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“I was a fool last night. I should’ve chosen you over Orion, over everything. I’m so sorry. I don’t even know how you could possibly ever forgive me.” She cried.

I didn’t let her say more.

I crossed the space in two strides, scooped her into my arms, and spun her around. The tears were already pouring down my face, though I’d deny it in front of Archer and Tucker until the day I died.

“You choose me?” I asked into the crook of her neck. “Are you sure?”

She laughed through her own tears, wrapping her arms tight around my neck.

“Yes, I’m sure. Brooks Bellamy, it’s always been you. I was just too stubborn—too scared to see it.”

“Maisy...” I pressed my forehead to hers. “God, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She kissed me, and I kissed her back like the world might end and if it did, fine. At least I had her in my arms again.

When we pulled apart, her eyes were wild again, full of apology and nerves.

“There’s more,” she said, and proceeded to fill me in on the entire ordeal with Julian and Dr. Stone and his allegationsabout Patterson. “I was so shocked, I didn’t even have time to think. They all made me sick to my stomach. I had to get out of there.”

“They know you did the work though?”

She nodded. “They do. I’ve had messages from Dr. Stone begging me to come back and see this through and speak tonight.”

“That’s great,” I said, but she shook her head.

“No, it’s not. I’m here with you, making a choice. You over them.”

“Hey.” I cupped her face, thumbing away the tears that had fallen. “You need to do this, though. Not for them. Not even for me. But for you. You put in all the work. You know this stuff backwards and forwards. Go up there and speak from the heart, show the world what you know. That’s all you have to do.”

“I not sure I want to.”

The door burst open and Archer stood there, still wearing yesterday’s shirt and holding my keys in his hand.

“We’ve got T-minus thirty minutes to make it there on time. If you’re going to make a stand, Maisy, let’s go,” he said. “I’m driving Brooks’ Maybach.”

“Okay, fine. If nothing else, my entire family is there expecting to see me, so I might as well go and break the news to them that I’m done with Orion,” she said, and I kissed her again. I didn’t want to stop.

As we passed Lacey, Archer asked, “You coming?”

She shook her head. “No, I have something else to do tonight. But good luck Maisy.”

Genuine smiles exchanged between them and I wondered what that was all about.

I carried her out of the office, and loaded her into the backseat, holding her tightly.

Archer didn’t comment until we were pulling into traffic. Then he whistled.

“Gotta say, brother. You’re all happy face now compared to the guy who was knocking on my door crying in his tequila last night.”

Maisy blinked. “You were crying?”

I grunted. “One manly tear.”

“Uh-huh.” She grinned, then squeezed my hand.

“Thank you for coming back to me,” I said, voice raw.