in a breath, but could only manage a little smile. That thought had occurred to me several times in the last couple of hours.
Bethany squeezed my hand.
“If you want to give up the lease, I understand. Mav said you put in your two-week notice at the Diner. We can find someone to take it if you just need to get out of here. Broken hearts sometimes trump contracts. There's wiggle room in the lease if you find someone to take it.”
“Thank you, I appreciate knowing that. And I might actually know someone that will take it.”
“Oh?”
“Dagny. She mentioned it to me today. She's been living at home with her Mom to save money but would . . . she'd like an out.”
Bethany illuminated. “I know Dagny. She just applied to work at the Frolicking Moose when Ellie leaves for college at the end of the summer. How perfect would that be? She's delightful. I'll drop by the Diner tomorrow and talk to her about both. Thanks Serafina. Just let us know what you decide and we'll support you however we can. And I'm sorry about all this.”
She wrapped me in a quick hug, and the warmth of another pair of arms only made me miss Benjamin more. How could he ever think I didn't need him? The safety of his arms. The security of just standing next to him. Was there a way to quantify the power of security? No.
But was that all he meant to me?
The immediate response didn't even surprise me. No. Not by half. He could be a file clerk with the strength of a puppy and the joy they both brought to my life would be more than enough. The brightness. The sense of stability and being needed. They were the only two people I'd ever wanted to stay for. To wait on and see the world with them.
Apes, Bethany had said.
I concurred.
29
Benjamin
Maverick: It is absolutely none of my business, but you need to get your ass over there right now.
* * *
Benjamin: Is she leaving?
* * *
Maverick: Just do it. Drop Ava off at our place. She can spend the night.
* * *
Benjamin: The night?
* * *
Maverick: Trust me.
My heart thudded in my chest as I steered the SUV back toward Pineville, the text conversation with Maverick still plodding through my mind. Ava and I had been busy at work with our plan to win Serafina back from my boneheaded ways for the last couple of hours, but we wouldn't be ready for another day or two. I'd intended on giving Serafina some space, but one look at Maverick's expression when I dropped Ava off and I knew something had gone terribly wrong. He hadn't said a word, but he hadn't needed to. I'd simply handed Ava's bag over, gave her a hug, and disappeared.
Twilight had long since settled, giving way to the dark shadows of night. Gentle illumination came from the top of the Frolicking Moose when I parked around the other side, in the empty lot for the salon. The less advance notice she had of my arrival, the less likely she'd ignore me.
I hoped.
Main Street lay oddly empty when I crossed around the front of the coffee shop, then headed to the back door. Her bike, which she hadn't ridden in a while, was chained to a wall still. A good sign, taken with the buttery lamplight from above.
Heart in my throat, I tried the door. It was locked. When I knocked, the door rattled a little. When a minute passed and she hadn't answered, I pulled out my phone and sent her a text.
Benjamin: It's me downstairs. Can we talk?
Thirty seconds later, shadows in the dark shop shifted near the stairs. Serafina appeared, her expression wary. She wore a pair of loose sweatpants, flip flops, and her hair lay in glossy, wet curls around her shoulders. Her makeup had been scrubbed off. Not even concealer could have hidden the weariness of her eyes. Were her cheeks red from tears or the shower?
She stared at me through the window, hand halfway to the doorknob. I held my breath. Never had I felt so unravelled. Years of my life and a child with Sadie had never made me feel this way. Like my fate, my life was wrapped up in another person that walked around with my heart in her hands. Like I'd never be complete without them.
Like everything revolved around that woman staring at me with her soul in her eyes.
Finally, she