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She turns, smiling up at me. “I love it.”
And just like that, everything feels right. Emma takes a sip of coffee, still toying with the pendant. “I’ve been thinking about something.” I watch her over my own mug. “Yeah?”
She exhales, setting her cup down. “The name for the clinic. I was thinking… Gracie’s Animal Haven.” My brows lift. “After grandma?”
She nods. “It feels right. She was the reason I came back. The reason we… well, everything.” She hesitates, then shrugs, “It just makes sense.”
For a moment, I just look at her. Because darned if that doesn’t feel just right. “I love it.” Her shoulders relax, as if she was waiting for my approval. “Yeah?”
I nod, dead serious. “She’d be proud of you, Em.”
Something flickers behind her eyes, something unspoken, and then she steps forward. Just one step, small, hesitant but I feel it. She reaches out, fingers brushing my wrist.
“Thank you. For everything.”
I almost say something. Almost. But before I can, she pulls away, taking another sip of coffee.
“I’ve got clinic arrangements today. Paperwork, supplies, all of that. Stella’s meeting me later.”
I nod, shifting, needing to focus on something other than how badly I want to kiss her again. “Sounds good. Let me know if you need anything.” Emma smiles, squeezing my arm just for a second before heading toward the door. “See you later, Bry.”
She leaves, the scent of lavender and coffee lingering in the air. I stand in the kitchen for a long moment, staring at the empty space she left behind.
I’m deep. Too deep. And then, reality crashes in.
I sigh, dragging a hand through my hair as I head to my office, flipping open my laptop. Emails flood the screen. A reminder from Coleman Financial, numbers blaring in bold.
And then, my stomach sinks. Three months. Almost up. And Emma…
I stare at the screen, at the deadlines, at the reality of what’s coming, and my grip tightens around my coffee mug. I don’t want her gone.
The thought hits me so hard it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs. I can’t lose this. Lose her. Not again. But how do I tell her that?
I close my laptop, rubbing a hand over my jaw, staring at the necklace box still sitting on the desk. Time’s running out.
And for the first time in years, I don’t have a darn clue what to do next.
***
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the backyard, the breeze rolling in thick with the scent of the ocean. Buddy sits beside me, head resting on his paws, while Liam lounges back in a chair, beer in hand, a knowing smirk plastered on his face. He came to talk to me about an account he wants me to work on.
Emma’s in town with Stella, which means the house is eerily quiet. Too quiet. It's been hours since she left, and it feels like more. I miss her already.
I take another sip of my beer, staring out at the waves. “So,” he starts, dragging out the word. “Have you sorted things out?”
I don’t look at him. “What things?”
He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Come on, man. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “If this is about Emma…”
“It is about Emma,” Liam interrupts, setting his beer down. “And the fact that in exactly two days, your little ‘three months’ deal is up.”
I stiffen but keep my face impassive. He is right. I dread this ending because I don't know what it means for us.
Liam smirks, clearly enjoying this too much. “What’s the plan? Gonna keep pretending you’re not completely gone for her?”
I scoff, rolling the bottle between my fingers. “You’re ridiculous.”