Strong Enough

“Let me show you.” He pulled away from my complex. “It’s a short drive. Twenty minutes or so.”

I tried to think of where he might be taking me, but I couldn’t.

“So tell me what’s going on with you.”

I miss you every day. “I’ve been working a lot.”

“Ellen told me. That’s great.”

I’m lonely at night. “I bought a used laptop, and I’m taking an English course online. Mechanics and grammar, things like that.”

“Good for you.”

Nothing feels good without you. “And I met someone who works at Paramount as a screen writer.”

“Really? Where?”

“He’s a regular at the bar. Ellen introduced me. And he offered to let me shadow him at work a little bit, to get a feel for the job. I won’t get paid, of course, it would be more as a favor, but I don’t mind. Everyone has to start somewhere.”

“Of course they do. That’s fantastic, Maxim. I’m so happy for you.”

“I wanted to tell you about it right away,” I admitted. “But I wasn’t sure I should call you.”

“I understand.” He didn’t say anything else, and I wondered again where he could possibly be taking me.

A few minutes later, I recognized the neighborhood we were in, and I sat up taller in my seat. “The house.”

He grinned. “The house.”

“You bought it?”

“Not yet. I thought I should see it first. And I wanted you with me.”

My pulse galloped away from me, taking my thoughts with it. What did this mean? Had he changed his mind about us?

He parked in the house’s driveway, behind a small white Toyota. “That’s probably the agent’s car. She must be inside already. Before we go in…” He shifted in his seat to face me, removing his sunglasses and laying them in his lap. Then he reached over and took my hand. “I need to apologize. You were right. If we’re going to be together, it should be out in the open. I’m so tired of feeling ashamed of myself. I don’t want to pretend I don’t feel this way anymore. It’s not worth it.”

I couldn’t find words, so I squeezed his hand.

“And I hurt you,” he went on. “I made you feel like you weren’t enough, and that isn’t true. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, never trusted anyone so deeply. I’ve never wanted to change my life so drastically to be with someone, but I know it’s the right decision.” He took a breath. “Because you make me happy. You make me believe. You make me better. And none of my dreams matter if I can’t share them with you.” He pressed his lips to my fingers. “Say it’s not too late.”

“It’s not too late,” I managed, but my throat was so tight.

“Say you still want to be with me, even though I’m a grumpy old man who can’t see the truth right in front of his face.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I do.” I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, and he took my head in his hands, deepening the kiss. It was the kind of thing he’d never have done in broad daylight before, even in his car. It filled me with hope.

He rested his forehead against mine, eyes closed, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks. “I was scared I’d lost you.”

“Never. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. And we have some time to make up for.” His meaning was unmistakable.

“We do,” I agreed. “But maybe not right here. I don’t want to be that open.”

He grinned and let me go, slipping his sunglasses back on. “Me neither. Come look at this house with me. If the inside is what I’m hoping for, I’m going to buy it. From now on, I’m going to do more things that make me happy, and I won’t care what anyone says.”

We got out of the car and walked toward the porch. “I’m so glad you brought me here. And I’m proud of you.”