Page 151 of Come to Me

Laurie looks at me like I'm her kid sister. "I'm so fucking worried about you."

"Whatever happens, I'll be okay."

She nods, wraps me in a hug. I repeat the mantra in my head. Whatever happens, I'll be okay.

I'll be okay.

* * *

It'sten forty-five when I finally set foot on the concrete path surrounding the Marina.

Maybe Laurie was right. This is all too melodramatic and I should have just called Luke and demanded some response to my heartfelt confession.

It's still possible he won't show.

But it's unlikely.

If he wasn't going to show, he would have called me, texted me, sent me a damn messenger pigeon--something to let me down easy.

I hope so, anyway.

I make my way to the oversized tree behind our old apartment complex.

For a while, we both lived here. I lived with Ryan. Luke was renting a condo, so he wouldn't have to stay in the house he'd shared with his ex.

It was all terribly complicated.

But this spot is where I found him with that book. He was waiting for me. I'm sure of it.

He'd arranged the whole thing perfectly. He was wearing only running shorts and he was splayed over the grass so casually, like he was waiting for someone to come along and mount him.

I press my hand into the tree. It's smooth and hard, like it can withstand anything.

It's bright already, and I'm certain that everything around me is spinning. I lean against the tree, squinting my eyes to block out the sun.

Whatever happens, I'll be okay.

I'll be okay.

I'm sure I'll be okay.

There are footsteps behind me. They're steady and determined. I tell myself it's nothing. It's still too early to get excited.

"I didn't think you'd move on so quickly."

Oh, God, what if he's here to ask for the ring back, to tell me how pathetic I am, to tell me he's so glad he broke up with me?

Everything is spinning around me.

So, I open my eyes and spin around too.

He's standing there, on the grass, in a black suit. He looks damn good with his hair slicked back. His eyes are full of that life I haven't seen in so damn long.

He's wearing a suit. It's not like he'd wear a suit to give me a brush off.

It's not like he'd wear a suit to break my heart.

My mouth is dry. I try to open it to speak, but nothing comes out.