Chapter 38
Chapter thirty-eight
Charlie
I can't stop smiling at my phone like a complete idiot. Bash and I have been texting all morning since I woke up to find him already gone—a note on his pillow saying he had plans with Tyler but would see me tonight.
My phone buzzes again.
Miss you, Shortcake.
Bash
We've been back from Aspen for three days, and somehow being apart still feels strange after spending a week practically glued to each other's sides. I type back quickly.
I miss you. What are you up to?
Tyler's dragging me to the gym. Says I've gone soft from all that holiday food.
Want to join? He says he needs to "assess your fitness level" now that you're dating his best friend
Bash
I snort, tucking my feet under me on the couch. Lily's out with her publishing friends, so I have the apartment to myself. Just me, my coffee, and apparently an invitation to exercise.
Hard pass.
Sorry, I'm allergic to physical activity unless it involves getting naked with you, or winter sports.
That can be arranged. I'll tell Tyler to find another gym buddy.
Bash
DON'T YOU DARE!!! We have dinner plans tonight, remember?
How could I forget? Can't wait to see you.
Bash
You literally saw me this morning.
And?
Bash
God, he's ridiculous. And I love it.
Stop being so clingy and go have fun getting all sweaty with your best friend
I hesitate for a second, biting my lip. Then, feeling bold, I set my coffee down and pull my tank top down just enough to show the perfect amount of cleavage and take a quick picture. I check it. Suggestive but not explicit, and hit send before I can overthink it.
Three dots appear immediately, then disappear, then reappear.
JESUS CHRIST SHORTCAKE!!!!
Tyler almost saw that!!! He grabbed my phone because I wasn't paying attention to his workout plan
Now he's demanding to know why I just yelped and snatched it back
Bash
I burst out laughing, nearly spilling my coffee.
Tell him it's classified boyfriend information!
He says, and I quote, "If she sent you nudes while we're at the gym Montgomery, I swear to god"
Bash
Poor Tyler. It must be hard being the third wheel.
Now he's sulking and saying I'm the worst gym partner ever
Worth it though. Holy shit, Shortcake!
Bash
Something to tide you over until tonight
You're going to be the death of me, you know that?
Bash
But what a way to go
Tyler's threatening to leave without me. Gotta run. I love you.
Bash
My chest warms as I type back.
I love you too. Have fun getting buff or whatever.
I set my phone down, still smiling. Saying those words—even just typing them—hasn't gotten old. For months after Ethan, I'd convinced myself I might never say them again. And now they come so easily with Bash, like they've been waiting all along.
With a contented sigh, I open my laptop. Time to be responsible and see what chaos awaits me when I return to work next week. I haven't checked my email since before Aspen, and the unread count makes me wince. Two hundred and seventeen new messages. Fabulous.
I sort by sender first, quickly deleting the obvious junk. Then, the several emails from Amelia about upcoming projects, which I flagged to read carefully later.
I'm halfway through when one subject line stops my scrolling cold.
I freeze, staring at the screen. The sender is Judith Keller, VP of Marketing at Apex Sports—one of the biggest athletics brands in the country.
Subject line: RE: Interest in Your Joint Proposal.
My heart races as I click it open.
Dear Ms. Whitaker,
I wanted to follow up after receiving Mr. Montgomery's email with the exceptional joint presentation that was attached before the holiday break.
Your collaborative approach to the Apex Sports rebrand for our winter sports line was impressive, particularly the strategy connecting everyday athletes to professional experiences.
I'd like to discuss the possibility of Titan Marketing Group handling our complete brand refresh in Q2. We're especially interested in the experiential marketing concept you both pitched. Please let me know your availability for a meeting when you return from holiday break.
Best regards,
Judith Keller
VP of Marketing, Apex Sports
"Holy shit," I scream, adrenaline buzzing through me.
Apex Sports is huge. Landing them would be the biggest account I've ever handled, the kind of client that makes careers. And Judith specifically mentioned our joint proposal. The one Bash and I worked on late one night at the office before the trip, when things were still tense between us.
I grab my phone and type furiously.
SEBASTIAN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY DID YOU PITCH OUR JOINT PROPOSAL TO APEX BEFORE WE LEFT???
I wait, staring at my phone, but there's no immediate reply. He probably put his phone in his gym bag. Then three dots appear, then disappear, then reappear, then disappear again, then reappear.
Surprise?
Bash
YOU GOT US A MEETING WITH JUDITH FUCKING KELLER?!
Actually, YOU got us the meeting. I just presented our ideas. They loved your experiential concept. I was going to tell you tonight.
Bash
I can't believe this. I'd spent months trying to get Apex's attention through traditional channels with no luck. And Bash just... made it happen.
Me? How?? When???
Remember when I had that "client meeting" the day before we left? I ran into Judith at a sports marketing conference a few months back and she gave me her personal email. I convinced her to give us fifteen minutes.
Bash
And you didn't TELL ME?
I didn't want to get your hopes up if they hated it. Plus, you were stressed about the trip.
Are you mad?
Bash
I laugh out loud, flopping back against the couch cushions.
AM I MAD? Bash, this is APEX. This is career-making!
So... not mad?
Bash
I could kiss you right now. Or possibly strangle you for not telling me sooner. I'm undecided.
I vote for the kissing option
Bash
This explains why Amelia emailed me so many "urgent updates" about Q2 scheduling!
Yeah, she might have known. And Tyler. And possibly Emily. I needed style advice for the pitch.
Bash
Traitors, all of you!
Worth it if we land this account.
Partners?
Bash
The word makes me smile. Partners. From fake relationship to real relationship to business partners. Who would have thought?
Partners. But you're still in trouble for not telling me.
I accept my punishment. Name your terms.
Bash
I bite my lip, thinking. My thumbs hover over the screen before I type:
Tonight. I’ll be wearing that black lace bra and panty set you seemed to enjoy last week.
Three dots appear immediately.
I'll be there at 7. Sharp.
Bash
Dinner reservations are at 8...
6:30 then.
Bash
I laugh, setting my phone down. The Apex email is still open on my laptop, and I reread it, letting the reality sink in. This is happening. Our careers are about to level up, together.
My phone buzzes again.
Tyler wants to know why I'm smiling like an idiot at my phone. Again.
Bash
Tell him his best friend and his new favorite person just became marketing power couple of the year
He says "about damn time" and wants to know if this means free Apex gear
Bash
We haven't landed it yet!
Yet. But we will. We're unstoppable together, Shortcake.
Bash
I can't argue with that. From that first night at The Velvet Room to now, we've been colliding in the best possible ways.
I'm going to dive into this email and start drafting ideas. See you tonight
Nothing could keep me away.
Bash
Good. Because I have plans for you, Mr. Montgomery.
Care to elaborate on these plans?
Bash
Let's just say they involve celebrating. Extensively.
Tyler says I'm completely useless now and he's abandoning me at the gym
Bash
Tell him I said sorry not sorry..
He just threw a towel at my head and left.
Bash
Poor baby. All alone at the gym.
Well, not COMPLETELY alone there's still your picture…
Bash
Don't you dare look at that in public
Too late.
Bash
You're impossible
Impossibly in love with you
Bash
My heart does that stupid little flip it always does when he says things like that.
Six months ago, I was heartbroken and convinced I'd never trust anyone again.
Now here I am, planning a career triumph with the man who started as a one-night stand, became my fake boyfriend, and somehow turned into everything I never knew I needed.
I love you too. Now go work out. You'll need your strength for tonight.
Yes ma'am.
Bash
I set my phone down with a smile and turn back to my laptop. I have work to do—a proposal to refine, a presentation to prepare, a future to build. With Bash. Together.
And, I'm not scared at all.