Page 105 of Yours, Finally

Jake smiled, but a small frown appeared on his brow. "Thank you, Gabe."

"Your voice is one thing," Lina added. "Writing your own music is another. This quality, though? That's special."

"Your reaction is in part because you know me," Jake said.

"Or we genuinely enjoyed it." I gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Don't tell us what we feel."

"What I feel is that I would like another drink." Lina pulled at Gabe's shirt. "Come with me? Do you want anything, guys?"

Jake and I shook our heads. Gabe let Lina take him away, and I sent her a silent thank you for giving Jake and I some privacy.

As soon as they disappeared among the crowd, I stole a kiss from Jake.

"Vi!"

"That song was a choice! A risky choice."

"Like that kiss?"

"No one saw the kiss.Everyoneheard the song."

He shrugged. "It had to be a song that mattered. So I chose a song about you."

An arrow pierced my heart, his words carved onto the shaft.

Too late, cupid. I'm already there.

We hadn't talked about love, but his song left no room for doubts.

"It pains me that I can't hug you right now," I said. "It's an ache in my chest that I can't kiss you over and over, tell you how I feel. How your song tattooed something that feels like truth on my skin."

"Fuck," he muttered. He shook his head. "I know."

"I'm ready, Jake. I want to tell everyone about us."

He blanched. Even in the dim light of the bar, I saw the way the idea worried him.

"I know." He nodded, despite the evidence of his feelings. "We need to find a way to lay it on the line."

It didn't make sense to hide it, anymore. In fact, we deserved the freedom to show the world what existed between us. This tenderness, this strength, this bond— it was bathed in gold.

We deserved to collect the keepsakes of a history together.

"Timing sucks." He ran a hand through his hair. "Part of your family are arriving tomorrow, and we have to entertain them until the party, and finalize details—"

"But timing always sucks for us! If we learned our lesson, we can't keep waiting in the hope that the pieces fit together. We have to make them fit."

He pressed his lips together and nodded again. "Fine. Yes, you're right. Let's talk on… let's talk after the luncheon on Sunday. We'll come up with a plan."

Chapter 31

Vi

Applause rose among theluncheon attendees, and I smiled in gratitude. I took my documents and made for the stairs at the end of the dais.

Most of Saturday had been taken up by airport runs, and making sure people were settled in their hotel rooms. We had made up plans with them, letting them know when we would visit and spend time together, and when they would be able to go out and about and get to know the city. We explained what to expect for the party day, and their flight back the next weekend. We had been busy, and everything had gone well.

Gabe and Lina were in charge of Sunday, considering my earlier commitments. Still, Jake and I were expected to join thefamily later, and spend time with aunts and uncles and cousins I hadn't seen in years.