Page 143 of Van Cort

“Come in.” I brush the gold pendant at my neck as he passes, something that I’ve done more of since being away. Despite the anger I felt when ripping it off and believing I never wanted to see it again, I’m glad - no, relieved - he sent it back to me in one of the letters.

This belongs to you. A literal piece of Van Cort that’s yours. Although you already hold all of it in your heart.

And West thought he wasn’t romantic.

“I have to be out of here in a week,” I start, breaking the ice.

“Where will you go?”

“Well, that kind of depends on you. And West. A year is a long time.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”

There’s no grand move to sweep me off my feet as we look at each other. Of course, there isn’t. That’s more of West’s style.There is an unease, though, and I assume that maybe for the first time in his life, Everett isn’t convinced he knows what I’ll say.

A little bit of that power fizzes through my veins and gives me the courage to share with him what I want.

“I want us to live in Vancouver. At your house.” It’s where I fell. It’s their home. And it’s the only place I can see us being who we need to be for each other.

I wait for a response, already feeling guilty that I’m not waiting for West before saying all of this. He gave us this time for a reason, though. Everett must know that, just like I do.

“My work and my business are in Seattle.” His face is harsh, exact, and reminds me of the professional armour he had on when we first dated. It’s not the same man who struggled through proposing in the only place that meant something to him.

I search his eyes, desperate for a trace of the letters he wrote, the words he can find when he needs to. They’re nowhere to be seen, though.

“Then why did you take me there? Why did you let me fall for you there if that was never going to be the endgame for you? The proposal, the letters, everything over the past year, I come home and give you this, and you put your work ahead of our happiness?”

“Are you mad? You seem mad.”

“Well, you’re being defensive, and that’s not what I expected.”

“Defensive? I’m not putting work ahead of our happiness, River. I’m explaining that I’ll need to be here. Often. If you want to be based there permanently then… We’ll make that work. Calm down.”Oh.“Although I must say, I’ve missed the sass. Carry on if you like.”

I snigger to myself. It’s funny. All this time of just reading him rather than seeing him, and I’ve somehow forgotten how intimidating he can be in person. I smile, remembering that Icalled him chilly. That was the night he proposed. The night I found out. The night that changed everything.

“Okay. Well, that’s what I’d like.”

“So, that’s a yes then?”

He’s not getting that answer until West is here. “How long will West be? Do you want a drink?” I walk to the kitchen, hoping there’s a bottle of wine somewhere, but his hand snatches at my arm to pull me to him.

The familiarity hits home instantly, and I melt into his hold, his arms, his mouth on mine. Oh god, I’ve denied myself this for too long, and within seconds, he’s taking advantage of that and sealing every moment we’ve missed with a ferocity I can barely breathe through.

The doorbell rings, and my head, mouth, and eyes rear back away from him. West. West is here. The other part of him.

I lick my lips, swallowing.

He smiles at me and eases his hold, his reluctance clear, as if he knows he should but doesn’t want to let go yet. One step back, another, and then he turns for the kitchen, hopefully getting the damn wine so I can get some power back again.

Taking a steadying breath, I race for the door. But before answering, I smooth my hair and my trousers, easing the creases Everett’s already put on me, as my nerves flutter to life.

How does that work?

Is it okay to have been touched already? Must be. West said Everett watched us together and, well, that must mean it’s alright the other way round, doesn’t it?

So. Many. Questions.

Still.