Chapter 43

DARCY

* * *

I leave all the details of the launch party to Ashleigh and Sammie. Sammie has never had a summer off and is going stir-crazy. This is her project, and being an overachiever, I shouldn't be shocked when a hair and makeup expert shows up at the apartment.

"I want you to be pampered today. It's a monumental moment for you, and I want you to feel special. Besides, I don't trust you since you're still in a funk."

"I'm not in a funk," I snap back. I'm not. This is just my new normal.

"Yeah, whatever. I want to see the Darcy sparkle today, you hear me? Everyone who loves you will be there, and since we've already determined you're a sucky actress and your internal sparkle seems to be broken, we'll dazzle them from the outside. You are your company, and it's all about style. You need to personify it today. Hear me?" She's in Sammie boss mode.

"Yes ma'am. I hear you." I turn to Julia, the stylist. "Sorry, I promise to be nice."

She laughs. "Oh, don't worry about it. I've been following your IG all year. I'm honored to be here. Now, show me what you were thinking about wearing."

Sammie comes into the room with a garment bag. "She's wearing this today." She shows the contents to Julia, who oohs and breaks out into a huge grin.

"Where did that come from?" I snap.

"That donor of yours wants you to shine. It's just a small part of the little surprises for the day. Don't worry. You'll love it." Sammie zips up the bag and hangs it on the back of my door. "We have exactly ninety minutes until a car picks us up. Let's go!" she shouts.

"Since when have you kept secrets from me?" I snark at my best friend.

"Since you let me do this for you. I take my duties seriously. Lots of moving parts today, so don't mess them up." She claps her hands at me. Sammie is a force.

I give her a harsh look, but her excitement wears me down. I smile slightly, saying, "I promise not to mess up your day."

She's busy typing something into her phone.

"Today will be amazing, Darcy. Just wait and see. And it's not my day. Today is all about you. I have to get ready too. Have fun!" She gives me a wink and leaves me with Julia.

"Shall we?" She points to my vanity bench, and the stylist becomes the stylee. What an interesting turn of events.

* * *

"Wow, Julia, this looks incredible. Thank you." My makeup is clean and natural, and her contouring and colors make my eyes pop. My hair is down around my face with loose tendrils, the perfect amount of curl, and a chignon at the nape of my neck. It's very adult and put together, with a touch of young, fun, and flirty. Perfect for the event today. Even if I don't feel very flirty. It's exactly the look I would've styled for someone.

She hands me a pair of gold dangle earrings that complete the look.

"Now, do I get to see what I'm wearing?" I've wondered about it since Sammie hung it on the door. Who picked it out? Who is this anonymous donor?

"Now is the moment of truth," she smiles. Julia unzips the bag, and a gorgeous chiffon skirt falls out of the opening. It's a viridian green. The color is so peaceful, the dress whispers calm. The halter style is modest in the front, but the wide satin ribbon that ties at the neck and hangs loosely down my bare back gives it a little sex appeal. The pleated skirt manifests a sense of whimsy and playfulness. This dress is perfect.

Green. Matt's favorite color. What would he think of this shade? I'm doing better. My mind only wanders to him ten times a day now. Yeah. It's better.

"It's gorgeous," I say on an exhale. "Where did it come from?"

"This designer is based out of New York," Julia says. "Fancy schmancy, huh?" She wiggles her eyebrows.

"It must've cost a small fortune," I mumble. The thrifter in me gets a thrill finding custom dresses and now I own one. How anyone could part with something made exclusively for them is beyond me.

The dress fits me perfectly, and even in my melancholy mood, a thin layer of fog lifts. The gold, strappy kitten heels complete the look. I give a twirl, and another layer of funk goes away. It's been a long time since I felt good about my appearance. I practically feel pretty. Pretty girl whispers in my head. I miss the way he called me that. I push those thoughts aside. It's about me today. The new me. The independent me. Maybe this is the start of my come back? I can't be a dud forever. My brand will never survive, and then where will I be? No, I need to step it up, play the part in order to be successful. As Sammie so dutifully reminds me, I am my company.

I give Julia a brief hug and thank her for everything. She asks for a picture, and I promise to tag her in my posts today. If I've learned anything, it's that social media can make or break you. I want to be that person who uses it for good and to lift others up. I'll start with Julia.

"Wow, Darce, you look amazeballs," a male voice says from across the room.

I turn to find Cole and Ashleigh standing in the doorway. Their smiles light up the room. Ashleigh has her phone out and is snapping pictures as I walk toward Cole's open arms.

"Hey, big brother. I wasn't expecting you here. Don't you have a game?" I cry as he wraps me tightly in his arms. It's been too long.

"It was an early afternoon game, and I wouldn't miss this for the world." He puts me at arm's length and gently wipes away my tears. "No crying. Can't have you messing up this beautiful face now, can we?"

"Don't worry, I planned for that," Julia chimes in. "She's waterproof."

We all laugh at her comment.

"We came to take the dazzling, talented, and amazing business owner to her launch party," Ashleigh says. "I'm here officially as your social media director."

"You don't have to do that, but I'm beyond grateful," I say, squeezing her hand.

"Are we ready to get this party started?" Sammie calls from the living room.

I grab a small matching clutch and throw lipstick and my phone in it. Cole reaches into his pocket and hands me a stack of business cards. They're orange with a delicate green design, partnered with a professionally created logo of interlocking Ds. Darcy Davidson Designs. They're beautiful and perfect. I add them to my bag. They've thought of everything.

"Where did these come from? Did you guys do all this?" The anonymous donor is getting the best of my curiosity.

"Nope, not us, but you know we support you, right?" Cole says. He looks into my eyes, making sure I understand. They're always in my corner. Always have been. Always will be. Whether I deserve it or not. "Ready?"

Taking a deep breath, I announce, "I'm ready."

* * *

I'm not ready. I'm unprepared for the valet parking, the intricate orange and green balloon arches outside the house, or the number of people entering the house. This is more than I thought and they're all here for me. This party had to cost a fortune. Who's paying for it?

"Ya'll, this is too much. How many people did you invite?" Fear takes hold. I'll just stay in the nice, air-conditioned car.

"Not that many," Sammie says. "Jay had a few contacts he wanted you to meet, some of Chance's friends, and your friends and family. I'm going to go in and make sure everything is ready." Sammie opens her door, gets out of the car, and gives a lingering look to Cole. He gives her a slight nod. Something's going on. I feel it. I'm on heightened alert. Are they afraid I'll bolt again?

"It looks like a lot of people," I say, trying to quell my nerves.

Ashleigh grabs my hands to get my attention.

"Darcy, you've got this. I've watched you work a room. This room, to be exact. You're going to be great. I won't leave your side. I promise." Her eyes don't leave mine. I trust her. I do.

The wave of emotions catches me off guard, and I feel like I'm drowning. It's more than the launch party. It's this house. The memories. The last time I was here was the last time I was truly happy. It's also the scene of my worst memory. I'm overwhelmed and feel like I'm about to pass out.

"Are you okay?" Cole asks, his tone full of worry. "You look pale."

I shake my head yes. I need to do this. I roll my shoulders and paste on a smile. I remember Chance helping me breathe in the airport. Two deep breaths and I'm better.

"I can do this," I say under my breath. With more confidence, I say, "Let's start this new chapter."

Cole steps out and helps Ashleigh and me out of the car. He offers each of us an arm and escorts us to the front door.

When we enter, it feels like coming home. The decor is just like I left it. I smile as I look around, allowing the pride to push away the fear. A large Darcy Davidson Designs logo is on the TV scrolling pictures from my expanded portfolio. It now includes this house, Lawsy's house in Atlanta, and a townhouse in the historic district. My contact information is listed and a QR code to my webpage on each picture. Ashleigh is a marketing genius.

A waiter offers us champagne, and I graciously accept. I gulp it down and take another one.

"Easy there," Cole whispers. "It's early, and I need you clear-headed."

"I know. I'm just nervous." The background music is quietly playing Taylor Swift songs by Vitamin String Quartet. The familiar tunes set to strings brings a peaceful air and I chuckle. They out did themselves with the attention to detail.

"These are your friends. Nothing to be nervous about. But we promise we've got you," Cole says as he hugs me.

"Damn girl, you look hot," Jay says as he approaches and hugs me, swinging me around.

His greeting makes me laugh. A genuine laugh. Jay has a way of washing all the nerves away. Sammie is by his side, her smile beaming.

"Thanks. You too." I'm not used to seeing him in a suit, and, damn, he looks good. "I'm glad you're here."

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"That goes for me too, beautiful," Chance says, embracing me and picking me a foot off the ground. He kisses my cheek and pulls me away from the group. So much for Ashleigh not leaving my side.

"Come on. Everyone is dying to see you," Chance says.

"Do I have you or Julian to thank for all this?" I wave my hand down my dress and around the room.

He chuckles, and his eyes sparkle with mischief. "Sorry, beautiful, I'm just providing the venue. The rest, well, it's a gift from someone else."

"Who? You know! Who do I need to thank?" I resort to violence and pinch his arm.

He laughs and shakes off my feeble attempt to coerce him. "Tsk, tsk. I'm like a vault. Now come on, your fans await."

He pulls me into the living room, where the crowd greets me with hugs. Harper and Lawson. Julian, Emma, and Trevor. Mom struggles to hold back her back tears. The McIntyres hug me, and Mr. Mac tells me I'm the most brilliant investment he's made in decades. It's the boost in the arm I need, reminding me I can't let him down. When Mrs. Hartman joins the circle, I can't hold back the tears any longer. She hugs me and holds me tight, whispering how proud she is.

A tissue appears at my shoulder, and Cole gives me a wink. "Need a minute?" I give him a slight nod. "We'll be back," he tells the crowd, leading me up the stairs to the second living area. It's much quieter here, so everyone must be downstairs. I'm grateful for the moment away.

He leads me into the room. The French doors are open to the upper deck, the ocean breeze flowing in. The room is filled with vases of orange Gerber daisies, my favorite flower. They must've incorporated them into the party design, but I didn't notice them downstairs. Then again, I was too overwhelmed.

Cole keeps my hand at his elbow, like he's my escort, and leads me out on the deck. We step outside, and my heart stops. I let out a gasp as my feet refuse to move. Matt's eyes lock with mine, a smile filling his handsome face. His eyes sparkle with excitement.

He's in a light grey suit that fits him like a glove. His tie's pattern is an intricate and beautiful design of orange and green tangled together, reminiscent of my business cards. It's beautiful, and if I weren't so shocked, I'd examine the design in depth.

Cole reaches out to him, and I practically flinch as Cole hugs him and slaps his back. A different reaction than the last time I saw them together. This is the old duo I remember. This is how it should be.

I think I hear him say, "She doesn't know. Good luck," but I don't trust any of my senses at this point. Cole kisses me on the cheek and whispers, "Give him a chance, Darcy. He's one of the good guys," as he walks away.

I wrap my arms around my waist, willing myself to hold it together. I can't look at him, or I'll lose it. I look past him, focusing on the shore, the waves rolling in and washing back out to sea.

"Hey, pretty girl. You look stunning."

I can't respond. I can't. He complimented me, but all I heard was mistake. Several seconds tick by. I want to turn around and go back downstairs, but my feet are firmly planted where they are. No matter how hard my brain tells them to move, they don't. Traitors.

"I've missed you," he says, trying again.

Mistake. The ocean keeps doing its thing. Mistake. Mistake. Mistake.

Seconds pass. "I'm sorry," he says with less confidence. "I shouldn't have crashed your launch party. I'm so damn proud of you. But clearly, this was a mistake. I'm sorry."

My head snaps toward him at his word choice. My eyes fill with tears, but this time, they're from anger, not sadness.

"Mistake?" I say through gritted teeth. "Mistake?!?" I practically yell at him. "Yeah, seems to be your favorite word when it comes to me, isn't it?"

My response shocks him. I'm not sure if it's because of what I said or how I said it, but either way, I've caught him by surprise. His timidness washes away, and he regains some of his conviction. He's not used to pissed off Darcy, but it's time he met her. She's been my companion for a few months now.

"What are you talking about?" He reaches out to touch me, but I step back, putting more space between us. "I don't understand."

"You told Ashleigh I was a mistake." My sadness over the past few months morphs into anger, and now I'm ready for a fight. I don't want to slink away and lick my wounds. I want him to answer for his crime of breaking my heart.

"I would never say that." He steps towards me, reaching out.

"Liar!" I yell so loud a few people look up at us from the pool deck below. I push him away, but he grabs me by the wrists when my palms hit his chest. He holds my hands to his heart. I try to pull away, but he won't let me.

"No." His tone is firm. "I've NEVER said you were a mistake. You're my everything, Darcy. My everything." His eyes plead with me to listen, but I'm still in fight-or-flight mode. Since my feet refuse to move and he has my hands, fight it is.

"I saw the text, Matt. You sent it to Ashleigh during spring training. It said I was a mistake." I tug on his grip, but he doesn't let up. He lifts my hands to his mouth and gently kisses my fingers. The touch of his lips to my skin dampens my anger a little. Now even my hands are betraying me.

"No, baby, it didn't say that. I met with Ashleigh that day, and she asked me if I loved you. I told her it was just a fling. She called me a liar." He chuckles. How is this funny? "She was right. I was lying to her. Everything, Darcy. Everything. I told her it was a mistake. I meant calling us a fling. My words were a mistake. Never you. Do you think I'm the kind of guy who would use you like that?" His voice is full of emotion. Tenderness. Desperation.

His smile is gone and he looks hurt. Do I think he's the kind of guy who would use me? No. Hurt me? Yes. Because he did. To the core.

"But you ghosted me," I whisper, my fight betraying me too. It's slipping away.

"I did. And I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry." He pulls me into his arms. I let my hands drop to my side. "I left. It wasn't the right response. I should've faced Cole head-on. I shouldn't have kept us a secret. I was never ashamed of us. I needed time to figure out how to fix the mess." I stiffen at his use of the word mess and he notices. Holding me at arm's length, he leans down so we are eye to eye. Gah, I've missed those soulful dark eyes.

"No, we weren't a mess. We're meant to be, pretty girl. The mess was the cowardice of not talking to Cole. I didn't need his permission to be with you, but I owed him the courtesy of telling him how much I loved his sister."

My brain processes all his words but seems fixated on how he said he loved me. As in past tense?

"You loved me?"

He keeps his hand on my shoulder but gently tips my face to look into his eyes. "No," he says with force.

"Oh." Now my feet decide to catch up with my brain, and I step back. I turn to leave.

"Damnit Darcy. Stop. I love you. Love in the present tense. Not past tense. I. LOVE. YOU!"

My feet stop my exit. I look around the room full of flowers. There must be almost two hundred flowers with every shade of orange imaginable scattered throughout the room. I begin to put all the pieces together. Cole telling me to give him a chance. The flowers. The green dress. The party. The text messages. Matt waiting for me. Giving me space. Because he loves me.

I don't turn around. I can't look at him yet. I need my wits about me.

"You love me?"

I feel his breath on my cheek. He's behind me, his head by my shoulder, his hands at my waist. "Yes, pretty girl. I love you, Darcy Marie Davidson. With my whole heart."

"When did you know you loved me?" I don't know why this is important, but I need to know. Does he love me because he lost me?

"What?"

"When? When did you know you loved me?" I say with conviction. This is important.

"I fell in love with you over the years. When did I love you so much that the thought of another man being with you would make me a murderer? I knew for sure on our fancy dinner date."

His response is unexpected. "That was before we ever slept together."

"Baby, we slept together BECAUSE I love you. Don't you get it? That's a line I'd never cross with you if love wasn't involved. Darcy, I've loved you for a long time. And I haven't stopped. Not for a minute. I love you, and if you let me, I want to show you I'll love you forever."

He loves me. Not because we had sex. Not because he was lonely. Not because he lost me. He loved me before.

I turn around, and he tightens his arms around my waist. I put my hands around his neck and pull him down to me. Our lips barely touch when I say, "I love you, Matt Hartman. I've been in love with my brother's best friend since middle school. I love you more than words can express and promise to love you more and more every day."

I barely get the words out before Matt presses his lips to mine. Our kiss is desperate, passionate, and toe-curling. I've missed him so much I've been hollow. Having him in my arms, telling me he loves me, I'm so full of love I feel like I might explode. It's a tsunami of love filling me up.

I pull away and give him a quick peck.

"I" Peck.

"Love" Peck.

"You." Peck.

"Same, pretty girl. Same." He lets out a little groan. "And as much as I'd like to take you into one of these bedrooms and show you exactly how much I love you and have missed you, there's a whole party downstairs waiting for you."

"They can wait," I mumble as I kiss him again.

He laughs and steps away. "Including our parents. I put this together to launch your future career. Let's get you launched."

"You? You did all this for me?"

"Well, I had a little help from our friends. But yeah, I want you to know I'm team Darcy all the way. Pretty girl, I'm your biggest fan." He's said this before, but his actions speak louder than words.

I look around the room. It's bright and a little extravagant. "How many flowers are in this room?" I wonder aloud.

He holds my face, our eyes connect. "One-hundred-seventy-four. The exact number of days I've been without you." I'm glad he's holding me because I've just turned to goo. Literal weak in the knees.

A tear escapes, and he kisses it away. I can't move. I don't want to move. I want to stay here forever, in his arms. "Come on. You're far too fabulous for me to keep all to myself. Besides, we have forever." He gives me another quick kiss.

Forever with Matt Hartman? I like the sound of that.

* * *

We walk downstairs, and the room erupts in applause. A blush heats my face. It hits me that our time upstairs wasn't as private as I imagined. Not taking it to the bedroom was the right call.

"Team True Love wins again!" Julian yells as he high-fives Chance. Chance winks at me.

Sammie runs up to me and gives us a group hug. "I'm so happy you guys worked it out. I love you both."

Matt kisses Sammie on the cheek. "Thanks for all your help."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Help?"

"We'll talk about it later. Let's celebrate," she says.

"Yeah, we'll talk about it later," I grumble. It seems several people were working on us, and while I appreciate it, I hate being on the outside, especially when it's about me. I look around the room at the smiles, and as I make eye contact, each person raises their champagne glass to me.

Cole comes up and clasps Matt on the shoulder. "It sounded touch and go there for a bit. Glad you toughed it out. She's worth fighting for." He laughs and gently pats Matt on the cheek. "But if you ever break her heart again, I promise, I won't be team Matt next time."

"Noted. But there won't be a next time if I have anything to say about it." Matt leans over and gives me a chaste kiss.

"That may take some getting used to," Cole says. "But if I can get used to playing against you instead of with you, I can get used to this."

Cole turns his attention to me. "And he makes you happy?"

"No." Cole and Matt look at me, stunned expressions on their faces. I give them my most sincere smile. "He makes me everything. It's so much more than happy." His arm pulls me in tight to his side.

Matt exhales and kisses my temple. "Everything, pretty girl. Everything."

* * *

"Well, the party was a hit," Ashleigh announces as we sit in the living room with our friends. The last few hours passed in a blur of congratulations, social media posts, and more pictures than I recall taking. At one point, Ashleigh did a blitz campaign where everyone used her hashtag with their favorite picture of tonight and posted it on every platform. I experienced the Chance effect once before, but the Decker Connection effect? Wow! I got a gigantic number of followers in no time. Ashleigh turned off my notifications because this is work now, and boundaries are necessary. I love that girl.

The sun went down a few hours ago, and as much as I adore these gorgeous shoes, it's time to take them off. I snuggle on the couch with Matt. It's super comfortable, and I think back on the day Matt and I picked it out. The memory of the laughs we shared makes me cuddle a little closer. He holds me tight and kisses me on the top of my head.

Everyone is gone except the Decker Connection, who are settled in for the night. I smile and survey the room. We're relaxed and chilling out, exactly what Chance wanted. Yeah, I did a pretty good job.

Julian and Chance enjoy the massage chairs while Ashleigh and Cole cuddle on the big Squishmallow beanbag chair. Trevor and Emma are pouring shots in the kitchen and laughing at something Trevor said. Sam and Jay are cozy next to me and Matt. Alexander is on the deck having a heated conversation with someone, but no one seems focused on him because he's always on the phone.

"You have over two hundred thousand followers now and several DMs from influencers requesting a personal style consult. Some of Chance's friends have already reached out for apartment makeovers after they saw what you did at Lawson's place. And The Today Show reached out to see if you would be interested in doing a segment on trends for the fall. Girl, you are officially launched and booked!" Ashleigh is beaming with pride as she sets her phone on the table.

"Wow. I can't believe it. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. From the bottom of my heart. Ya'll believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I'm blessed beyond measure." I didn't know I could ever feel this much love and gratitude at once. It's overwhelming, but in a good way.

Matt pulls me in a little tighter. "No, Darce, you bless us. Your sparkle lifts us all up." He kisses me on the temple.

"I'll drink to that!" Chance holds up his glass of scotch and takes another sip.

"So, what's next for you two?" Julian asks.

We both shrug.

Matt looks at me, a twinkle in his eye. "Well, we date. It'll be tough because it's the middle of the season and my travel schedule is intense. It sounds like D cubed will be slammed with clients."

"D cubed?" I ask.

"Yup, D cubed. Darcy Davison Designs." He gives me a little wink. "But we'll make time, right, pretty girl? We're lucky to be in the same city, which makes it easier."

"Yeah, about that," Alexander says as he enters from outside. His hand rubs the back of his neck. "Hey Trev, bring those shots out here for the group, would ya?"

"Sure, what's up? Everything okay?" Trevor asks. He brings a tray full of lemon drop shots, and everyone takes one.

Alexander makes me nervous because he's always intense. He's the opposite of Julian and Ashleigh. They're relaxed and casual, whereas Alexander is more buttoned up and grumpy. Maybe that's because he doesn't joke and laugh often. His job running a Major League Baseball team is high pressure and a lot of responsibility, so I get it.

Alexander clears his throat and holds up his shot glass. He looks directly at Matt, and he tenses around me. "Let's raise a glass and say congratulations to the newest member of the Carolina Reapers, Matt Hartman, starting third baseman, effective immediately."

The room erupts in cheers and congratulations. Matt is stunned. Neither of us takes our shot. He looks at me, stricken with fear.

This should be the best day of his life, and he looks terrified. It takes a second, but I realize why. We just got back together. We're going to figure this out. And now he's leaving. I'm so excited for him and nervous for us at the same time. I love this guy so much that I'm confident we'll be okay.

I raise my shot glass high. He needs to know we're solid. We're going to be forever. "Here's to all your dreams coming true. Welcome to the show!" I throw back the shot.

Matt looks at me in disbelief. I take his face between my hands and kiss him. "We're going to be fine. Better than fine because we're forever, and my man is a Major League Baseball player. I'm so proud of you, Matt. You got this!" I kiss him again, and he kisses me back. The shock must be wearing off.

He downs his shot and looks at Alexander. "What? Why?"

Alexander grabs Chance's scotch and downs it. "Fucking Pauly just got arrested for assault and other charges. He's out. You're in. You suit up and start tomorrow against Chicago. At least we're at home for your first game. Welcome to the big leagues, kid." He gives Matt a rare smile and heads upstairs.

Ashleigh stops Alexander at the foot of the stairs. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a shit show and PR nightmare. It pisses me off when someone tarnishes our family reputation."

"I'll help you any way you need me. You know that. I may not work for the Reapers, but they're my family, too. Just let me know, okay?"

Alexander kisses the top of her head. "Appreciate it. Love you."

"You may not realize it, but Matt might be the answer you need." He pulls out his phone and starts up the stairs, giving her a brief nod.

"Wow," Cole says. "Matt! The show, man, the show!" Cole gets up and pulls Matt into a hug. "I wish I could be there for it, but I'll be here beating your loser team tomorrow night."

"Yeah, you might stand a chance without me playing," Matt teases. Cole picks Matt up and spins him around.

Julian stands up and gives Matt one of those bro hugs. "You'll stay at my place in Charlotte until you get settled. It's close to the stadium and in the same building as several other players. Tripp lives there, too. Unless you'd prefer the hotel the team provides," he says. He reaches into his wallet and hands Matt a key card. "I'll text you the address. And I'll review your contract and ensure they pay you well, especially since you're saving their ass." Julian chuckles. He loves making Alexander pay for the guys he represents.

"I'm so fucking happy for you," Cole says. "All your dreams are coming true."

Matt reaches his hand out to me. "My dreams are coming true." He pulls me into him and gives me a kiss that makes everyone uncomfortable, but I don't care. Matt loves me. Can it get any better than this?

Matt pulls me into the kitchen after everyone shares their congratulations.

"Darcy, I'm sorry." His smile gone, his face full of worry lines.

"Sorry for what?" I genuinely don't know why he's apologizing.

"Tonight was supposed to be all about you. This timing couldn't be worse." He leans down and places his forehead on mine, putting us eye to eye.

"Tonight is about us. From here on out, it's always about us." He nods, acknowledging my proclamation.

"Come with me?"

"What?"

"I'll understand if you don't want to, with your launch and everything. We'll make long-distance work, but I'm putting it out there. Come with me?"

Matt wants me to take the leap. It may feel fast, but I've waited to be with him practically my whole life. So much change at once, but there's only one way to face it.

"Okay, let's do it."

Yep. We're doing this thing. Together.