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Then Damon wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me closer to him. “You’re too fucking close to the edge. You could fall.”
I shrug. “That’s the best part.”
Matt laughs, fist-bumping with me. Damon seems in his own world, so I let him be and ask Matt if he rides.
“Yup. Sports bike. Harley. I ride them all. Also—girls.”
Damon snickers, addressing me: “I give you permission to push him.”
We all head back down the trail, and I feel so calm and levelheaded. This is the happiest I’ve been in a long while.
I don’t want it to end.
I spend the night at Gia’s and read multiple books to Athena before bed.
“You were only supposed to read two,” Gia chastised me when I join her and James in their beautiful white kitchen.
“Aunt status.”
James chuckles, winking at my sister. He asks me about work, and I tell him what I’m currently working on. I ask about his job, which we discuss for a good half hour before Gia looks ready to drop dead of boredom.
James goes for a night run, so we get comfortable on the couch as we eat the chocolate lava cakes Gia baked earlier.
“You’re lucky, Gia. James loves you to death.”
She smiles, rubbing her belly. “Yes, well, just because someone loves you doesn’t mean it suits your own expectations of how you should be loved.”
“Sure, sure. Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I’m just an emotional wreck. He’s trying really hard. I know that.” She sighs, tying her hair in a braid. “Sometimes I wish I were more like you.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you don’t pressure people with unrealistic expectations. You let them be themselves. You never pushed Harvey too much—”
“Yeah, and look where that’s gotten me, Gia. There’s nothing wrong with asking for what you want.”
“I know. I know.”
I finish my cake and leave the plate on the table, sinking into their cozy couch. “I think you two need a date. How about next weekend?”
Her eyes light up. “Really?”
I nod.
“I’ll ask James if it works for him. Thanks, Gem.”
I thank her for the cake. Then she asks about my weekend, and I tell her everything, sparing her the few sexual details and everything relating to Damon’s past.
“Shut up! Shut. Up.” She stares at me in total disbelief. “Wow. So, he loves you. Gemma, that’s great. That’s what you wanted, right?”
“Yeah, sure. I wish he could open up more, but I’m confident we’ll get there.”
“And Harvey?”
“It’s ... when I’m alone, it hits me.” Her nod and look of sympathy urge me to continue. “I feel guilty. I’m happy and he’s—well, he’s not.”
“Remember when he met Claire? And you were getting anxious because he was getting happier and it wasn’t with you? Well, I think he’ll be just as happy with time. You need to allow yourself to grieve, Gemma. Grieve the loss of your relationship. If not, all the fears and doubts will ruin everything with Damon.”
