"What time and where?"
"It's a surprise."
"Oh, okay." Curse my heart for speeding up at the thought. Grey had always been one to surprise me.
"Wrap up warm, it's cold out today. I'll pick you up at 12:30, if that's okay?"
"Sure," I agreed before realizing he'd never been to my house before. I'd bought it with an inheritance from a late aunt a few years after Grey had left town.
"Where do you live?"
"You know the old school house? I live a few minutes from there. I'll text you directions, it's easier."
"Okay, great. See you then." He sounded pleased that he'd gotten me to agree.
"Bye Grey," I said a little excitedly.
I hung up the phone and quickly sent him the directions. Then I went into my bedroom. My walk-in wardrobe had a vast array of clothes for me to choose from, so I'd have to hurry up. I quickly chose my favorite powder pink cashmere sweater and a pair of skinny jeans. I topped the look off with a pair of woollen Ugg boots. I sat at my vanity, tied my hair up and did my makeup. I don't like to be too heavily made up, but I chose a pink eye shadow to match my sweater and applied some mascara. Once that was done, I let my hair down and used my flat irons to make it look sleek and straight.
At 12:30 on the dot, Grey rang my doorbell. It was no surprise that he was on time, he'd always been punctual. I opened the door and had to look him up and down. He wore a pair of black jeans and a charcoal sweater that hugged his muscular frame. Damn, he looked good. My heart thrashed around my rib cage as I tried to get my feelings under control.
"Hey, Carls," he said as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. My stomach was full of butterflies and I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks, making me blush just as I used to whenever he was around.
"Good afternoon, Grey," I replied and grabbed my purse from beside the door.
"Are we good to go?" he asked with a broad smile that lit up his handsome face.
"Yep," I replied, and made to walk toward his car parked on my drive. He was using the car that he'd driven us around in as teenagers. I got in and was suddenly thrown back to the night we argued, the last night I'd seen Grey before he left.
"But you wanted me to have a career that I enjoyed, Carls. I love you, you know I do-but this is a huge thing for me and I need to go," he said as he looked anywhere but at me. He wouldn't catch my eye, he knew I was crying and he couldn't face it like a man.
"I wanted you to have a career here, Grey. Of course I want you to be happy and follow your heart, but I'm devastated that it has to be on the other side of the world," I said as tears rolled down my face. I wiped them away with the backs of my hands and tried to pull myself together.
"I didn't want to go so far away either, I wanted to stay here with you and be happy. But I'm doing what we said-I found a career that I love. I hate having to go abroad because I'll be away from you-but at the same time, I want to travel and see different things, experience things I couldn't if I was here."
"So your career comes before me?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "At least look me in the eye and answer me, it's the least you owe me, Grey."
"I don't want to have to choose, Carls," he said as he caught my eye. "I just don't want to miss out on the experience of a lifetime. I get to see amazing things and capture them on film while I experience the different cultures."
"Just answer the question, Grey – you want your career more than you want me." I started to cry again, I had wanted to get through this without crying but I was fooling myself when I thought that.
"I'm sorry, Carls," he said as he took my hand into his. "I love you, I always will. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime, it may never happen again. I need to do this. I'm not making a conscious choice to put you second, but if you weren't so stubborn, you'd come with me like I asked."
"I'm not upending my life because you want to go traveling, Grey. Do what you have to, but don't expect me to have waited around for you when you finally return," I said as I opened the door to get out of the car.
"Carly, please … " I heard as I got out and slammed the door. He could choose his career over me, but he wasn't man enough to say the words.
"Carls?" Grey asked, pulling me back to the here and now. "You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking," I replied and gave him a casual smile.
"Well, I said we're here. You were so quiet on the journey-you didn't even answer my questions."
"Questions?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, I asked how you've been and what you've been up to."
How did I explain I was lost in a memory of the fight that had left us two very different people than the ones who had fallen in love? I couldn't tell him that, it wasn't fair, so I just babbled on about what I'd been up to. I told him about my journalism course and how I had become a freelance journalist.
We had arrived at a local restaurant, but it was empty. We walked in and were greeted by the manager. He shook hands with Grey and a waiter seated us at a booth in a cosy little corner. He poured us each a glass of water and left the jug on the table. We looked at the menu and I decided on the lasagne. Once we ordered, Grey told me more about his job as a freelance photographer. He'd managed to see and do a lot of things and ten years apart was a lot to catch up on.
We ate and swapped stories-for a little while I forgot he had a fiancée waiting somewhere for him. Oh well, there was plenty of time to feel guilty later.
Grey paid our bill and we went for a walk. He took my hand in his as we walked, and for a moment it felt like the good old days. I didn't want anyone to see us holding hands and tell Maggie, but I didn't want to let go because it felt too good.
As we walked and talked, it felt good to tell Grey about my life. I was proud of my achievements and he was happy for me, oohing and aahing in all the right places. He told me about the places he had visited and the people he photographed, including some celebrities. I was jealous he had been to so many beautiful places but happy that he was finally doing something he loved so much.
Grey drove me home, and when he parked outside the house, he took my hand in his and looked at me with that amazing smile I loved so much.
"I missed you, Carls. I know it was my own fault for leaving, but I missed you so damn much. I wanted to come home so badly."
"You pursued your dream. You should be proud of how far you've come. I know I wasn't very understanding when you left, but time has passed and I'm so happy for you," I replied. It was true, I had been furious and beyond upset when he left. I had thought we were forever and had held on until the very last minute.
"I never stopped loving you, Carls, not for one second," he said quietly. Then he took my face in the palm of his hand and brushed a soft kiss across my lips. My lips felt like they were on fire. I still loved Grey so much and for him to be here now felt amazing-the only thing was Maggie. He was engaged and shouldn't be kissing me.
"I have to go," I said as I opened the door and bolted from the car.
"CARLS-WAIT!" Grey shouted and rushed to get out of the car.
I put my key in the lock and managed to shut the door before he made it to me.
"Carly, please … I'm confused … open the door and talk to me … what's wrong?" I sank to the floor behind the door and put my head in my hands.
"I can't talk to you, Grey. Go away. Go home. Go and be with Maggie," I replied on the verge of tears.
"Maggie?" he asked softly.
"Yes, you know, the gorgeous girl with the long legs, sleek hair, manicured hands and great dress sense. Oh, and not forgetting THE ENGAGEMENT RING on her finger!" I shouted in frustration.
"I'll talk to you when you're making sense, Carls." I heard his footsteps retreat to his car. He started the engine and drove off-that was when I allowed myself to cry.
Chapter Two
I worked hard all week and didn't hear a peep from Grey, and I'd managed to avoid bumping into him or Maggie-I silently thanked my lucky stars for that. I wasn't sure I could manage seeing them together again, not when I wanted to be the woman by his side.
I was working my Friday shift at the restaurant when my luck changed.
"Excuse me, Miss?"
At the silky voice behind me, I turned with a smile on my face, ready to greet the customers. "Yes?" My heart slammed into my throat when I came face to face with Maggie and, of course, Grey. My smile quivered, but I managed to keep it in place.
"We'd like a table for two, please," she practically purred.
"Sure thing, follow me," I replied in my brightest voice, even though my heart thumped hard and my eyes began to sting. Why did they have to come here on my shift?