Chapter 32
Libby
“Icannot wait to sleep in my own bed again,” I mumble as Dax, and I sit against the wall. We are at the airport in Houston, waiting for a connecting flight to Boston that has already been delayed three times.
“I’d be happy in any bed at this point,” he says. “Want to get a hotel?”
“I want to go home,” I say. “Summer said Tom isn’t doing so hot and I need to check on him.”
“Tom?” Dax asks, turning towards me. His shoulder, that I was resting my head on, shifts and my head bobs sleepily.
“The plant, not the guy,” I clarify.
“Ah. Well, I’m sure Tom– both Toms– will be fine for another night. But it’s 2am and our flight has already been pushed back several times. I’m not seeing sleep in our near future.”
“I’m practically sleeping right now,” I say, resting my head on his shoulder again and letting my eyes droop. But they pop open as a voice comes over the speaker for our gate announcing that the flight has again been pushed back…until 1pm.
A unanimous groan overtakes the gate, some of it coming from me.
“Fuck,” I say, letting my head roll back. “Maybe we should have stayed in Costa Rica.”
“We’re getting a hotel,” he says, shoving up to his feet and pulling his phone out. “I am booking one now. We can sleep and come back and catch the flight.”
I can’t argue with that anymore, especially since the new flight time is so far away and I’m so tired. A few minutes later, Dax holds out a hand to help me up. “It’s booked.”
“It is?” I ask.
“Yep. Marriott down the street. A shuttle will take us there and bring us back tomorrow. But tonight…there is a king-sized bed waiting for us.”
“You are a saint,” I say, planting a kiss on his cheek.
“No. I’m just very tired. And so are you. Also, I’m vacationed out. I’m just going to call Jenna and let her know I need her help for the night. The girls’ grandparents are going on a cruise and can’t keep them longer than the seven days we agreed to.”
“A cruise? Their grandparents?” I ask as we make our way out of the airport.
“Yes. Tess’s parents are the best. And they act like they’re in their twenties. You know they still go scuba diving?” he asks as he punches a text into his phone, most likely to Jenna.
“Wow,” I say as we ride the escalator down. “What’s their secret?”
“If I had to guess? Unlimited margaritas at the cruise buffet.”
If I wasn’t so tired I’d laugh. We make the short shuttle ride over to the hotel and check in. Then Dax takes my hand, and we head up to the fourth floor. As soon as the door unlocks, we push through and I kick my shoes off, practically falling onto the bed.
“Wake me up in a week,” I mumble into the pillow. I actually almost asleep when I hear Dax’s phone buzzing.
“Shit,” he mutters.
“Everything okay?” I ask, turning to my side.
“Yeah, it’s just Jenna.”
He answers it and walks back to the door, pulling it open.
A moment later, it closes behind him. I can’t really make out what they are talking about, but it doesn’t sound good.
It sounds like they are arguing. For a moment, I wonder if the girls are okay.
It’s almost 4am where we are, which means it’s 6am there.
But by the tone, which sounds annoyed and not worried, I know they are duking it out about something.
If I had to guess it’s about that extra night.
I get up and strip down to my bra and underwear so I’m at least not sleeping in airplane smelling clothes. Then I crawl back into the bed under the covers. Dax comes in a few minutes later and I roll over to watch him stripping down too.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, she’s just giving me a hard time because I asked her to pick up the girls this afternoon from her parents’ house.”
“Oh.” I’m not sure what else to say and Dax doesn’t elaborate on it. Instead, he crawls into the bed, rolling onto his side away from me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, placing a hand on his bare back.
“Yeah. She’s just difficult and accusatory and, well, Tess’s sister. She is who she has always been, which, to be honest, is kind of a bitch.”
I’ve never heard him talk this way before. I have seen him mad, but he doesn’t usually let people this far under his skin. As curious as I am what they talked about, sleep is taking me and within moments I drift off.
*****
“Hello, hello! I’m home!” The doorbell on the bookshop chimes as I walk inside.
After a short sleep at the hotel, a four ish hour flight back to Boston and then the best sleep I’ve ever had in my own bed, the sun is shining and I’m back in my happy place and all is right with the world.
“How was Costa Rica?” Summer asks. “I want to know everything. Also, you didn’t post any photos on social media so I’m going to need a full story flesh out.” Summer likes to talk as if our lives are books. It’s another thing I admit I missed.
“It was warm, beautiful, and everything smelled like flowers, and everything tasted like rum,” I reminisce.
“You got a tan,” she says as I walk up to the counter, setting my bag down and clutching my iced coffee from down the street.
“I did. We spent a lot of time in the sun. We also spent a lot of time not in the sun if you know what I mean.”
Summer giggles and Tom offers a small smile which is about the most Tom ever offers simply because he is chronically no-nonsense. “So, I take it that things went well with you and the boss?” he asks.
“I often forget he is my boss,” I say, tapping my fingernails on my cup.
“How?” Tom asks. “He’s literally tearing your bookstore apart and rearranging it into a bigger, sadder bookstore.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see about that,” Summer smiles. “Sounds like the big scary CEO is sweet on Libby.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say with a matching smile.
“You don’t think he’s into you?” she asks. “After all that?”
“Oh, I think he’s into me. I meant I don’t know if he’s going to destroy my bookstore anymore.”
“Really?” Summer perks up. “But how?”
I offer a happy shrug. “I guess sometimes people change. When they want changes.”
“Well good. Because I never liked the idea of the conjoined coffee shop,” Tom says, counting the change drawer while talking. “It would be far too peopley.”
Summer and I both laugh before turning back to each other. “I’m just happy that you’re happy,” Summer says. “I’m also happy that he isn’t the dickwad we originally thought he was.”
I nearly spit out my iced vanilla latte laughing. “He’s not. Dax has really shown me that recently, especially on the trip.”
“Just make sure it’s genuine,” Tom says as he counts pennies.
“Haven’t you been listening to anything Libby is saying?” Summer asks. “He’s a good guy. Not to mention a hot guy.”
I giggle at that.
“I’m just saying,” Tom goes on. “Costa Rica was the honeymoon phase. People never show all their true colors until after the honeymoon. Wise to be careful.”
My smile turns down a notch, but Summer pulls my attention back to her. “Don’t listen to him. He’s negative about everything.”
“Realistic, not negative,” Tom corrects her.
“Tomato tomahto. I am happy for you. And I think you two are perfect for each other.”
“Well thank you,” I say, tucking my things under the counter. “But I think we are getting a little carried away. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions.”
The word is barely out of my mouth when the door chimes and in walks Daxton. And the way he closes the space between the front door and the cash counter, one thing is clear: the man is on a mission.
“Hey, what are you–” I start to say but he cuts me off.
“Do you want to move in together?” he asks.
I blink, not sure I heard him right. He’s wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. My guess is he’s not going to the office today. I’m not sure he was even planning on coming here to work today based on the fact he still hasn’t shaved after our trip, and his eyes are still tired.
“I’m sorry?” I ask.
“Don’t jump to conclusions, she said…” Summer mumbles from behind me before finding something to organize in the store, far away enough to give me privacy but close that she can still hear.
Dax doesn’t seem to notice.
“I’ve been thinking about it and after the trip I just realized what you mean to me, Libby. But not just me. The girls like you a lot, Libby. And we want you around more.”
“You mean harassing you at work isn’t enough?” I tease but it hits me how serious he is.
“We want you to move in with us, Libby. I–” he takes my hand in both of his. “Want you to move in with me. If you want to.”
Dax waits for me to answer. And as I look back at Summer who is doing best not to smile, I find myself having a hard time not smiling too.
“I mean I’d have to find renters for my apartment,” I say, and his eyebrows raise.
“You mean you…want to?”
I nod, the smile covering my face. I am practically jumping. “Yes. Yes I want to. Are you kidding me?”
With that, Dax braces his hands on the counter and literally hops over it. Then he grabs me and kisses me. “I can’t wait to tell the girls. Or maybe we should tell them together. I just…this is amazing. I was so worried you wouldn’t say yes and you’d think I was crazy.”
I laugh. “I don’t think you’re crazy. And of course I want to. I–” I pause. I know what words I want to say. What words I almost do say. But I don’t. It’s not the place. Not for those three words. And since he doesn't say them either, I know it’s not the right time. Yet.
I plant another kiss on him, and he pulls me into a hug. “This is perfect,” he says. “Everything is going to be perfect.”
As we hold each other in the middle of the bookstore, I believe him. How could things not be perfect right now?