“Thank you. I hope one day you find that, too,” Roni said as the others headed for the door.

Quincy sauntered over with a curious and grateful look in his eyes, rousing those butterflies, and said, “Is Simone filling your head with lies about me?”

“I was just telling Roni that I think it’s great that she came to the meeting,” Simone explained. “You’re lucky, Gritt. Don’t screw this up.”

He smiled, and then his expression turned serious and he locked those clear blue eyes on Roni. “I don’t intend to.”

“Good boy,” Simone said, pulling her coat on. “I have to get to the bus stop. It was nice meeting you, Roni. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“Nice meeting you, too.” As Simone walked out, leaving them alone in the room, Roni said, “I saw her at the bookstore that day Angela and I stopped by.”

“So you were the chicks she told me about who had come in just to gawk at me.” He stepped closer, causing her temperature to spike, and said, “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you’d given up on me.”

“I didn’t, not for a second. I just needed time to put all the pieces into place before jumping in with both feet and putting my whole heart into us.” She touched his hand, needing the connection, and said, “You talked about feeling lost after Truman went to prison. I understand that. When I was hit by the car, I lost so much of myself, I didn’t know who I was or where I fit, but I still had Gram. Then I lost her, and I felt so alone. But you were there for me. I didn’t realize it then, but we were building more than a friendship for all those months. It’s scary to think I could lose you to drugs at any moment, but no part of me wants to walk away and lose out on what we were becoming. So if you can be patient with me as I learn about recovery and have questions or need reassurances, then I want this, Quincy. I want us. I want you.”

“Christ, baby.” He gathered her in his arms, holding her like she was all he’d ever wanted, and said, “I’ll be patient—”

She pressed her lips to his, unable to wait another second. She didn’t need to hear what he’d do, because she already knew. He’d already shown her the man he was. When their lips finally parted, the rest of those tangles inside her loosened and shifted, becoming lovely, welcome bows.

“Thank you, babe. Thank you so damn much.”

“Don’t thank me. Just keep being honest. I might need time to process things, but I want to be here for you.”

“I will always be honest.” He kissed her again, softer this time, and said, “My place isn’t far from here. Can we go there to talk?”

“I’d like that. I want to spend time in your world, Quincy, see where you live and get to know all of you. And if you have a hard day or hour, I might not know the right things to say, but I want you to teach me, because all of that bad stuff that you went through led to the person you are today, and I really like that guy.”