Now that I’m off his property, I breathe deeply to prepare myself for whatever Gabriel wants to say, and dial the strange number.

“Paige?!”

“It’s me.”

“Thank God.”

“How are you, Gabriel?”

“Shitty, you?”

“Same.”

“Because of me?”

“Not everything is about you.”

He laughs, “God I love your fire.”

“What do you want?”

He pauses a beat. “I need you to come to London. Also Ireland, Paris and Milan.”

Speechless I pull the car onto the shoulder as gravel spits from under my tires. Yanking the manual emergency brake I stare at acres of bright green rolling fields outside my windshield. “What did you just say?”

“I said get your ass over here.”

“I have a job. And…” Closing my eyes with embarrassment I confess, “I’m being evicted, Gabriel so I need to work.”

Without missing a beat he snaps, “Quit and get another job when you get home! Aren’t there other yoga studios you could work at? They’re on every corner of the city.”

“I guess so but I…still have to pay rent.”

“No buts. I need you here. It can’t wait. I’ll buy you a first class ticket. You can get another job when you return and I’ll front you some money for the rent.”

“No way! I won’t accept it!”

Gabriel mutters a couple cuss words, then, “Don’t go away. I’m putting you on hold and calling Maggie.”

The phone goes quiet. Just when I start worrying that he’s forgotten about me again, Gabriel’s beautiful voice comes through. “You there?”

I whisper like speaking too loudly will make me wake up, “I’m here.”

“Carrie has an apartment you can stay in until you get on your feet. She’s always at Maggie’s anyway. They’re not ready to move in but they…anyway, problem solved. I’m going to book the flight. How fast can you get to the airport?”

“Is this really happening?”

“Yes, it’s fucking happening! Now how long?”

“Um…I’m not in Atlanta.”

“Where are you?”

I mutter, “North of it,” not wanting to say.

“Are you at Ben’s?”

Wincing I confess, “Yes.”

“Dammit shit motherfucker sonofabitch! Elijah, she’s with him! Paige, listen to me. I know Ben is more mature than I am and you have that yoga shit in common but I’m begging you, give me a chance. I fucked up by not chasing after you. I know that. I was freaked. I don’t deserve this but please give it to me anyway. Give me a shot. Please come to London.”

In shock I blink and whisper, “Okay.”

“Yeah?! You’ll come?”

“Is this really happening?”

“You just asked me that!”

“Is it?”

He laughs, “Yes! Elijah, she doesn’t think I’m for real. Am I for real?”

I hear a voice that sounds like his call out from the distance, “He’s for real!”

“Believe me now? How fast can you get to the damn airport?”

A smile sneaks out from my heart. “I’m an hour from the city. I have to change and pack.”

“I’ll buy you clothes.”

“No, I’m in a short-sleeved blouse and shorts. It’s hot here. I can’t fly on a plane like this – they’re like ice in the sky.”

He pauses, “Okay. I’m just…desperate. Do what you have to. Keep your phone on and charged. I’ll call you back with possible times and we’ll figure this out together.”

Together.

God, sounds so good.