Guy and Reason

Chapter 17 (Guy): It Was Finally Happening

"That was...that was huge," Reason said excitedly as we stood in the parking lot of the restaurant. 

Melody Hughes was with us, smiling widely. We'd just waved good bye to the Nikolaou family after an extremely, and surprisingly, successful meeting. At best, we'd expected a commitment to supply A Reason to Care with deeply discounted drugs, but the company's heir, Alex Nikolaou, had blown that out of the water.

"Alex underwriting everything from his personal funds? That's just...that's just..." Reason couldn't even finish her sentences, she was so excited. "And then his parents committing their own money, too? It's...it's...mind boggling."

"Unbelievably generous," Melody said. "But as he said, and I agree, after a certain point, how much money do you need? This way, he doesn't have to get approval from the board since he and his parents are using their personal funds to supply A Reason to Care with all the drugs we need from G & N Pharmaceuticals. I suspect that young man is going to get the company to commit funding, too, because it's good PR. They'd be incredibly stupid not to donate as well. Big Pharma already has image issues because of the cost of drugs, so this would be a great move for them."

Melody and her husband had already poured tens of millions into A Reason, and more was coming all the time.

"And Alex pretty much guaranteed Rio Hawkens and A to Z at our next fundraiser," Reason said.

"Well, he is engaged to Ally -- the A portion of the group," Melody said. "And I'll commit Sparking Blue, too. Blue is such a sweetheart, and he's always willing to help a good cause," Melody sighed. I suspected that, even though Melody was very happily married, she fan-girled a bit over her daughter's father-in-law.

Following a few more minutes discussing the evening's success, Melody gave each of us a hug and then said good night. We waved as she drove past us, and when it was just Reason and me, I smiled at her while trying to resist pulling her into my arms. She was still practically coming out of her skin with the surprise we'd received tonight, lifting herself up and down on her toes like she always had when she was excited about something.

"With the free antibiotics, all the funds raised and the donations can be used for more mobile clinics, and maybe construction of some brick-and-mortar facilities in the communities we serve, of course that'll mean hiring more personnel and buying more equipment, but it should be possible and maybe add some services we haven't been able to offer because they were too expensive, like I'd love to get an MRI machine, and costs are all over the place for them but some are up to three million, but some that aren't as high end cost less, but I'd really love to offer the high-end option because why not?"

"Remember to breathe, Eden," I said, smiling at this woman I loved, and I wondered if she remembered how often I'd had to teasingly remind her of that when we'd been together. I'd missed her enthusiasm, her passion for helping other people, her run-on sentences when something captured her and wouldn't let go. I'd missed everything about her.

"I am. I am," she assured me and then kept right on going, just about bubbling over. "It's just not what I was expecting from this evening and we didn't even really need to pitch them much -- they just wanted to know about the communities we served and how many people we'd helped and how big the operation currently is, and I thought we'd have to resort to begging, maybe, but they were so nice and just...just...offered."

"Big things happened for A Reason tonight. Things that will require us to think about how to move forward with the funds that have suddenly opened up to us since we don't have to pay for drugs anymore."

"That's true. So many decisions ahead of...for A Reason to Care."

So many decisions ahead of us. Knowing what she'd been about to say, I let it slide. 

"I'm glad you were able to join us, Eden."

"Thank you for asking," she said. "I'm going to head home now. I have an early morning."

"I'll follow you," I told her. 

"You don't have to," she said.

"No, I don't." The unspoken but I will hung between us.

"Well, good night," she said. 

"Good night, Eden."

I followed her home, made sure she made it inside safely, and then just sat in my car in her parking lot, my mind spinning. I'd built our dream because of Reason and for her. In many ways, I considered myself the babysitter, watching a child until the parent came home. Just as I was about to put my car in drive, my phone chimed.

I want in

Three words that about stopped my heart as I contemplated my reply.

Anything you want

I love you

You've always been in

It's already yours

Of course

In the end, I texted back my promise to her: Then I'll get out and we can discuss details when you have time

I drove to my mom's, my heart making up for almost stopping by beating wildly. Although I'd miss being part of the day-to-day of A Reason, this had always been waiting for Eden. I might be able to still work on the IT side of things remotely so I didn't have to go into the office, and I'd still participate in fundraisers, but it would be Reason's baby.

I was fitting the key into the lock when my phone chimed again.

No

Shit. She'd already reconsidered and was backing out. My heart was stopping again. Had I said something in my text that had made her rethink joining A Reason? I read it again and again, looking for something objectionable, something that could have offended Reason or scared her off. I couldn't see anything obvious, but I didn't want to keep her waiting for a reply.

I'm sorry you decided against taking the position, but I understand

Her reply was swift.

I didn't decide against taking the position

She didn't?

I saw the bubbles that indicated she was typing more.

Is there anything as frustrating as those three dots when someone's texting a reply? I unlocked my mother's front door and shut it behind me, grateful to see Mom had already gone to bed because I didn't feel like talking right then. The dinner had been a high, then Reason saying she wanted in had only boosted that high...and now it all seemed to be lost.

Fuck it. Fuck texting. I called Reason before I could talk myself out of it.

"I was just about to text you," she said when she answered.

Her voice sounded upbeat still, enthusiastic. Adorable.

"If I said something in my text that made you rethink things, tell me. I can fix it, I swear, Eden."

"Guy, you didn't say anything. I told you I didn't decide against joining A Reason to Care."

"Then I don't understand the No you texted to me."

"You said you'd get out. And I said no to that."

"I promised you if you joined, if you took over A Reason, I'd back out," I argued.

"I know. And I'm saying you don't have to. You'll have your role, and I'll have mine. You don't have to stop what you've been doing. And I'll start what I'm going to be doing."

I rubbed at her ring on the chain around my neck, not quite knowing what to say. I just knew I didn't want to say the wrong thing and spook her.

"If you ever decide it's not working, Eden, if you ever feel uncomfortable, if you ever change your mind, all you have to do is say the word. I'll be out."

"Deal," she said simply. "We can set up a time to talk and make plans. I have to finish out the contract I came here for, but in my downtime, I can start working with the current director and begin learning what I need to know."

She was coming on board. I could hardly believe it, but it was finally happening.

And now I would begin winning her back.