Chapter 19

19

D estiny put her laptop in her computer bag and walked out of her office.

"Are you off to work on the bid with Faith?" Monica asked.

"Yep, we're almost finished," Destiny said. "We have a few final touches to add. I can't wait to see the whole layout this evening."

"After that are y'all going to the karaoke bar? It is Friday night."

Destiny chuckled. "No. We did have a good time there on Monday though."

"I wish I could've seen it."

"Faith surprised me." Destiny smiled. "You'll get to experience it next weekend at her birthday party."

"We're looking forward to it, but we still want to have you both over," Monica said.

"Oh, I know. We're planning on it."

"So." Monica paused. "Are you two back together?"

Destiny huffed. "No, as Faith likes to say, we're dating." She chuckled. "However, we've only had one date."

"You've spent every evening together this week," Monica said. "I think those could be considered dates. You can't tell me you were working the entire time."

"Our second date is tonight," Destiny said.

"Uh huh," Monica replied. "Where are you taking her?"

Destiny shook her head. "It's Faith's idea. She said it's a surprise."

"Wow, she's full of surprises lately. Why are you holding back? I can tell Faith is all in, and she's being very patient with you."

Destiny sighed. "She is being patient. We have a lot to work through in order to keep this from happening again. You know how hard it was when she left. I thought I was going to die."

"I'd say you're being dramatic, but I witnessed it first hand," Monica said. "Kim and I were worried about both of you."

"Besides, this big project is taking up all our time and it's too important," Destiny said.

"It may be important, but it's also the reason you're spending so much time together," Monica pointed out. "Have you thought about what happens after?"

"After?"

"We either get it or we don't," Monica said. "What does that mean for you and Faith then?"

"I haven't really thought about it," Destiny said. "Everything is going into the bid."

"Yeah, but if you win it, you still have to install everything," Monica said.

"I know," Destiny said. "We've talked a little about that. We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves."

"Do you mean professionally or personally?"

Destiny groaned, plopping down in the chair next to Monica's desk. "Both, I suppose. It would be so easy to jump right back in with Faith, but every time we're together we find out something else we didn't know or felt from before. It's confusing because we thought we were happy, but we were also holding a lot of things in that neither of us knew about."

"But that's a good thing," Monica said. "You're finding that out now, so it won't happen going forward."

"Yeah, I guess," Destiny said, getting up. "Right now, I have to finish my part of this project so we can see the entire thing."

"Hey, Des," Monica said. "Don't forget that you and Faith have one very important thing going for you."

"What's that?"

"You love each other," Monica said.

Destiny smiled. "Yeah, we loved each other before and look what happened."

"But the love is still there," Monica said, "and look where you are. Neither one of you got very far away from the other."

Destiny nodded. "I'll see you on Monday."

Monica chuckled. "Have fun on your date. I can't wait to hear all about it."

Destiny opened the front door and waved as she walked to her truck. She couldn't help but think about what Monica had said. Faith had come to her office at the end of the day two times this week and Destiny had gone to her office the other day. They were working on the bid, but they also spent time sharing the happenings of their days. Now that she thought about it, they'd been together every day this week.

Destiny smiled as she turned on the street to Faith's shop. She was excited to finish up the project today, but honestly, she was looking forward to this date even more. Faith wouldn't tell her what they were doing and promised to reveal all once they were finished with work.

Her thoughts drifted back to what Monica said about neither of them getting very far away from each other. Had their love kept them close? Had their hearts found a way to bring them back together?

One thing Destiny knew for sure was that Faith Fields was in her heart to stay. With each passing day, the more they were together, the more Destiny wanted. They worked later and later each night, blaming it on the importance of this bid, but the reality was that they loved being together.

Destiny thought they weren't social enough before, but she was beginning to remember why. She was just as guilty because she liked having Faith to herself.

She chuckled as she pulled around to the back of the shop. Faith had told her to park back there since they had a date tonight.

Before Destiny could get out of the truck she saw Faith come out of the building and into the shop. The smile on her face told Destiny she was just as glad to see her.

"Would you two want to take a break this evening and have a beer with us?" Mark asked as Destiny walked into the shop. She looked at Faith and raised her brows. This was Faith's plan tonight so it was up to her, but Destiny hoped it would be just them this evening.

"We are so close to finishing the layout of the gardens," Faith said. "I promise we'll meet you next time."

"That's what you always say," Mark replied.

"She means it this time," Destiny said. "We found a new bar y'all need to try with us."

"Oh, yeah," Mark said. "Faith told us about the karaoke bar."

"You'll get to see it next Saturday for my birthday party," Faith said.

Mark grinned at both of them. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Destiny held her hands out to her side. "You can trust me on this one, Mark. Just wait until you hear your boss sing."

"Count me in," one of the other workers said. "Can we bring someone with us?"

Destiny had only met the other workers briefly on Wednesday, but if she remembered correctly, the woman's name was Bailey. "Sure," Destiny replied. "The more the merrier."

"Are your teams coming as well?" Mark asked. "What about Jake?"

"Yep, Jake will be there," Destiny replied. "I'm not sure if you know Claire. She runs my other team."

"I know Claire," Bailey said. "That's who I wanted to bring with me."

Mark gasped and stared at Bailey. "Oh, my God!" he exclaimed. "You can't be friends with anyone at The Green Thumb. They're our enemies!"

"Ha ha," Destiny said. "We'll all be working together if we win this bid."

"When," Faith corrected her. " When we win this bid."

Mark laughed. "Hell, yeah! You said it, boss."

"Okay, we'd better get to work," Faith said. "I can't wait to see the entire thing."

"Me, too," Destiny said, walking towards the office.

"Hey," Faith said to her team. "Y'all can shut down early today. There's nothing that can't wait until Monday. Enjoy your weekend."

"Thanks," Bailey said, hurriedly getting her things together.

"My, oh my," Mark said. "I love having happy Faith back."

Faith smirked at Mark and Destiny chuckled as she looked on. She had to agree with Mark, having happy Faith back was amazing. Happy Faith was fucking gorgeous. Her blue eyes sparkled and when she glanced over at Destiny, she felt her heart skip a beat. Not trusting her voice, all Destiny could do was smile.

"They act like I never let them leave early," Faith said, walking past Destiny and into the office.

"Hi, Amy," Destiny said, following Faith inside.

"Hi, Destiny. Someone has been watching the front windows anxiously awaiting your arrival," Amy said.

Destiny looked over at Faith and raised her brows. Faith shrugged.

"I couldn't wait to get here," Destiny admitted. "It's probably not for the reason you think," she said quietly to Faith.

"Oh?" Faith asked.

"I'm excited to see the layout, but I'm very curious about our date tonight," Destiny replied.

The biggest smile grew on Faith's face and Destiny thought her heart might just beat out of her chest.

"Get to work, you two," Amy said, "so you can get finished and have fun." She closed her computer and gathered her things to leave. "I'll lock the front door. See you on Monday."

"Thanks, Amy," Faith replied. "See you Monday."

After Amy left, Faith turned to Destiny. "Let's get this done so the date can begin."

Destiny chuckled, got her laptop out, and set it next to Faith's on her desk. They both went to work tapping their keyboards.

"Okay," Faith said. "I emailed you my garden and finished up the changes we made to the main building."

"Great," Destiny said, staring at her screen. "Let me upload everything into the program and we should be able to view our masterpiece in video format."

"Masterpiece." Faith chuckled. "I know you're kidding, but it may very well be."

"This should give us a view like we're touring the property," Destiny said. "I can pause and zoom in whenever we want." She hit one more key and looked over at Faith. "Are you ready?"

Faith held out her hand and looked up at Destiny. "Let's go."

Destiny slipped her fingers between Faith's and held her hand. Her heart was pounding in her chest at the excitement of what they were about to see, but at the same time, sweet memories of holding hands with Faith flooded her brain. They were never big on public displays of affection, but they did hold hands whenever they were together. It always made Destiny feel closer to Faith and it was a way to show her love.

Destiny took a deep breath and clicked the play button.

The video started as a wide view of the property. It was as if they were walking to the main entrance then veered around on the path to the other buildings. When they went around the back of the main building the little shack came into view.

When they'd started working on the project, whenever Destiny glimpsed the shack, she could feel the emotions of the night they were trapped. The scene would replay in her mind. First came the fear of not getting to Faith before the dogs attacked. It was like a sharp pain in the pit of her stomach. She remembered the heat, the sweat, and the darkness. The hurt from the truth of Faith's story always made it a little darker.

But one day Destiny's view began to change. She smiled when she saw the shack now. It felt like their love had been buried deep in darkness and hurt, but that night it burst through the surface into the light, much like the seeds they sometimes planted. Somehow that night it rose above the darkness and demanded to once again be seen and be felt.

The path wasn't easy, but their love, just like the plants, had survived and it was up to them to tend and nurture it.

"Look, Des," Faith said softly.

Destiny could hear the wonder in her voice.

"It's beautiful," Faith continued. "It makes the building interesting and welcoming. It's definitely unique. I've never seen anything like it. One thing's for sure: it's eye-catching and elicits emotion. They should love that."

Destiny continued to stare and couldn't believe the emotions flying through her mind and body.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Faith asked. "Des, are you all right?"

Destiny took a breath and found her voice. "Just imagine how we can change the plants for the different seasons, giving a whole new vibe," she said.

"We should do that for the presentation," Faith said.

"Yeah," Destiny agreed. "You're right."

"We did this, babe," Faith whispered.

"Yeah, we did," Destiny said, amazed. She looked over into Faith's eyes and for a moment she saw a glimpse of what could've been. They could have been creating expanses like this for the last three years. Instead they'd been struggling to start their own separate businesses.

A flash of anger shot through her. Destiny dropped Faith's hand. She stood up and began to pace around the office. She ran her hand through her hair as hot tears burned her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Faith asked with concern in her voice.