in love with you, Everett. I’m in love with everything about you, and the way I feel when you’re around, and the way you light up every room and situation and make it better. I’m in love with the way you listen to me and make me feel like I matter.
You were right about Colossal Toys. I didn’t want to run it, so I’m not going to. I don’t know what I’ll do instead, but I know I’ll figure it out. Thank you for trusting me before I trusted myself.
I know you’re not going to stay here, and I’m not going with you, but someone pretty important to me told me that while love doesn’t conquer all, it can still conquer a whole hell of a lot. So maybe it will be hard and messy, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to conquer it together. I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to conquer it with.
I love you.
Theodora
Teddy watched his face the entire time he read, her eyes on his eyes as they moved across his phone. And then, when he started typing, she leaned forward, trying to see what was on his screen.
Her phone dinged. “You should check your email,” he said, his face blank.
Teddy held her breath as she pulled her phone out of her bag. Her hands shaking, she opened her email and read three words on the screen.
I’m not moving.
She dropped her phone in her lap and looked at Everett. “What?”
He smiled. “I’m not going to New York. I’m staying here.”
Teddy’s mouth dropped open. “Everett, what happened? You didn’t tell them no, did you? Did they tell you no?”
Everett shook his head. “I spent so long thinking that the only way forward was up, you know? That if I followed this path with the show, I’d be happy. More prestige, more acclaim, more viewers. And then I realized . . . I love my job. But I don’t want my job to be my life. I don’t want to give up time with my friends, or my sister, or my parents because of work.” He swallowed. “And I don’t want to give up time with you.”
“So did you quit your show?” Teddy asked, looking confused. “Because I can’t imagine you without this show.”
“No, I asked the Imagination Network if we could work with them, but keep filming here. I told them that being here, on this set, in this city, was integral to the soul of the show, and they thought so, too. So I’ll get to keep my producer, my crew, my sofa . . .” He paused, meeting her eyes, looking almost shy. “And I hope I get to keep you, too, Teddy.”
“So,” she said in a small voice, afraid to speak too loud in case she scared her happiness away, “you’re staying in Columbus.”
He nodded. “Probably have to take semifrequent trips to New York, but yes, I’m staying right here.”
Teddy blinked. This seemed too good to be true, that she was suddenly getting exactly what she wanted. There had to be some catch, some trapdoor waiting for her to step on it.
But also . . . maybe she was being ridiculous. Joy was in front of her, and maybe she shouldn’t question it or analyze it to death or waste her time worrying about when the other shoe might drop. Maybe she should just appreciate what she had while she had it.
Teddy got up and then sat down on Everett’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re staying here,” she said, trying not to cry.
“Hey,” Everett said, wiping a tear off her face with his thumb. “What was it you said in your email?”
“Which part?” Teddy asked, wishing Everett would stop talking so she could kiss him. “I wrote it pretty fast in my car. I was kind of rambling.”
“The part about how you love me,” Everett said. “Is that true, or did you add it in there for dramatic effect?”
Teddy smiled. “It’s true,” she said. “I love you, Everett St. James. I knew I loved you on our very first date.”
“Well, I have you beat,” Everett said, kissing her neck. “Because I knew I loved you from your very first email. Maybe I didn’t think those words, but I knew you were special, and I knew I wanted to meet you. I love you, Theodora Phillips.”
Teddy grabbed his face and kissed him, hard. “You promise you’re not leaving?”
“Promise,” Everett said. “I have way too much to