“No. We haven’t exactly been talking lately.” She looked around, not seeing Nicole, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t lurking.
“You know, you’ve already become an urban legend at the office. Turning down junior partnership like that after all the work you did. No one really believes it.” He slid into the seat next to her, in the space where the place card still read Dominic’s name. “So that’s it, then? All that work, all that time, and…you’re gone?”
She smiled wryly. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that. I’ll be around another couple of weeks, closing out some cases, sending out notices to my clients that I’m moving to another firm and that their cases will be reassigned. General housekeeping.”
“Can you tell me where you’re moving? Which big firm snatched you up? MacKenzie? Jacob Snell?”
“Actually, I’ve decided to downsize. I’m going to work at Jessica Lund’s firm. Specializing in employee rights.”
His brows furrowed. “That’s quite the downgrade. I don’t think they have more than ten attorneys on staff. What suddenly made you decide to change your course?”
“Just wanted something different for myself.”
“Kate…” He took a breath and leaned toward her. “I meant what I said in your office that day. And I’ve given you some time and space to get to the same conclusion as I have. We’re meant to be. And I don’t care what anyone says anymore, I can’t bear to be without you.”
“And Nicole?” Kate looked around. “How does she feel about this development?”
“I don’t think we’re cut out for each other after all. I’m here alone, aren’t I? Same as you.” He smiled and leaned forward.
“I’m sorry to hear about you and Nicole. Really. I thought you were pretty perfect for each other.”
He shrugged. “Her priorities were all skewed. And she was always railing on you and my parents’ interference. I got tired of it.”
Michael was running away from another relationship. Why didn’t that surprise her? But instead of any kind of satisfaction, she only felt sadness.
“Look, Michael. I want to be straight with you. I’ve come to realize a lot these past few days, and one of those things is that…I’m not in love with you anymore.”
“Kate, stop. I know that you’re hurt and upset because of how I—”
She held her hand up. “I was hurt and upset, but I’m speaking from a place of absolute honesty. And all I want for you right now is…happiness. Whether with Nicole or someone else. But you should know, a relationship, any relationship, is going to be tough. It’s not always going to be roses, and you can’t keep running away when things get tough. Before you blow this thing with Nicole, you should be sure you’re not making a huge mistake. Whether her priorities are skewed or whatever, what matters is how you feel about each other. Whether, when you come home at the end of the day, it’s her face you want to see waiting for you on the other side of the door. Her smile, her touch that will be the last thing you experience when you fall asleep. That’s what matters.”
Kind of how she felt about Dominic.
Michael sat back, blinking. “Wow. That’s…interesting.”
And she knew with absolute certainty at that point she meant everything she’d said. She no longer felt any tie to Michael. She only wanted to be with one person and make his future her future. Now.
Kate saw Michael’s parents on the dance floor, their attention focused on the two of them sitting there. They looked worried and Kate couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She waved at them.
“Michael. There’s something I have to do. Will you excuse me?” And she rose and grabbed her purse before he could respond.
There was a person she needed to see. Someone to whom she had a new proposal to make. Her fingers flew across the keys of her cell phone as she headed toward the club’s fancy powder room, where she might have some privacy.
Please pick up.
Half an hour later, her calls were still going to voicemail and her texts were showing unread.
Why wasn’t he taking her calls?
On the eighth call, she decided to leave a quick message.
“Dominic? It’s me. I really need to talk to you, so please call me when you get this message. I—I need you to know something.” She thought about how much to share and finally thought, To hell with it. “I love you. So when you get this message, please call me. No matter your answer.”
Okay. She’d done it.
Oh. God.
What had she done?