Page 80 of P.S. It’s Always Been You
* * *
No names. Not even stage names. We couldn’t give away who we’d been—The Silver Blade and His Pink Ribbon Girl. Or who we became—the Valentinas.
* * *
We were performers in disguise, simply known as The Knife-Thrower and His Target Girl.
* * *
We loved those rare nights when we performed, but we loved them most of all because they kept us close to our story, to how we met and fell in love.
* * *
Why did we leave this story for you?
* * *
To remind you that love is a choice.
* * *
That love is always worth choosing.
* * *
Always worth fighting for.
* * *
Always worth sacrificing for.
* * *
Love is the greatest choice you can make.
* * *
And we love you madly, deeply, always.
* * *
Love,
E & G, most affectionately known as Mom and Dad
41
Hunter
Some decisions are easy. Some are hard.
And some are hidden in plain sight.
I tuck the letter safely away in the compass, slide it back into the jacket pocket, and take out my phone.
“I have a call to make.”
Presley blinks back her surprise. “You do?”
“Yeah. Stay here.”
A few seconds later, Trevor answers. “Hey, boss man. What’s up?”
I waste no time. “What would you think about taking over my show?”
“What?” It has twenty syllables.
Presley’s eyes widen.
“You be the frontman. You do the adventures. I’ll do the specials.”
He jumps on it. “Um, yeah, but why?”
“Sometimes a man has to do something else,” I say, meeting Presley’s gaze, giving her a smile.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making another choice.”
“Dude, you’re being awfully cagey.”
“Do you want to take over or not?”
“I do. I absolutely do.”
“I’ll give you more details later.”
I hang up, tuck my phone in my pocket, and take her hand. “I’m not going on the road all the time. I’m not chasing Everest again. I’m not going to spend my life away from you.”
She presses her hands to her temples like she can’t fit my words into her head. “But, but, but . . . I wasn’t even sure if I was going to take the job.”
I scoff. “Are you crazy?”
“Crazy in love.”
I laugh. “Good. Stay that way. But why on earth were you thinking of turning it down?”
She shrugs simply. “Because it would mean less time with you.”
I reach for her, pressing a kiss to her sweet, sweet lips. “God, I love you. I fucking love you. But you’re not turning it down. You’re doing it. And I’m doing less.”
“But you love adventures.”
“I love you more. How many times do I need to climb Everest? Five? Please. I’m good. Been there, done that. Have the T-shirt.”
“It energizes you though,” she says.
“And I’ll get by on a couple hits. I’ll do specials. I’ll do less. But you know what I won’t do?”
“What?”
“I won’t give you up. I won’t lose you. Deep down, something in me hasn’t been complete since we split, and it took me almost dying to realize it. How the hell could I read those letters and not put you first?”
“Oh, God.” Her voice catches. “Is this just because of the letters?”
“No. It’s because those letters gave me perspective. It’s because I choose you. You’re what I want most in the world. Now and forever. Tell me you’re down with this idea and let me kiss you again.”
“You’ll really follow me around?”
I nod emphatically. “I’ll go with you and I’ll be a happy bastard.”
“Yes. I say yes. I say a million yeses.”
I slide a hand through her hair, bring her close, and seal that promise with a kiss.
A kiss for all time.
As a promise of forever.
One that says love is the first choice I’m making every damn day.
When I break away, she’s holding my face. “Thank you.”
This is right. This is good. “It’s time for you to chase your dreams, honey.”
“You’re my dream.”
The sound of applause rends the air.
“Well, it seems someone found what I left for him.”
I turn around to see Vikas. He’s here, and so is my mom, along with the woman from the Exploration Society, and Corinne. And Pat Caribaldi.
42
Hunter
“Fancy meeting you here,” I say, wondering why the hell everyone is gathered around us looking like they just found million-dollar bills in their underwear.
“You missed my speech.” Vikas frowns.
“How was it? Did you wow them with your crazy tales?” I keep it cool while I gage what, exactly, is up.
He smiles as he answers. “I did. They clapped and cheered and threw flowers and candy at me. And you? You were busy playing hooky?”
“As a matter of fact, not only did I skip your speech, I snooped in your jacket.”
“Find anything interesting?” The question comes from Corinne in her warm, smoky voice.
Presley chimes in. “Actually, we found a compass. Funny thing, Corinne. You mentioned you were cleaning your collection when we spoke yesterday. Any idea about that?”
The woman gives a cat ate the canary and a canary pie too grin. “I see you’re connecting the dots.”
