“Hello?” she says, completely exasperated.
“Hey, Nat.”
She sighs. “Now isn’t a good time.”
“Oh, sorry, babe. Want me to call back?” I’m smiling because the sound of her voice makes me happy, and I have a feeling I’m about to see come through the door any second now.
“No, Brennan. Listen, New Year’s was fun. We had a good time, but I really think—”
Natalie comes through the double doors but doesn’t see me.
“Nat don’t finish that sentence without looking behind you.”
“What? That doesn’t even make sense. What are you . . .” she turns around and her phone slowly drops from her ear, “Brennan?”
I walk toward with her. When I reach her, my arm goes around her shoulders and I lean in to kiss her by her ear. “I’m so sorry if you thought you weren’t a priority in my life because you are, Nat. You’re my only priority. I still have to work but I can do it from here or New York. I can stay for a few months until we figure out what’s next.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m here to see if I can take you out on a proper date, at least enough of them to last a lifetime?”
Natalie launches herself into my arms, smashing the flowers between our chests. Our lips meet and it’s like I’m a teenager all over again, kissing her for the first time. When we part, I waste no time in telling her exactly how I feel.
“I’m so in love with you Natalie O’Brien.”
“I love you, Brennan. So, so much.”
Something tells me the songs I’m about to write, especially the one to replace the teeny bopper bubble gum song, are going to be hits, because my muse is back in my life and now everything is perfect.
THE END