Page 103 of Let's Call a Truce
“No,” I said. “It’s perfect. I love Paris.”
He let out a sigh of relief, running a hand through his hair.
“But I can’t just run off to Paris, Ben,” I continued.
“I’m suggesting we all run off to Paris,” he said, stepping closer so he could flip to the next page in the binder.
Then I really looked at what was in my hands. Pages ofplans. A description of the ballet currently showing at the opera house—his nod to Sophie. A breakdown of the two teams playing in a soccer game for Clara. A page about the differences between Disney World and Disneyland Paris to plan a day out there. Which actually sounded like hell but would make the girls so excited. Here was his understanding of my kids, their passions and personalities, written out in ink.
The last page had a heading at the top:
Optional—though preferable—activities
and included several romantic outings for us.
“I asked Kendall if she would come to help wrangle the kids so we could both enjoy the trip. Even if you aren’t ready for us yet, we could go as friends. Paris would definitely have more fun. And it’s a chance to get reacquainted. There are three rooms, so you could stay with your girls, and I could stay with Paris if…” His throat bobbed, like even acknowledging I might turn him down was something he couldn’t force out of his mouth.
“This is all booked?” I asked.
“No,” Ben said quickly. “Just organized. I mean, the apartment is booked, but if you don’t come, it just means Paris and I will have separate rooms. Which would be good for hiding my crying if you walk away.” He let out a little chuckle at his not-quite joke. “Asia’s on standby to hit confirm as soon as you give the go-ahead, but there is zero obligation to say yes. I mean, I hope you do, but because you want to. Not because you feel like you have to.”
“I can’t leave work right now—”
“I talked to Christina this morning and she said, if you wanted to, it wouldn’t be a problem. She thinks it would be a good chance for you to decompress before you take over.”
That’s one problem down, but I had way more on my to-do list. “It’s not just my job. We only have three weeks until all thenew-school-year activities start. Not to mention all the back-to-school shopping—”
“Has already been handled. I called Gabriela after Christina and talked her into giving me the shopping lists early. I’m paying Kendall extra to go around today to buy everything while the kids are still with your parents, and it’ll be at your house, organized by class, before we land tonight. Paris and Sophie are both with Ms. Germano, by the way. And Clara got Mrs. Wahba.”
I squealed, one hand coming to cover my mouth in an attempt to muffle my reaction. “Really? She’s supposed to be the best fifth-grade teacher!”
He chuckled, his own eyes lighting up. “I know. Clara’s going to have a great year.”
“This is all… bold. What if the girls don’t have passports?” I asked with a tilt of my head, and he shook his own, rolling his lips together to hide his smile. He knew he had me.
“They do. You told me that story about having to rush-order them for your last trip right before Jason died. They’d still be valid.”
My heart squeezed, both at the fact that he recalled the conversation and at the comfortable way he brought up Jason, a reminder that he didn’t consider him a dirty secret. “You remembered that?”
He let out a gust of air, not quite a laugh. “Juliana, I remember everything you’ve ever said to me. I could fill a whole book with the sarcastic comments you made before you started letting me touch you, so I think I’d remember the things you told me after.”
“You thought of everything, didn’t you?” I stared at him in wonder.
“All you have to do is pack and show up,” he said, his eyes turning solemn. “You deserve to be taken care of sometimes. To get to enjoy what you love without having to take care of everything. I’d like to take care of it for you, if you’ll let me.”
The issues from last night hadn’t disappeared. They were there, whispering in my ear. The fear that we wouldn’t work. That our individual bravery wouldn’t be enough to get the other person through the scary days. Or worse, that we’d be everything my heart said we could be, but he’d still be taken from me.
But he was right there, beautiful and breathing, and helovedme. The earnest look in his eyes, the desperation and impatience he was trying—and failing—to hide, filled my heart so fully that the idea of not choosing it seemed impossible.
I stepped closer, leaving only inches between our bodies, and took his hand in mine. The truth of his words earlier clanged through me as I looked down at our intertwined fingers. We belonged to each other.
In such close proximity, the golden flecks in his dark brown eyes stood out in stark relief, and I made a quick wish I would get to look into them every day for the rest of my life. My hand pushed back a lock of his hair that had fallen forward, and his eyes fluttered closed. The space away from his searching gaze gave me the confidence I needed.
“I love you, Ben.” His eyes popped open, a mix of shock and joy. “I’ve loved you longer than I realized, and being away from you has been torture.”
He pulled me to him as he wrapped one hand around the back of my neck. He kissed me like it was our first and last time, like he worried I would change my mind and would never let him do it again.
Happy tears ran from my eyes as his deep kiss turned to small ones peppered all over my face.
