“I know.” He takes a step forward, and I move back, letting him know to keep his distance. He stops, understanding, and says, “I’m going to make it right, Eve.”
Not sure what to say, I reach into my pocket and pull out some cash. I quickly do some math in my head and then hand him his payment for the lobsters. “That should be the right amount,” I say. His hand grazes mine as he takes the cash, lighting up a part of me that’s gone gray and dull.
He lingers and I let him. “I will make this right,” he says again, this time with more force. He pockets the money and goes back to his truck. “I’ll see you later, Eve.”
Lord help me, I don’t think my heart can take another roller coaster from Reid.
“Eve, is that you?” Reid calls out over the racket of the kitchen installation as I step into the restaurant. I look up and see him in the loft, hanging over the railing and waving frantically, as if he didn’t just see me yesterday. “Come up here—I want to show you something.”
Applications in hand, I head up the stairs that lead to the loft, marveling at the iron handrail and the open staircase, which leaves the space feeling airy rather than like a big block of stairs. When I reach the loft, which I’m surprised to find is much quieter, Reid greets me with a big smile, his large body blocking the view of what will soon be my permanent office space.
“Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Duh, because I have a surprise for you.”
“Did you really just say duh?”
Chuckling, he nods. “Humor me and close them.”
“I don’t know my way around the space with my eyes closed. What if I fall over the railing?”
“It’s insulting you think I’d let that happen. Here.” He takes the applications from me, sets them to the side, and then wraps his hands around mine, his large palms eclipsing my small ones. “I got you. Now close your eyes.”
Lost in the feel of his hands holding mine, I don’t remember to argue before I’m closing my eyes and allowing him to guide me through the loft space. My feet shuffle against the hardwood before my steps soften, and I realize we’re walking over a rug now. The smells of fresh paint and new furniture surround me, and with them, there’s a hint of Reid’s familiar, fresh scent.
“Okay, are you ready?”
“I’m warning you—if I open my eyes and find you naked, I’m kicking you in the crotch and leaving.”
I’m wrapped in his deep laugh. “If I was naked, I wouldn’t be cooking—I’d be a magician who could disrobe while holding someone’s hands. That’s a million-dollar Vegas show.”
“Or a quick ticket to jail.”
“Or that.” He chuckles. “But rest assured, I’m not naked. So go ahead, open your eyes.”
My eyes flutter open, and the first thing I see is Reid’s excited face, smile stretching from cheek to cheek, eyes sparkling with pure joy.
The next thing I see is the space.
My heart rate picks up as I take it all in. Large white desk with a matching white desk chair. Plush gray, white, and teal carpet, large built-in shelves and cabinets behind the desk with gold hardware. A brand-new Mac sitting pretty on the desk’s glass top, and a nameplate in gold and white staring back at me.
MISS EVE ROBERTS.
“Happy graduation. Do you like it?”
I don’t answer right away; I can’t. Instead, I walk around the desk and drag my fingers over the cool surface. It’s . . . it’s perfect. A bouquet of fresh peonies rests on the shelves, pictures of me, Eric, and Reid are framed and perfectly placed, a large wooden sign with the words BOSS BABE inscribed on it is hung on the wall to the left.
It’s more than I could have ever dreamed of.
Tears fill my eyes as I finally look up at Reid. “It’s so perfect, more than I deserve.”
“You deserve more, but this is what I could put together at the moment. We can add to it once you get familiar with the hustle of the restaurant, but I figured this is a good start for now. And that empty frame over there is for your diploma.”
“This is a perfect start. This is so thoughtful and wonderful.”
He points to the computer. “Everything you’re going to need is downloaded and set up. The Wi-Fi password is ReidIsHot. Unfortunately, that can’t change.”
I smile, tears still brimming in my eyes. “All of this is really for me?”
He nods. “Yup. I talked to my dad and told him that since you’re the brain of the business, you should have a comfortable space, especially if we’re going to lean on you for everything. He agreed. I worked on the loft this week. I wanted to make sure it was ready before opening.”
“You did all of this yourself?”
“Well, Rogan helped. Even though I like to think I know how to build things, the shelving turned out to be trickier than I expected. I went up to Pottsmouth yesterday to pick up the desk and saw that sign at an art gallery up there and had to have it. You’re our boss babe. A strict but fair boss and one hell of a babe.” He winks, and a smile pulls at my lips.
“I can’t believe you did this.” I look him in the eyes. “Thank you, Reid. This means a lot to me. It’s truly a dream come true.”
“Well, happy graduation and congratulations on the new job.” He falls silent for a second. “I really wish I handled everything differently between us, but I realize I can’t go back and change that—all I can do is move forward and try to make things right.” He gestures around the office. “I wish I’d known this was what you wanted when we first started dating. I wish I’d known more about your dreams, about where you wanted to go with your life. But now that I do, I want to be there to support you. I know you’re going to do amazing things up here, Eve.”
With my throat dry and tight, my emotions heightened, I try to be grateful, but all I can muster without bursting into tears is a small smile and a nod.
“Well, I have to go. Meeting Eric to go over the kitchen installations. I’ll catch you later.”
As he starts down the stairs, I tell myself to call out to him, to pull him back up to the space so I can give him a hug, a proper thank-you, but I’m frozen in place, frozen in awe, in pure appreciation of what he’s done.
This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, hands down, and it was all Reid.
He said he was going to make things right. Well, this was a giant leap in that direction.
Knock. Knock.
I glance at my door and then the time. Ten o’clock. Did Eric lose his key? He was going out on a date with some girl he met on a dating app. I love my brother, but I also know him well enough to assume he probably won’t be coming back to the apartment tonight, not when his nerves are taking over. We are just over a week away from opening, and he’s getting jittery. When he’s like that, he needs to get his energy out somehow—and that means going home with his date.
So who else could be at my door?
As my suspicion builds, I set my notebook down and open the door to find Reid standing on the other side. He’s leaning against the doorjamb, holding a bag, and sporting a heart-melting grin.
“Hey.”