Page 94 of Mr. Green

I know this has got to be some sort of front. She’s wearing the outfit I got for her in Texas. She started crying when she finished. I guess the tears could be for her accomplishing something she’s been working on for months.

Fuck.

Scarlett comes over to me. “We’re going to the café downtown to celebrate. Her whole family will be there.”

I nod. I know I can’t give up on Lana. I need to go there. I need to fix this.

“See you there.” I walk off.

~

Andrew parks in front of the café. I’ve put on a clean shirt and rolled up the sleeves. I look in the rear-view mirror to redo my hair, and then I get out of the car.

“Go get her,” Andrew tells me while slapping my shoulder.

I take a breath and stick out my chest to fake confidence. I need to explain things. I know she doesn’t want to let us go.

Once I reach the door, Lana is smiling, talking with her sister and her best friends. I take a deep breath and let it out as I open the door.

Josh sees me first. “Oh, hell no. Get out.”

“Josh, I need to talk to her. I need to explain.”

“Like how you explained you’d leave right when she started trusting you? Get the fuck out of here.” He points to the door.

“I need to talk to her.”

Lana taps Josh on the shoulder. “Josh, it’s fine.” She looks over to me. “Come on, let’s go outside. We don’t need to make a huge scene at my favorite place.”

Josh gives me eyes like he’s trying to stab me. Iunderstand that. I’d be doing the same thing, except I know we’re supposed to be together.

We get outside and she crosses her arms in front of her chest. “So, explain.”

“I’m so sorry, Lana. I was being an insecure asshole.”

She nods her head and lets out a small chuckle. “Understatement of the century. I had to talk to him, Grant.”

“I know, I know. I’m so sorry, Lana. I can’t believe it was the first time I couldn’t see youneededto get closure. I was such an idiot. I was so scared of losing you, I got jealous and had a moment of pigheadedness. I thought you were going to pick him over me. I thought you did pick him over me. Scarlett told me you weren’t seeing him. This whole time I thought you went back to the jackass that broke you. I didn’t know how to handle you picking him.”

“How could I pick him, Grant?Youshowed me I wasn’t being treated how I wanted.Youshowed me I deserve the world.Youshowed me I could be loved, even in sweats.”

A tear slips down my cheek. I clear my throat, trying to hide my emotions. “I’m glad you know you’re worth the world, Lana. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to show you.”

“Grant?”

She can tell I’m crying. I don’t want to lose her, but I need her to make the decision. I think she needs space to see if she wants to be with me.

“I’ll give you anything you need, Lana. If you want me to stay away, I’ll stay away. I love you. I want what’s best for you. I always have.”

“You want me to stop talking to you?”

“What? No, of course that’s not what I want.” I pull at the nape of my neck. “If that’s what youneeded, I’d give it to you, though. I’ll go back to Texas right now. I just needed to give you this. If you ever feel the need tosee me again, please call me.”

I hand her a card. Hopefully she’ll read it instead of throwing it away. If I don’t hear from her soon, I’ll have to find another way to win her trust back. I’m not going to give up when I know she would’ve stayed with me if I hadn’t been an ass hat.

Another tear slides down my cheek. I kiss her on top of her head. “I hope to hear from you. I love you, Lana.”

I walk away, letting her make the biggest decision of my life.