CHAPTER 40 #2
To my question, he moves his food around on his plate with his fork as if lost in thought.
After a long moment, he looks up. “The short answer? I don’t care.
Am I supposed to give you up so that Elsie’s company can make a few million dollars?
That may sound like a lot, but when you’re a multibillion-dollar company, it’s not.
This deal with National Discovery is a tiny addition to her empire.
Trust me, her company will be fine. She’ll be fine.
Ash too. Maybe I’m being an asshole about this, but it’s my life and this is what I want. ”
He has a point. It is hard to feel sorry for billionaires. Even without this deal with National Discovery, all three of them will still be billionaires. Besides, he’s right about this being his life, our lives. We deserve a chance to be happy, don’t we?
“Okay, I get it, and I’m not saying you’re wrong, but what about all the people who will lose their jobs when the show is shut down? They’re not rich. This could be devastating for them.”
He’s still playing with his food, just moving it around with his fork like he’s lost his appetite. Maybe he has. This is a hard conversation to have but after a minute he exhales with an exasperated sigh. “Are you trying to talk me out of this?”
Am I? I have to admit it kind of feels like I am. “Maybe. I don’t know. This is all sounding too good to be true so I need to be sure.”
Suddenly he’s glaring at me with an intensity that makes me shift in my chair.
It’s hard to get a read on him, but I’m pretty sure that whatever he’s about to say is going to be his final answer.
My stomach ties in knots. What if I’ve been pushing him too hard and now he’s changed his mind?
What if he’s right and I’ve talked him out of quitting the show? Why am I sabotaging this? Is he—.
“Look,” he says with a firmness I’m not used to.
“I can’t control everything. If I tried, I’d go crazy and end up right back where I started, lonely and miserable.
That’s how it’s been these past few weeks without you.
It felt like I was underwater desperate for air, and I’d do anything to get to the surface.
Try telling a drowning man that coming up for air would be bad for the hungry crabs on the bottom.
He doesn’t care about them. He only cares about being able to breathe again.
That’s me when it comes to you. I only care about us being together so I can breathe. Does that not make sense to you?”
I want to hug this man. Everything he just said is exactly how I’ve been feeling and knowing I’m not the only one, that this has been just as hard for him, means more to me than he’ll ever know.
“Yes, it makes perfect sense. Maybe it’s incredibly selfish of me, but I don’t care either. I want this more than anything too.”
The smile in his eyes says it all—he’s relieved. “That’s settled then. What do you say we try to enjoy ourselves, starting right now?”
“I’m all in,” I tell him with a giddiness I was sure I’d never feel again.
Somehow, I’ve morphed from a desperate woman who was dying inside to the happiest girl in the world.
Looking into those magnificent baby blues, I’m practically a puddle now, and I can think of a few ways to show my appreciation.
It’s so nice to fall back into our old routine—talking about dumb things, laughing, and simply enjoying each other’s company over what’s left of our dinner.
That lasts for a while before the conversation shifts to what he’ll need to do now.
We both agree that telling Elsie has to be at the top of the list.
“She isn’t going to like it, but after I explain everything, she’ll understand. Ash will too. We haven’t talked about it yet, but I know my brother, he’s in love with your friend. That means he probably wants this as much as I do.”
He’s right and I’m so happy for Rhonda. “After you tell Elsie, then what?”
“After I convince her this is the way it has to be, she’ll take it from there. It’s what she does—take care of things.”
“Does this mean you and Ash will be free to do whatever you want?”
“Maybe. Things like this are worked out by the lawyers. Elsie will want to avoid a lawsuit, so she’ll settle, probably soon so she can move on. There will be some bruises, but nothing we can’t handle. In the meantime—”
“Maybe we can have some fun? I’ve always wanted to visit a place like New Zealand.”
“Definitely. There’s so much I want to show you.”
Back in our hotel room, I set my luggage on the end of the bed and pull out my travel kit. It has my toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner, all the usual things. “I need a shower. Why don’t you see if you can get us some beer or wine?”
“Sounds good.”
I love how big the shower is. It has one of those square showerheads that make it feel like you’re standing in the rain. After traveling for so long, it feels good to get clean.
Warm water is running over my head and down my back when I feel a giant pair of hands caress my shoulders. “I thought you were going to get some alcohol.”
“I stocked the fridge before you got here.”
I reach back and feel how excited he is. “Good boy!”
He laughs. “Here, let me.”