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“Can I take you out?”
“Out?”
“I want to take you out for dinner tomorrow night.”
Unable to hide how happy it made me, the corners of my mouth tipped up. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”
He smiled back at me, and by the light on my front porch, it wasn’t difficult to see the way his eyes lit up.
There it was.
Paxton had given me the confirmation that he was just as excited about all of this as I was.
“You better open your door and get inside,” he urged. “I won’t be responsible for what happens if you keep looking at me like that.”
I hadn’t realized I was looking at him in any way, but I was tempted not to honor his request. I wasn’t entirely sure there would be a downside to what Paxton might have intended to do if I didn’t.
In a moment of clarity, I realized I didn’t want to deny Paxton or myself the opportunity to have the buildup to a real date. So, I did as he asked and stuck my key in the front door.
And once I stepped inside, I said, “Thank you for coming to the pub tonight. It really did help to ease my fears about having to leave there tonight.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here by six.”
“Goodnight, Paxton.”
“Goodnight, Aria.”
Paxton held my stare for a few silent beats. Then he turned and walked back to his house as I watched him go with a smile on my face and contentment in my heart.
NINETEEN
Aria
“These last few days have been nothing short of exciting, Sasha. Wouldn’t you agree?”
My cat was curled up in my lap as I sat, looking out the window toward Paxton’s house. As I sipped on my tea and gave Sasha some love, I attempted to sort through the gamut of emotions moving through me.
Ever since I’d learned the truth about what my father was doing with my paintings, I’d leaned on Sasha, using her as a sounding board to release my feelings and thoughts, even though I was aware I’d never get any advice or response in return.
But since it often helped for me to just get out whatever was on my mind, to hear myself say the thoughts out loud, I continued to do it.
And for far too long, I’d been sharing nothing but hurt and sadness and frustration and despair with my cat.
Over the last several weeks, not long after I moved toSteel Ridge, my sessions with Sasha had become much more positive. I smiled, just thinking about everything that had changed in my life since making this move.
Sure, I still had some feelings of hopelessness about the status of my relationship with my family, but I was truly beginning to feel a level of satisfaction and pride about where my life was heading.
“Things are getting better,” I declared.
Sasha meowed in response.
I sighed and admitted, “Alright. So, I get it. Things might not be as pleasant for you as they’ve been for me, and it’s tough for you to see where there’s been any improvement in our lives. I’ve been working a lot since we came here to Steel Ridge, but I’m not painting any longer. I can’t stay home all day to work and hang out with you. I have to provide for us. And I’ve been doing that while building a life here. It’s a good thing, Sasha. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time.
My cat offered no response. I took that to mean she understood my predicament, but her understanding of it didn’t necessarily mean she was pleased by it.