I would've pulled away more to give her the space to grow.

She looks up at me with a nervous smile. “I guess we suck at communication, huh?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” I tug her closer and drop my forehead to hers. “Where does this leave us, now?”

“God, I wish I knew. I wish it were easier for me to let it all go. But maybe … maybe we can …”

She shakes her head and runs her hands up my chest. Her hands are cool against my hot skin, and her touch sends a shiver through my body. She feels so damn good that I can hardly stand to keep my hands to myself.

“What is it Jess? Just say it, please.”

She leans back and looks up at me, hope in her eyes. “Maybe we can start over. Date again and see where things go. I’ve decid—”

I don’t give her a chance to finish. I wrap my hand around herneck and kiss her. Hard, deep, completely. I don’t wait for her to decide to let me in, I plunge my tongue into her mouth and claim her like I’ve been wanting to since the day she came back into my life.

I’m sure whatever else she had to say is important, but I heard all I needed to hear. She’s willing to give us a chance, and I’ll take it.

I slow the kiss down and cup the sides of her neck with my hands. I want her so badly, but this isn’t the time or place. If I keep kissing her like that, I’m going to be so hard and turned on, I’ll come in my jeans.

“So, that’s a yes.” She smiles against my lips.

Pulling back, I grin. “Baby, that’s ahell yes.”

Her smile grows and she gives me another light kiss. “Any chance you can come out tonight?”

“I always meet my siblings and a few friends at The Wine Room on Thursday, but if you want to do something else, I can change my plans.”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s perfect. That’s where I was planning on asking you to meet me. I’m making an announcement tonight, and I’d like for you to be there.”

I search her eyes and all I see is happiness. Her lips tick up into a playful grin and I know. “Fuck, you’re moving back. Is that what you were going to say before I cut you off?”