Page 70 of P.S. It’s Always Been You

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“Good. It’s working, then.” His devilish grin makes my stomach flip. “And we need to figure out which theater the last letters are in.”

“We do. But do you know what this means?” I ask, energized by the chase once more.

His lips twitch. “I do, smarty-pants. It means Edward and Greta performed again.”

“That’s the height of romance.” I can feel that swoon coming over me once more as I think about their love story.

Hunter’s phone trills. He grabs it from his pocket and sighs. “Lenny. He’s looking for me. Driving around, wondering where to pick me up.”

My eyes widen. “And Daniel wanted to join us at the estate today.”

“We’ll talk on the way,” Hunter says as he replies to Lenny with our location.

But talking on the way doesn’t happen. Daniel calls me, asking us to swing by and pick him up.

We don’t catch a moment alone all day, not with Daniel as our third wheel, and he’s utterly delighted by everything in the home as we finish up the job.

Later, Daniel slides into the car to return to the city, and I tell my boss I’ll join him shortly.

Outside the house, I grab a moment with Hunter.

“I’m going to head to my mom’s house since it’s a few minutes away,” he tells me. “My tux is there. But I’ll see you tonight for the gala. Can you meet me early, in the theater district? We can search there in the three remaining theaters.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I say with a coy smile, even though I don’t feel coy in the least. I feel buoyant and also terrified. I don’t know which one will win out.

“Good. And I want to talk tonight. We need to figure out what we’re doing,” he says as a warm breeze blows through the maple trees outside the Valentina estate. “I’m leaving in two days, honey.”

That’s the problem.

He’s leaving. He’ll always be leaving.

And I’ll always be staying.

And really, nothing has changed.

He’s still promising we’ll somehow magically make it work.

I want to believe him, but I’m ten years wiser, and magic doesn’t make love last.

Work does.

For now, I give him a professional goodbye and head to the car, where Daniel chats animatedly about how well this project has gone, the calls he’s fielding because of it, how it’s definitely putting Highsmith and us—he keeps saying us—back on the map again.

“That’s so great,” I say, because it is, because this is what I’ve longed for professionally.

But personally, my mind is elsewhere.

Once I’m back in the city at my apartment, I try to breathe, but I’m finding it nearly impossible.

Not when Hunter’s told me everything my traitorous heart longed to hear.

I shut and lock the door behind me, march to my bed, yank the nightstand drawer open, and read his note from years ago.

* * *

Dear Presley,

* * *

You.

I think of you.

I dream of you.

I want so much more of you.

* * *

I trace the words, wondering how Greta felt when Edward told her he was coming for her. Is Hunter my Edward? Or is he still the man who broke my heart? Does he simply want more of me, or is he willing to figure out how to have me?

I have no idea, so I call reinforcements, dialing Truly. When she answers, I blurt out, “Can people change?”

“What happened, sweetie? Tell me everything.”

“He said he loves me. He said he’s fallen in love with me again. He said . . .”

I don’t finish because she tells me she’s already hailing a cab.

Fifteen minutes later, I buzz her up.

I’ve never been happier to see my friend, especially because, in a heartbeat, all these emotions bubble up, spill over, and turn into a sea of tears.

“Do you love him?” she asks as we settle on the couch, a glass of wine in my hand, raspberry tea in hers.

I lick my lips and shrug.

“Liar.”

“Why is that a lie?”

“You know why. This is not a question you’re unsure about. Do you love him?”

I gulp in all the air in the city. “I think I do. That’s the problem.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know if he’s changed. He’s promising the same things he promised ten years ago. It’s all stories and hope. But what if he breaks my heart again?”

“Only you can decide whether to take that risk. All I can say is cross-examine his ass and make sure he’s changed before you say yes.”

I don’t know if he has.

But I know this: I have. I’m going to protect my heart before I give it away again to someone who already has the lock and key.

First, though, I have to do something.

After all, there are certain rules a woman should always follow.

Definitely never show up to see the ex unless you can walk in like you own the place.

32

Hunter

There is hardly time.

But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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