Page 155 of Hate You Up Close

I hope that you will be my forever, Rox.

Love, Elliot.

THIRTY-TWO

Roxy

One Month Later

I’m walking through the doors of the restaurant Evie asked me to meet her at, confused as to why she made a reservation at such a fancy place. We’re at Astor Steakhouse, one of the most lavish restaurants in Downtown Dallas. When I told her we should go somewhere else, she refused, saying that this was her treat to me.

It’s been exactly one month since Everett brought me Elliot’s letter. I’ve re-read it a million times. I want to allow him to take his time, but I also wish that I could be there for him.

Even though it’s been the worst month of my life, Evie has made each day a little better.

Since I told her about me and Elliot, she’s been by my side every chance she gets and even stayed over at my apartment a few times while I cried myself to sleep in her arms. When I’m having an extra sad day, she brings me a pint of ice cream to the office, because ice cream makes everything better.

Evie and I have been trying to spend as much time together as possible, because when Elliot comes back, Skylar has agreed to move me to a different department. I’m still working as his assistant while he’s out, but Skylar is interviewing additional candidates to take my place once he returns.

It’s not that I don’t want to work for Elliot, but it just doesn't make sense anymore. If we don’t end up working things out, it would be too painful to see him every day. And if by some miracle we do end up together, it would be against company policy for me to work for him. I’m just glad that Skylar is making it work to where I can stay at Ace Financial.

But I’m going to miss working alongside Evie every day. I truly couldn't ask for a better co-worker and friend.

I know that she’s just trying to be sweet, but I still don’t understand why she chose this restaurant. Each plate is a minimum of one hundred dollars.

I brush my hands down my onyx dress and shoot Evie a text.

Hey! I’m here.

She texts back within seconds.

Great! Let the hostess know you’re here with Evie. I’m already at the table.

I send her back a thumbs up.

A few minutes later, the hostess is walking me to the back of the restaurant. My brows knit together when she walks past all of the tables and leads me towards a door with a golden plaque that saysPrivate Dining Room. Before her hand reaches the knob, I lightly place a hand on her shoulder.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, spinning around to face me.

“Uh…There must be some mistake,” I chuckle. “We had a reservation for two. There’s no way that we booked a private room. This must be for somebody else. I wouldn't want to interrupt them in the middle of their dinner.”

Her brows pinch together.

“You’re here with Evie, correct?”

“Yes,” I nod.

“Then we definitely have the correct room,” she smiles. “Right this way.” She turns back around and begins to open the door.

When we walk into the small, intimate room, the first thing I notice is twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling. Soft music plays from a speaker in the corner and decorative candles and roses are scattered around the table.

I’m starting to worry that maybe Evie has the wrong idea about us…I mean, I love her like a sister. But this feels…romantic. More than just a dinner between two best friends.

When the hostess closes the door and shuts me in, I lift my eyes from the table to look for Evie.

My heart stops and suddenly, I forget how to breathe.

Elliot is standing on the other side of the table in a dark suit, looking healthier than I’ve ever seen him. He looks strong, like he’s put on ten pounds of muscle. His golden hair is styled back to perfection, and light stubble dusts along his cheeks. His eyes twinkle in the candlelight, looking more alive than ever before. His pillowy lips are turned up in an elated grin, looking happier than I could ever imagine.