Chapter Fifty-Three #2
JT nodded. “I don’t mean this to put any pressure on you or our relationship.
I didn’t tell you what I was doing in case they laughed in my face and told me they didn’t want someone so indecisive on their team.
If it was impossible, I didn’t want to get your hopes up.
Or mine.” JT stared into Ali’s eyes, not sure she was seeing things or if Ali looked happy.
“We have a fighting chance,” Ali said in a low voice.
JT nodded. “If you want us to, we do. If this is really a vacation thing for you, I understand, but I wanted to be able to try. If you want me, I’m all yours.”
Ali smiled warily. “Now I know what you’ve been up to, I think I should tell you what I did while you were gone.”
JT’s stomach dropped. Had she screwed this up completely? Had Ali given up on her in a day?
“First, I freaked out a little about you leaving.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ali laughed. “I was freaking out, for no reason, so I called Tommy to come over and he helped me finish a project at the house and calmed me down.”
“What project?”
Ali shook her head. “I’ll tell you in a minute. Then my mom showed up and went off about how I should get back with Kyle, so I yelled at her and told her I was never getting back together with him. You can imagine my surprise to see him here when I was looking for you.”
Ali’s voice climbed as she spoke, and JT grew more worried.
“Don’t look so scared. I’m fine. I think I have a better understanding of why my mom keeps pushing me toward him.
Talking with her seems like in a scary movie when you have to keep defeating the bad guy.
Kyle showing up here was like the bad guy sitting up that one last time before you smack him with a shovel. ” Ali laughed.
JT reached across the table, but Ali grabbed her hand first. “I’m sorry you went through all of that and I wasn’t here.”
“Oh, I was mad about that, too. You could have told me what you were doing.”
JT sighed. “I didn’t want to let you down if they said no way. I think my chances for Boston are better than zero now, and if they take me we can figure out if we have a future together on our timeline, not in a week.”
The waiter arrived with their salad course but disappeared quickly after they thanked him.
JT fiddled with her fork. “I want a chance with you. I want to find out if we fit together in real life and not only over Christmas vacation. I want to know your friends and meet the people you work with and help you finish your house. I want to wake up with you and fall asleep with you. I want all of that.”
Ali looked around the room. Other couples were having their meals, and at one larger table there was what looked like a family sitting together and laughing. “You want that even if it means having to deal with this town?”
JT nodded and smiled. “I was wrong about the town. Wait, no. I wasn’t wrong about the town as it was when I was a kid.
I was wrong that it hadn’t changed in a decade.
I love this place—it was the people who were a problem.
But this week, I’ve met a lot of people who are amazing and kind and welcoming. ”
Ali smiled. “I’m glad to hear that, because I bought a house here and my job’s here and it would be really annoying to have to sell everything and start over because the woman I love doesn’t like it here.”
JT’s cheeks hurt from smiling. “Really?” JT looked around the room to see if anyone was paying attention to them.
Ali nodded. “I love you. And I don’t care if everyone in this inn knows it. They probably will get the idea if you come up to the room with me later.” Ali quirked an eyebrow and smiled suggestively.
It was so over the top JT had to laugh, even if her stomach flipped at the idea of spending the night with Ali.
“But I also have a confession.” Ali twisted her napkin in her hands.
JT’s heart kicked into a higher gear. “What?”
Ali looked away for a second and JT felt her panic rising. “You know the paint we picked out together for my office?” JT nodded, completely confused. “I hated it.”
“What?” JT asked with a laugh. “Why didn’t you say something before?”
Ali blushed. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.
” JT protested but Ali stopped her. “No, this isn’t your fault.
I was so used to getting along with everyone—my mom, Kyle—I just went along with the color, and then over the last few days I’ve been staring at it and hating it.
Finally, I called Tommy and asked him to help me repaint. ”
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have helped.”
Ali sighed. “Because I was afraid I would hurt your feelings and I didn’t want that.
You didn’t do anything wrong. I agreed to the yellow when I really wanted something darker and richer.
I took the gift certificate we won and I bought the paint and Tommy and I redid the whole room.
” She smiled, her eyes wet. “It looks amazing now. The bookcases you built really stand out.”
JT got up and walked around the table and wrapped Ali in a hug. It was awkward to kneel next to her chair and hug her, but JT didn’t care if the entire place stared at them. She wanted to offer whatever comfort she could.
“Babe, it’s your house and I want you to love it. Who the fuck cares what I think? I’m just some random hockey star.”
Ali laughed and wiped her tears. “No, you’re not. You’re my girlfriend and I care about you and what you think. But I had to do this for me. Do you get that?”
JT sat back on her feet, still at the side of Ali’s chair.
“Of course I do! Do you know the number of things I’ve had to do just for me?
” Ali laughed. “I want you to do whatever you need to do for yourself. But I also want you to know that I will help you if you want it. I’m not going to break if you tell me you hate a paint color.
You don’t have to appease me.” She stood up and took her seat.
“I’m so happy you love your office. Will you show it to me? ”
Ali grinned. “I’d love to. I need a new desk though, something sturdy.” Her eyes flashed with lust and mischief and JT felt like she might fall out of her seat.
“Is that so? Maybe you could tell me about it later.”
Ali shook her head. “Forget telling, I’m going to show you.”