Chapter 34
thirty-four
. . .
Gracie
The next few weeks had been a blur. Work was insanely busy, and then I’d flown back to Blue Sky Bay for the long holiday weekend.
“So you had a great Thanksgiving?” Johnny asked as we sat across from one another at the cute café that was downstairs in the building below our offices.
“I did. Since my brother Burke is still in Italy until next month, my parents agreed to come to Blue Sky Bay for Thanksgiving, so we got to spend it with both Cutler’s family and mine.
And we had Thanksgiving dinner at the house that was featured in Design & Décor, and the article came out while I was there.
” I still couldn’t get over it. The article had been released this past weekend in stores everywhere, so everyone had bought copies, and Emilia had framed the first page of the article and displayed it at their home.
“Stop it. That’s as good as it gets.” He shook his head before taking a sip of his cappuccino and setting down his tiny cup.
“You end up falling in love with one of the family members of the home that you designed, and you celebrated the holidays in said home. Darling, this is a fairytale in the making.”
I chuckled. “Well, I have known the family most of my life, and I’ve done many holidays with them, but yes, this one was extra special for a multitude of reasons.”
He clapped his hands together twice. “Yes, you were featured in the magazine, and you and Cutler had your big debut as a couple. How did it go?”
“It was amazing. We’d been so worried that everyone would have expectations or there’d be added pressure, but that wasn’t the case at all. Everyone is just really happy for us. I think my mom and Cutler’s mom must have cried at least a dozen times while we were there.”
He sniffed a few times. “This is so romantic. I just love love, you know? My problem is that I just love too many people, and I get bored easily and then I’m ready for a new lover,” he said with a wicked grin on his face.
“I can’t wait for the day when you get knocked on your ass.”
“You and me both, darling.” He wriggled his eyebrows. “So, update on the Dumont project and then we can head over to take a look.”
“I’m really excited for you to see it. It’s going to be spectacular. We’ve made it through demolition and framing and all the behind-the-walls stuff. Now that the walls are in place, you can really see how large the space is.”
“I mean, they joined two massive condos together, which must have made the view even more spectacular,” he said, and I loved that Johnny truly enjoyed design the same way I did. We connected about our mutual love for our profession.
“Yes. I can’t wait for you to see it. We changed the layout, moving the bedrooms to the back side, and now it’s just all view when you walk in. You’re going to love it.”
He studied me for a beat. “And I know they wanted a very industrial vibe. How have you been feeling about that?”
“I mean, of course it kills me because I want to put long linen draperies on the sides of the windows to add some drama. I’d love a few chandeliers in the open space.” I chuckled. “But I’m adapting.”
“You sure are.” He stood up. “Let’s go see your soon-to-be masterpiece, and you can walk me through it and tell me what your plan is.”
“Perfect. Let’s do this.” I zipped my coat all the way up, since it was snowing outside and the temperatures had dropped quite a bit over the last week and a half.
The swanky high-rise was only two blocks away. I was grateful once we’d stepped inside the building and the noise of the city had quieted.
“Wow. This view is…breathtaking. The way you reconfigured this is truly brilliant,” Johnny said as he strode to the floor-to-ceiling windows and whistled.
“I made suggestions, and they were open to them. It was a group effort.”
He turned around to face me. “Always so humble. You were just featured in a major design magazine—it’s okay to brag a little, darling.”
I chuckled. “You brag enough on my behalf.”
“Good point.” He tapped me on the nose and then asked me to share my vision as we went from one room to the next.
I pulled up photos on the iPad where I’d saved my mood boards for each space, and he appeared to be very impressed.
This design style was definitely new for me, but I’d spent a lot of time researching all the elements.
I’d presented my ideas to the client, who’d loved them.
Hopefully that would be the case when it all came together.
Design could be tricky, because oftentimes I’d choose finishes based off smaller samples, and I had to be confident that it would all marry well together to become a cohesive aesthetic.
I knew confidence was gained through experience, but it also came down to having an eye for design and being comfortable in that.
This was an area of my life where I felt like I’d really come into my own shortly after I’d started working for Johnny, several years ago.
I would wake up at all hours of the night thinking about the homes I was designing.
That creative side of me had come to life, and with that, I had a newfound confidence.
This feeling that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.
I’d lost that for a little while after I’d moved to Paris.
But I already felt like I had gotten my mojo back, and it wasn’t about moving to New York, or proving anything to anyone. I’d gotten my confidence back in Blue Sky Bay, but I hadn’t realized it.
It wasn’t about what firm I worked for, or even being featured in a magazine, although neither of those hurt.
It was more about creating something that I was proud of.
And I’d felt just as fulfilled when I’d completed Cutler’s family’s home and the Petersons’ home as I’d feel about completing this project.
I’d been lost when I was living in Paris.
But I’d found my way again back in Blue Sky Bay.
Coming to New York City was the right decision. I’d stepped out of my comfort zone in design. I was surrounded by some of the most talented designers in the industry. I was living in the most amazing city, and it would be something that I would forever look back on and be grateful for.
But did I see myself living here forever?
I didn’t.
Cutler and I had agreed not to make any decisions just yet, as we wanted to give it some time. The fact that he was willing to walk away from the company that he’d built without hesitation—that meant something to me.
And anytime I complained about the noise and the traffic here, he was the one who’d tell me to be patient. To give it time. To enjoy the experience.
So that’s what I was doing.
“I think this is going to be spectacular. You’re really making a name for yourself.” Johnny wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I thanked him.
And I held my chin up a little higher when we stepped outside, because he was right. I was working hard and making a name for myself in a career that I loved. I was putting in long hours and growing as a designer, and I was proud of that.
And it felt good to feel proud of myself again.
Johnny and I made our way back to the office, where I spent the next few hours placing orders, and then I jumped on a Zoom call to meet with a new potential client. On days like this, the hours just blurred together and I lost track of time, and I was embracing it.
“Please say you’ll come to happy hour for just one glass of wine?” Whitney asked as she stood in my doorway. She was the office manager at J&J Interiors, and we’d hit it off immediately after I started working here.
Over the last two months, I’d turned down Whitney’s many invitations to office happy hours because I worked long hours—and I was more of a lunch girl, if it was up to me—but I decided I was going to branch out a bit.
“I’ll come.”
“Stop it!” she shrieked. “Get your purse before you change your mind. We’re just going to the wine bar next door.”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, and we walked the short distance over to the wine bar.
Whitney was quite a bit taller than me, and her black hair was cut in a sharp A-line bob just below her ears.
She always wore red lipstick and exuded confidence.
Justine, Mara, and Talia waved us over to where they were sitting at a high-top table.
“I’m so glad you came,” Mara said, her long blonde hair pulled back in a neat chignon as she leaned forward and hugged me. She was a designer who’d been with the company for two years.
Talia was her assistant, and Justine ran the marketing team for both the New York and Los Angeles offices. They were all good friends, and we ate lunch together a couple of days a week. We’d all grown close.
“Me too.” I set my purse down and took a seat. “I guess work will be waiting for me tomorrow.”
“So how was your long weekend home with your hot contractor?” Talia asked, tucking her red hair behind her ears as she smiled.
They’d met Cutler on FaceTime during lunch at the office a few times, and they’d loved him, of course.
“It was great. It was hard to leave,” I admitted, pausing to order a glass of wine, and Whitney did the same.
“Damn. I wish he lived here and had a sexy single friend you could introduce me to,” Whitney grumped.
“I take it your date didn’t go great last night?” I asked.
She was a serial dater who was on multiple dating websites, and she was constantly showing me the guys she was going out with. But she was quite possibly the pickiest woman on the planet. She found something wrong with every single one of them.
“Guess why she won’t be going out with Stewart again?” Talia used her hand to cover the wide grin on her face.
“Do tell,” Mara said. She took a sip of her wine and set her glass down.
“Keep in mind that last week she went out with the neurosurgeon who looks like he could be on the cover of GQ magazine, and she thought he had too much chest hair.” Justine’s head fell back with a fit of laughter, her brown ringlets bouncing on her shoulders.
“Dude. His chest hair was so overgrown that it was bunched up beneath his chin, and looked like a beard.” Whitney’s eyes were wide as she shook her head.
The table erupted in a fit of laughter.
“And tell them about your problem with Zed, the beautiful artist from last night,” Talia said with a smirk.
“I can’t wait.” I rubbed my hands together.
“He’s a spitter, and I’m not in the market for receiving a saliva shower. Five minutes in, I knew it had zero chance of working.” Whitney shrugged.
“How much did he spit to be labeled a ‘spitter’?” Mara asked, a wicked grin on her face. “How bad could it have been?”
“Listen, if I need an umbrella to have dinner with you, it’s not going to work. Zed and I are donezo.” She sighed. “So, the more important question is, how do you make the long-distance thing work? Is there a lot of phone sex involved?”
I shook my head, feeling my cheeks pink. “I can’t give all my secrets away.”
“I’m guessing that means there’s a lot of phone sex.” Whitney chuckled, and Mara waggled her brows.
We continued talking and laughing as we ordered a second glass of wine. Justine filled us in on her new boyfriend, and Talia told us that she’d run into the ex she’d dated all through high school, and the sparks were stronger than ever.
I was really glad I’d come, but I was happy once I pushed through the door to my apartment and kicked off my stilettos.
It had been a long day but a good day.
I saw a missed call from Cutler and FaceTimed him as I dropped to sit on the couch.
“Hey, baby,” he said, a big smile on his handsome face.
“Hi. Where are you, and why aren’t you wearing a shirt? It’s almost December and there’s snow on the ground.”
He laughed and turned his phone to Meatball, who was wearing a life jacket, before giving me a view of the large indoor pool behind him. I smirked to keep from laughing.
“Apparently, the indoor pool allows dogs to come swim one day a week, so Meatball just got his first swim lesson, because I can’t allow him to just sink if he jumps in the lake.
I can’t handle Meatball having no life skills, Jeege.
I told him that we love to go out on the boat, and he needs to get his shit together.
” He propped his phone up and pulled his hoodie over his head.
“Damn. I liked the view with no shirt,” I chuckled as I watched him take Meatball’s life jacket off and attach the leash. He started walking and picked the phone back up so I could see him.
“I like any view that I can get of you.” He winked.
“So how many dogs were there tonight with you and Meatball?”
“Exactly zero. But Charlie runs the place, and he said that I could bring him once a week. You know I prefer the lake, but it’s fucking cold outside right now, and Meatball is a lazy fucker, so I figured an indoor heated pool would be better,” he said as he helped the dog into his truck and then sat in the driver’s seat and continued talking.
We’d learned to take the moments we had to talk, because with the time difference it could be hard to always be available at the same time.
But we made it work.
I couldn’t stop smiling. “I love my boys.”
“We love you more.” He turned on the car when Meatball tried to climb onto his lap. “I need to crank the heat, or he will insist on cuddling.”
“Such a good Papa Bear.” I shook my head in disbelief. “First you’re giving him swimming lessons, and now you’re cranking the heat for him.”
“Well, my girl is crazy about her little Meatball, so I’m just trying to keep him alive.” He flashed me that toothy grin that I loved so much. “Did you work late?”
“I actually went to happy hour with the girls.”
“Atta girl. Getting yourself out there. Did you have fun?”
“I did.” I sighed. “I had a lot of fun. But I miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby. But remember, this will just be a blink in time in the grand scheme of our life. You are where you need to be right now, and so am I. We’ve got this.
And I get to see you in a few weeks for Christmas.
” He leaned back in the driver’s seat, his gaze so tender it made my chest ache.
What did I do to deserve this man?
“I can’t wait.” I stood up and walked to the bathroom, where I turned on the water in the bathtub. “Okay, you drive home and I’ll hop in the tub. Call me in an hour so we can talk until I fall asleep.”
“I’m going to drive fast so I can FaceTime you while you’re still in the tub.”
I chuckled and ended the call.
I closed my eyes after I’d slipped into the hot water, grateful that this long day had come to an end.
I laughed when the phone rang a few minutes later and Cutler’s name lit up my screen.
He was definitely a man of his word, and I couldn’t answer the phone fast enough.