She took a deep breath before plunging in. "I'm taking the job in Seattle."
Luke blinked a few times but said nothing. Her fingers tightened around his but his expression remained blank.
"It's more than just a job. It's a partnership in a booming company." She paused, waiting for a reaction. Nothing. "I'm miserable at Stein and Watson. I knew before I left for Seattle that I had to make a change one way or the other. The thought of accepting the junior executive position makes me want to curl up and cry."
"I don't know what to say." Luke looked away. "Of course I want you to be happy." His eyes returned to her looking bleak. "Do you think it's smart to uproot your life so suddenly? I agree that you need a career change. You need to find time for a life. You need more than just work, but until now you've refused to think of anything else. You're just so driven."
He gripped her hand with both of his and stroked her knuckles with his thumb. "Sweetheart, why don't you try to find another firm or a different position all together? Hell! You could work for me! I can't pay you the kind of wages you're used to making, but I can bring you in making enough to be comfortable while you decide what you want to do next. Maybe a year of working a good old nine-to-five job would do you some good. What do you think? I'll be the best boss you've ever had. You can make your own hours. In fact, I have a position that would allow you to work from home most of the week. What do you think?" He smiled broadly, finding a solution to her problems easily.
The hopeful expression on his face made her heart throb. She was going to miss him so much. Too much. This was going to be even harder than she'd anticipated. She'd never imagined Luke would offer her a job to keep her here. He was problem solving. That's what Luke did. Now that she was open to making a change, he was going to look for a way to make that happen while keeping her in New York.
Grace ran a hand through her gold-red hair and sighed. Luke stiffened and released her hand.
"What the fuck is that, Grace?" Luke's warm brown eyes blazed back at her with anger. At first she wasn't sure what he was referring to, until he looked down at the hand now resting on the table top.
Grace cleared her throat uncomfortably. "That's the other thing I needed to tell you."
Luke gripped his side of the table with both hands until his knuckles turned white. His jaw was a rigid line of displeasure. There was hurt and anger in that look.
"Jack and I spent a lot of time together and . . ." she tried to explain but Luke cut her off.
"You're going to marry the two-timing, no he was actually more like a four-timing, son of a bitch!" Luke's voice was raised in anger. He had never, not once in over seven years, raised his voice to her. People at near-by tables turned to look at them. Grace flushed red.
"I'm still considering it, Luke," she told him in a hushed tone that expressed her displeasure at his outburst. "I haven't said yes, yet," she continued.
"That's bullshit and you know it!" he yelled again. Luke was quickly losing his temper. Grace was shocked.
"It's not bullshit. And I don't like the way you're talking to me," she snapped back.
"Hell if I care how you feel anymore, Grace Yates. Or should I call you Grace Landry? You aren't wearing that monstrosity for the hell of it." He nodded toward her hand that was now clinched in confusion and irritation in her lap.
"He asked me . . . but it was too soon. We've only been together for a couple of weeks. He knew it would be too soon for me. I'm still thinking about it. But he asked me to wear the ring until I make up my mind," she explained.
"He knew it was too soon, but he asked you anyway? It's only been a few weeks but you're wearing his ring? Do you hear yourself?" He shook his head. "He may as well have pissed on you to mark his territory. That's why he wanted you to wear the ring."
Luke stood and dug his wallet out of his jacket pocket. "You're lying to yourself if you think you haven't already made up your mind to marry him. Be honest. Would you be moving across the country to work with him every day if you didn't know you'd be together? Would you be able to handle standing by while he dated and went about his life? You couldn't handle it in college. I didn't blame you. I can't image you'd enjoy it now." He sneered at her. He actually curled his lip like something smelled badly.
Luke fished a few twenties out of his wallet and dropped them on the table for the waitress. He turned on his heels and walked away. Was he just going to leave? Why was he so angry? Grace was stunned by his attitude. She stood and watched him go. Everyone was looking at them. She knew Luke didn't like Jack. He'd been the one to watch her make a fool of herself in school. He'd been the one to dry her tears. It stood to reason that he would be against the idea of marriage at first. Luke would want her to be happy. They were best friends. He would get past his dislike of Jake once he saw how content she was, right? She didn't understand this rage.
Luke reached the door and stopped with his back to her. Slowly, he turned around and returned to the table. He came to stand next to her and the hurt in his eyes nearly broke Grace. He was truly hurting. Why?
"I've loved you for seven years, Grace Yates," he told her.
"I love you, too," she said and tried to touch his arm but he backed up a step.
"No, Grace. I've been in love with you. I waited for you to get over Jack. I didn't want to be your rebound mistake. Then when I thought you were past Jack I waited for you to see how good we are together, how much I want to make you happy. I waited for you to see that I'm the man who's always there when you need me. I've always had your back. I came to this godforsaken city for you. I refused to enter any serious relationships, because all I wanted was you." The confession fell between them like a stone. She stared at him slack jawed.
"I . . . you never told me. I didn't know," she said lamely.
"I never told you because I feared losing our friendship. I knew if I told you and you didn't feel the same way things would never be the same between us. I'd rather be just your friend than lose the closeness we share. But this is too much. That man crushed you. In doing so, he crushed me. Seven years go by and I thought you were over him. I thought I had a chance, if only a small one and that was enough for me. I held on. I was so blind. He calls and you run to his side. He crooks his finger and you change your entire life. After just days you're wearing his ring. I've been waiting for you to return my love . . ." a tear suddenly tracked down Luke's cheek, "for seven long fucking years. I can't do it anymore."
Grace wanted to take him into her arms but she knew he wouldn't allow it now. "I do love you, Luke," she sputtered.
He glared at her left hand with glassy eyes. "No, you don't. Not the way I need you to." He looked her in the eye again. "I'm done. I can't do this with you again. I can't wait any longer." He took a backwards step toward the door. Defeat and resignation were stamped on his handsome face. Grace didn't know what to say or how to make this better. She never wanted to lose Luke. Never. "I'll always love you. Please, don't ever forget that, Grace." He stepped back another step and looked her over, as if committing her every feature to memory. "Be happy, Grace. That's really all I've ever wanted for you." With that he turned and left the restaurant at a fast clip.
Grace stood in silence for a moment trying to absorb what had just happened. Luke had walked out of her life. Jack had been right. Grace just couldn't wrap her head around it. Luke was in love with her . . . for all this time. And he'd remained silent rather than lose her friendship. But their friendship was over? It wouldn't be. She did love him. Too much to just let him walk away. She grabbed her jacket and purse and went after him. They needed to talk about this. But when she reached the sidewalk he was nowhere to be seen.
She walked to the subway to hop the train that would take her to Luke's place. But when the train came she didn't get on. She stood there on the platform crying while New York moved around her. She'd truly hurt Luke. How could she not have known? The longer she thought about it the more clear things became. Luke had done everything short of coming out and telling her that he loved her. He'd told her in his own way with his actions instead of empty words. And she had seen it. It had just been easier to ignore it. She was afraid to get close. And she hated being alone. Being with Luke was safe, so she'd allowed him to be everything to her. Luke was everything except a lover. She'd done to Luke what Jack had done to her, only worse. Sure, she'd been longing for Jack while he moved on with his life. But she hadn't had to watch it. Luke had. He'd been there to witness everything. The boyfriends. The break-ups. Everything. And he'd still been her best friend through it all. Now he was gone. He was gone and she still couldn't say she didn't want Jack. So she would let him go. Even if it did feel like she had a broken heart.