I love you.
And I love you even more now because you risked your own future to give me one. But why does one of us need to be destroyed? We would never feel whole without the other.
So come back to me. Be with me. I love you so much. And I know this thing between us is real.
You know where to find me.
Love,
Grace
I read the letter three times before I am flying out of my desk chair and grabbing my keys. I open my office door and find Owen leaning against the wall on the other side.
“Did you read it?” I ask him.
“The article?”
“No, the note that was in there.”
He shakes his head. “I had no intention of reading the love note my sister left for you.”
I smirk at him. “And where does that put us?”
He steps toward me, and I almost think he is about to take a swing at me. “Well, I know you already fucked her, so I can’t tell you to not touch her.” He pauses. “So don’t break her fucking heart, or I’ll break your fucking neck.”
He throws an arm around me, and I can’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry I went behind your back.”
“No, you aren’t. Because if you didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. Fuck, I should have known something was going on with you two. Lies you both told me. And the way she seemed so happy. She was sad when she came here. But she suddenly had life in her again. I thought maybe it was because she got out of the political mess of DC, but now, I know it’s because of you.”
I nod.
“You love her?”
“Yeah, man. I do. More than I ever thought I could love someone.”
He pats me on the back and then pushes me toward the elevator. “Then go tell her, and don’t break her heart.”
“Thanks, Owen.”
* * *
I pull into my driveway and see her sitting on my steps. I knew she would be here. Because this is where she always came when she needed me. I barely shift the car into park and I am crawling out of it, jogging to my front steps.
“Grace.”
She smiles at me. “I’m guessing you read the article.”
“I did.”
“And my letter?”
I nod.
“I’m sorry—”
“You apologized enough in that letter. I don’t need to hear it from your lips.”
A sad look falls onto her face. “I see.”