Page 103 of Forbidden Romeo
Before we could leave, Erik stands, swiping his hands across the moisture pooling in his eyes and crosses to us. He cups the back of Holden’s neck and pulls him in tightly for a hug. Then, turning to me, Erik holds out a hand for me to take. It’s notable that he doesn’t just take my hand. He leaves me the option.
Forgive. Or not forgive.
“I’m sorry, Kate,” he says. “Laurie and I were terrible to you. I’m sorry if we broke your spirit.”
Slowly, I reach out and place my hand in his. “You did break me,” I admit. “But that’s the funny thing about feeling decimated. Until you’re broken, you don’t know what you’re capable of. I got to rebuild myself from the foundation up and while it doesn’t excuse anything you or Laurie did… I am stronger for it.”
“Do you accept my apology?”
Images of my own father swirl in my head. How our time was cut short and if I hadn’t had those few moments with him that I did, how many regrets I would be living with right now.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod. I’ve spent too long holding onto my anger. It’s past due to let it go. “I forgive you, Erik.”
I turn to Holden and tug him out the door. “Let’s go home.”
As we begin the ten-block walk back to his apartment, he pauses at the corner, taking both of my hands in his, running his thumbs over my knuckles. “I meant what I said back there. About you… and me…”
His gaze slowly lifts to mine, the bright morning sun catching the amber hue, turning them even more gold than usual.
Slowly, he lowers himself to one knee, never breaking eye contact with me. I gasp, tears filling my eyes. This can’t be happening. I love Holden. I love him with all of my heart, but we only just got back together.
“Katherine Pearl Harris, will you make me the happiest man in the world…” Holden asks, his voice thick with emotion. “And join me for eggs benedict this morning?”
I snort and drop his hands, turning to walk away. Behind me, I hear him stand again and race to catch up to me. “Ohhhhh… did you think… back there? That I was going to propose?”
“You’re an ass,” I tease him, unable to keep the smile off my face.
He catches my hand and pulls me back into him. “Yeah. But I’m your ass,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. He sweeps me into his arms, pressing his lips to mine in a passionate kiss that leaves me breathless. “And you better get ready,” he whispers against my mouth. “Because I already warned you… that proposal is coming. And it’s going to be way more romantic than me on bended knee on a dirty sidewalk at nine in the morning.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s gonna knock you off your feet, Harris.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it, Dorsey. Oh… and eggs benedict? Please. We both know I’m a pancakes girl.”
“Oh I know.” He wraps his arm around my waist. “With M&Ms.”
CHAPTER 40
Two months passed by in a blur. Two months of incredible performances. Great reviews. Standing ovations.
Two months of Holden.
Two months of no drama with Holden.
The streak ends tonight.
We finished our bows and as usual, undressed and met at the stage door to walk out to the small crowd of patrons who wanted us to sign their Playbills. At first, I was pretty sure they only asked me because I was there and it was convenient to get mine along with Holden’s. But after several write ups about our show and buzz about Tony’s… not only for Holden and Amy… but for me, too. Well, ticket holders more sincerely seemed to want my autograph, too.
From behind the shut stage door, Holden links his hand into mine and brings my knuckles to his lips for a brief, chaste kiss. “Pizza tonight?” he asks.
I nibble my bottom lip in thought. We’re both always too nervous to eat before any show, so we’ve resorted to 11:30 p.m. dinners, usually sitting on the floor of his apartment or around the kitchen counter of mine with Jill.
“Curry?”
His face screws into a frown. “Then we’re eating at your apartment. It took four days to get the smell out of my couch last week.”
“Deal,” I grin.