Page 97 of Mr. Green

She’s whimpering. “Okay.”

“No crying, baby. I’m here.”

“Alright.” She takes a deep breath. “See you soon.”

I hang up my phone and forget the drink, thankful I already closed my tab. I run across the street and make my way to the café. She walks out the door just as I’m approaching. She runs at me and throws her arms around my neck. I wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up onto her tiptoes.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I was such an idiot. I love you so much. I’m so sorry!” I hold her and take in the lavender from her hair. I’m squeezing too tight, but I almost lost her and I need this right now.

“I love you too,” she tells me while buried into my neck.

I swallow, my Adam’s apple moving up and down excruciatingly slow. I hug her to me tighter. “I’m so happy to hold you, baby.” I release a breath I hadn’t noticed I was holding in.

After a few minutes of holding her, I put her down. “I’ll let you go back and celebrate. I’ll call you later, okay?” I ask while holding onto her hands. I don’t want to let her go, but I know this is a big night I’m interrupting.

“Or you could come in with us.” She looks up at me with a modest smile.

“Are you sure?”

“I think you proved yourself today. I want you to be here.”

I smile so big, I think my face is going to split in two. “I’d love that.”

“I’m really glad you came. I was missing you. I wanted you there. It meant a lot that you came.”

“If you ever need me, I’d be here for you, baby girl.” I bring one of her hands to my lips and kiss it.

“I’ve been looking into cooking schools.”

“Oh yeah? You’re going to be great at it!”Calm down, calm down.“I mean, you’re already good at cooking, but with more knowledge your cooking is going to kill with how good it is.”

“I don’t know where I’m going to go yet...” Shefidgets with her hair while looking up at me.

Is this her way of telling me maybe she’d consider moving in with me? I’m not missing out on an opportunity to be with her ever again. Being an idiot once in a lifetime is enough.

“I don’t know if you know this or not, but I bet they have some culinary schools in Texas.” My hand clenches in hers as I wait for her response.

She smiles, and her dimple shows. “I was thinking the same thing.”

We smile at each other for a moment. Then we walk into the café and I don’t let go of her for the rest of the night.

Chapter 64

Lana

It’s been two weeks of avoiding invitations from my mom for Grant and I to come to dinner. Tonight is the night we are headed to my parents’ place. I told Josh he should be there too. Grant doesn’t know he’s coming, but if we’re back together, they need to talk. It’s important to me.

Grant has his hand on my inner thigh as Andrew drives us to the house I grew up in. The house Grant has been to numerous times. I think enough time has passed where we can put the three weeks of not talking behind us. My mother certainly isn’t bothered by them.

Andrew pulls up as Queenie starts huffing and puffing to get out of the front seat. She knows my parents’ house now and has become quite fond of it.

Grant steps out of the backseat as Andrew lets Queenie out. Grant holds his hand out for me and I take it. He looks polished as always in his black button-down and dark gray slacks. I told him he could wear jeans, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

I’m in a purple A-line dress and I brought a light gray sweater in case it gets chilly tonight. My hair is down in loose waves and I’m wearing my glasses. I turn to Grant. “Josh is going to be here. I think we need to clear the air with him.”

Grant nods. “I agree. I’ll talk to him.”

That was easy. I guess I was thinking it’d be sounding off alarms for him. “I’m going to talk to him first.”