A Two-Seater Was Never Meant for Three Chapter 08

A Two-Seater Was Never Meant for Three Chapter 08

On moving day, Gavin came in person to help.

These past weeks he’d made a point of taking me out every week.

And once, during a break, he’d flown us somewhere together-my first time ever in first class.

I had a vague sense that whatever “small business” his mother kept referring to wasn’t something could casually match.

I kept looking for the right moment to talk to him about it honestly.

The old walk-up building had no elevator.

He shrugged off his jacket, and the shirt underneath pulled taut across his chest with the effort.

To celebrate the new place, I took him to the best restaurant in town, and afterward there was a

Ferris wheel waiting outside.

While Gavin went to settle the bill, I ran into someone I knew.

Three months apart, and Julian had gotten noticeably thinner, the circles under his eyes darker.

I meant to pretend I hadn’t seen him, but he walked straight toward me and said my name, clear

and steady.

“Wendy.”

I greeted him with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

The shadow between his brows only deepened.

“Last time, it was Chloe who wouldn’t let me come see you. The moment she left, I flew back right away. I’ve already cut things off with her.”

“Have you been doing okay? If having me blocked is what makes things easier for you, you can add me back whenever you’re ready. Whatever you want.”

I stepped back, unhurried, out of reach of his hand.

“I thought I made myself clear enough.”

Julian’s hand hung in the air. Something raw flickered through his hollowed eyes.

His voice came out rough. “Is this because I never bought you that love charm?”

“Wendy, I’ve never believed in that stuff. We’re almost thirty-we should be planning for a real

life, a family. Superstitions like that never mattered to me, that’s the only reason I brushed it off

“Once I graduate I’ll qualify for relocation housing through my job. If you still want a charm, we could go back up together, buy it, and hang it in our place. Would that be all right?”

I shook my head, thought it over, and decided not to mention that I’d already moved.

And actually, thanks to him buying the career charm instead, I’d just won first place in a teaching competition. My career luck really had turned out well.

But none of that felt like something I wanted to share with him anymore.

Seven years, I’d shared these small joys with him more times than I could count, hoping each one might be enough to thaw him.

I’d always come away disappointed.

I saw Gavin walking toward us in the distance and said, politely, “Anything else? If not, I have plans

with a friend.”

Gavin’s gaze swept past him. He draped his jacket over my shoulders and caught my hand in his.

“Let’s go. It’ll be cold in a minute.”

My heart skipped-warmth spreading steadily up from where our hands were joined, settling deep

into my bones.

I didn’t pull away.

We reached the Ferris wheel, and an attendant stopped us politely.

“Are the three of you together? I’m sorry, but this ride only has two seats left-the third would have

to wait for the next one.”

I startled, turning to see Julian right behind us, watching the two of us in silence.

Gavin gave our joined hands a slow, deliberate squeeze.

“We’re together.”

The night wind picked up. He helped me into the car, his dark eyes catching the starlight.

Once the wheel started turning, I realized ours was the only occupied car-every other one around

us was empty.

“The attendant just said—”

“I arranged it.” Gavin’s expression was full of quiet warmth.

“This moment matters. I didn’t want anyone interrupting it.”

The carriage rose slowly toward the top.

My pulse picked up with it, my nerves sparking one after another.

He he wasn’t about to-

“Ms. Hale. Will you be my girlfriend?”

A velvet box opened. A gold bracelet lay inside, still and gleaming.

Embarrassment shot straight to the top of my head.

My tongue tied itself in knots, and all I could manage was a flustered nod.

Wendy Hale, what are you even thinking right now?!