Chapter 24
WALKER
Ifind Lacey curled up in a ball on top of the comforter at the bottom of the unmade bed, a throw blanket draped haphazardly over her, like she started spreading it out but fell asleep before she could finish.
Her brows are furrowed and it hurts something deep in my chest.
Something is wrong.
I don’t know how I know it but I do. She didn’t come down after working for several hours, and while I’d love to pat myself on the back for tiring her out last night, it’s not that either. She’s worried, and I have a sinking suspicion her brother has something to do with it.
Hell, maybe I have something to do with it.
All I know is that I don’t want her to give up her dreams for me. If Chicago is where her heart truly is then I’ll respect that.
But if there’s even a sliver of a chance that being here with me would make her happy, then I have to try.
Grabbing another blanket from the closet, I drape it over her and then quietly exit the room. There’s a framed black-and-white picture of the Chicago skyline in the hallway, nestled between two pictures of Starlight Bay I purchased from a local artist.
I like the pictures for different reasons—both places shaped pieces of the man I am today.
Making my way downstairs, I see more examples of the life I managed to combine without realizing it.
A chair I bought from a farmers’ market one weekend when I went exploring into the more rural areas outside Chicago.
A mug with seashells on it sits in the cabinet, a gift from my parents after returning to my hometown.
My mantel is littered with pictures of the opening of Coastal Eats, Christmas with my parents and brother from a couple of years back, and of Murphy and Lacey.
I don’t have a lot of memories that don’t have Lacey and Murphy in them.
We’d grown up and sometimes apart, but we’d also found each other again.
Defied the odds.
Is it a sign?
So many examples of my past and present coming together in a way I’ve curated to fit this new chapter in my life. The only thing I didn’t anticipate is the woman sleeping upstairs, the woman who just might be my future.
“What time is it?” Lacey’s voice is sleepy as she walks into the kitchen with a blanket still wrapped around her shoulders.
“Almost six.”
“Why’d you let me sleep all day?” she asks, taking her regular seat at the island, and I smile.
She’s so damn pretty.
“You needed it. I think everything with work and then changing your plans and driving here finally caught up with you.” Taking a sip of my drink, I nod to her.
“It gave me time to clear the driveway and then get your car towed out of the yard. There’s no damage—the tow driver was very impressed by the way—and I parked it behind mine. ”
“What? Walker, you didn’t have to do that. What do I owe you? I think my purse is upstairs.”
“Nothing. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Walker.”
“Lace, can you just let me take care of you?”
“Walker, this is—”
“Temporary. Yeah, I know. You keep reminding me. Doesn’t change the fact I have better manners than to let you pay for the tow. My mother would kick my ass, your mother would kick my ass, and if they didn’t, your brother definitely would.”
“Where are your parents anyway? I don’t think I asked before.”
“Nice deflection,” I note and she rolls her eyes, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “They’re visiting my brother. He couldn’t get the time off work so they went to him.”
“You didn’t want to go?”
“I saw him for Thanksgiving, and we’ll make time to see each other in the spring, but we’ve never been like you and Murphy.”
“Okay, but then what are you doing for Christmas?”
“Hallie’s parents invited me over, but I think I’ll tell them we’d rather have a nice quiet evening here.” Pausing, I add, “Unless you want to go there. Your parents still don’t know you’re here, right?”
She shakes her head. “We’re still just pretending that we’ll have Christmas closer to New Year’s Eve. Staying in is great. But I didn’t get you a present.”
“You don’t need to get me anything.”
“I know, but I just didn’t expect this…”
Her expression is so crestfallen, and I know it’s not just about the present—it’s everything. Nothing has gone as planned, and she’s just trying to get her feet back under her. I want to scoop her up into my arms and kiss away all the sadness.
So that’s exactly what I do.