“Gabrielle, if I could go back in time and erase the past, I would. But I wouldn’t erase the moment I saw you on that plane.”

I sat there in silence, taking in everything he said and drying my eyes.

“Gabby, do you have anything else to say?” Dr. Roberts asked.

I shook my head and the bell rang. “Our time is up here.” He thanked Simon for coming and the two of us walked out of his office. Simon’s car was parked next to mine.

“Thanks for coming.” I walked to my car and, as I opened the door, Simon called out to me.

“I meant every word, Gabrielle. Every single word.”

I nodded, climbed into my car, and drove home.

Chapter 32

I spent the last week thinking about Simon and that session. The words he spoke, the tears in his eyes, and the sincerity in his voice. Dr. Roberts told me that we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. People are allowed to make mistakes because that’s how we learn and grow. I was far from perfect. Cutting myself to ease my emotional pain was a mistake I had made. Simon made a mistake thinking that he could have me by turning me into a business deal. I made peace with my cutting and with myself and Simon deserved the same. It was seven o’clock and I was hungry. I picked up my phone and dialed Simon. He immediately answered.

“Gabrielle.”

“Hi. We need to talk.”

“Name a time and place.”

“In about fifteen minutes at the café next to the coffee shop.”

“I’ll be there.”

I ended the call and walked to the kitchen, where G and Donovan were eating pizza.

“Are you sure you don’t want a slice?” she asked.

“Nah. I’m going to meet Simon over at the diner by the coffee shop.”

“Good girl. Have fun.” She smiled.

Donovan was in the middle of chewing and he gave me a thumbs-up. I grabbed my purse and walked to the diner.

When I walked in, I took a booth in the corner, where it was quiet and away from the few people that were in the place. A few moments later, Simon walked in, and I raised my hand so he would see me. He looked so damn good in his khaki pants and white cotton button-up shirt. He sat down across from me and I could tell he was nervous.

“Hi.” He smiled.

“Hi.”

Before I could say another word, the waitress walked over, handed us our menus, and took our drink order.

“You said you wanted to talk.”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past week and I wanted to tell you that I forgive you.”

“You do? Really?” he asked to be certain.