I reach across the small table and take her hand, drawing her away from the steaming mug cradled between her palms. Her fingers are warm and soft in mine. “You know how busy the hospital has been, and that they've offered me a promotion.”
Heather's expression shifts, the playfulness giving way to quiet attentiveness. She leans forward slightly, her hands folded neatly on the table.
“Why do I get the feeling there's a 'but' coming?”
“Because there is,” I admit, my throat tightening at the honesty of her intuition. “It's a significant step up—more responsibility, longer hours.”
“And let me guess, less time for us?” The words hang between us, not accusatory but laced with understanding.
“Exactly.” My gaze locks onto hers, deep pools that always seem to see right through me. “Heather, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and…” I trail off, grappling with the vulnerability required to continue. But this is Heather, the one person who has re-taught me the value of openness.
“Go on,” she urges.
“Taking this job would mean sacrificing what we're building together.” I squeeze her hand, finding strength in the physical connection. “I can't do that. I won't do that. Not for any job, no matter how prestigious.”
Her eyes widen, and she sits back, processing my words. The silence stretches between us, filled only by the low murmur of other patrons and the occasional clink of porcelain.
“Are you saying what I think you're saying, Lincoln Montgomery?”
“I’m turning down the promotion. Because you, us, this thing we have... It's worth more than any title or paycheck.” Theconfession pours out of me, a torrent of truth that leaves me breathless.
The corners of Heather's mouth twitch upwards. She didn't need grand gestures or flowery declarations; the simple, raw honesty is enough.
“Don’t do it for me. But I appreciate you choosing us. I want you to know, Lincoln, I'm with you. Through long shifts, missed dinners, whatever it takes. We're in this together.”
Here she is, a woman who knows the sting of life's letdowns, yet sits before me, willing to walk into the uncertainty of tomorrow hand in hand. She offers not just her understanding but her partnership—a promise that whatever challenges come our way, we won't face them alone.
“Whatever it takes,” I echo back, the edges of my lips curving into a tentative smile.
“I have a surprise for you tonight. Meet me at the football field around seven.”
Her eyes search mine. “And why would we meet there?”
“You’ll see.”
Chapter Ten
Heather
Istep out of my car at Lawson Ridge High. A flood of memories wash over me, each one a mosaic piece of a life I’d once known so well. But tonight isn’t about dwelling on the past; it is about Lincoln Montgomery and whatever surprise he has up his sleeve.
As I walk toward the football field, my heels sinking into the grass with every step, my curiosity piqued. What is Lincoln doing here, in the middle of the night, at our old stomping ground?
I spot him then, meticulously spreading out a large blanket across the ground. The sight of him—tall, dark, and heart-stoppingly handsome—makes my core melt.
“Lincoln?”
“Hey, you made it.”
He guides me past the goalposts, where memories of pep rallies and football games linger like ghosts in the autumn chill. The blanket, a patchwork of colors beneath the night sky, glows under the moonlight.
“Here we are.” He extends a hand, which I take, feeling the roughness of his palm—a testament to his dedication in both work and life.
“Wow, you really went all out,” I murmur as we reach the edge of the blanket. The spread is exquisite: cheeses, fruits, a small loaf of bread, and what looked like homemade jam.
“Only the best for tonight.” He releases my hand as we both lower ourselves onto the blanket. “I wanted this to be special.”
Lincoln reaches for a grape, popping it into his mouth with a theatrically satisfied sigh. “Remember the senior prank week? When you hacked the intercom and played nothing but '80s love ballads between classes?”
