Chapter 34 #2
“Me too.” She glanced at Laney and Daisy before leaning closer and keeping her voice low.
“And my career, well that’s something just for me.
Well, just for me and my readers. But it’s something that I love and enjoy, and I had to learn that I can’t say yes to everything, but I can say yes to plenty, if that makes sense. ”
“That makes sense.” I sighed. “It’s just been a really weird day, so I’m sure I’ll feel more settled tomorrow.”
She was so easy to talk to that I ended up telling her everything that had happened at the airport.
“Well, we don’t know for sure that he even heard you, and it’s not like you really said it.” She chuckled and squeezed my hand. “You picked a tough time to drop the L-word, and then you sort of turned it into a high school girl’s bestie love ya mantra.”
“It still means the same thing. I’m sure he heard me.” I exhaled. Who was I trying to convince, me or him?
“Listen, Winnie, take it from someone who’s been there.
It’s complicated when children are involved.
And you’re on this whirlwind adventure, and he’s not.
At the end of the day, it’s not so much saying it, it’s living it.
And from what you’ve told me, that man has been loving you for months.
You tossed him a ‘love ya’ that we don’t even know for certain he heard, so I wouldn’t let that get in your head.
Focus on his actions for now, because you aren’t there to talk to him. ”
“That’s a good point. And his actions say it. I mean, I feel it every day from him.” I reached for my wine glass and took a sip.
Her gaze softened. “It’s a lot to navigate for a partner when your career takes off the way that yours is right now. So a little part of him is probably nervous that you’ll leave and never look back.”
“I would never do that. I miss them like crazy, and I’ve only been gone for one day.”
“I know you do. But you’ve got to love him enough to trust that everything will be okay.”
“Thank you. I know you’re right. And my timing was terrible,” I said as we both laughed.
“It’s stressful leaving. I hate being away, if I’m being honest. But it’s also good for my kids to see that I have a career that I’ve worked hard at, and I just keep my trips short now.” She cut into her steak and popped it in her mouth.
“I like the sound of that.”
Laney and Daisy rejoined the conversation, and we laughed and talked for another hour over dessert and glasses of wine.
We finally said our goodbyes, since we were all exhausted and ready to head up to our rooms. I was grateful that we’d had dinner in the hotel restaurant, because I had to be up early in the morning to get to the airport, as we were headed to Denver tomorrow.
I hugged Ashlan extra tight, and we exchanged numbers and agreed to talk soon. She’d told me all about writing sprints, and I was looking forward to texting once I was home so we could sprint together.
Once Laney and I stepped off the elevator on our floor, she walked beside me.
“So, your numbers are off the charts with this release, Winnie,” she said. “Everyone is thrilled. They want to set up some meet and greets next month, if you’re open to it.”
“That’s amazing,” I said as I processed her words.
“Yes,” she gushed. “This is just incredible. I’m so thrilled for you. So we’ll get you those dates in the next couple days so you can get them on the calendar.”
“Sounds good. I just have to be home for Melody’s birthday. I promised her I’d be there, and we have a big party planned.”
She nodded. “Okay, well, I’ll find out the dates and we can work around it. But I’d plan on being very busy over the next few months. You’re a hot commodity right now.” She winked.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I’m proud of you, Winnie. You’re adjusting to all of this so well.”
Maybe on the outside, but on the inside, I wasn’t.
“Thank you so much. Good night, Laney. I’ll see you bright and early.”
“Yes. We’ll grab a bite at the airport.”
“Sounds good.”
I pushed open my door just as she yelled back: “Sleep well. Love ya.”
For fuck’s sake. She’d tossed it out there pretty casually.
I’d really botched my first “I love you.”
My phone rang as soon as I stepped in the room.
Archer.
I swear the man could read my mind. He always knew when I was struggling.
“Hey,” I said, kicking off my shoes. I walked toward the bathroom and turned on the water to the bathtub. I needed to soak my feet, which were sore from wearing heeled boots all day.
“Hey, beautiful. How did it go today?”
I blew out a breath. “It was incredible. Did you know that Ashlan Thomas knows Beefcake?”
I spent the next few minutes telling him all about the connection, and he listened and laughed. I turned off the tub and slipped into the hot water.
“So she’s related to Gracie Reynolds. I’ve been hearing about this little girl ever since I met Cutler. Hell, even Melody talks about her as if she knows her.”
“Such a small world, right?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“I wish I wasn’t so far away from you guys right now,” I said with a sigh, because the mix of the hot water and the sound of his voice had me completely relaxing.
“Everyone is fine here, don’t worry at all, all right?”
If he told me not to worry one more time, my head might blow off my body.
“Okay. If you say so. How was your day?” I asked, trying not to feel rejected.
“Some major shit went down at school today, and I caught Melody sneaking off with my phone, so I think she tried to FaceTime you earlier. I told her that you were at the signing. So you can’t tell her that I told you, but I think you’ll want to hear this.”
I glanced at my phone, and my chest squeezed when I saw three missed calls from her. I’d had my ringer off for hours, and I felt terrible for missing those calls.
Those were not the calls that I ever wanted to miss.
“I’m so sad I missed her call.” A lump formed in my throat. It was nearly midnight, so obviously she’d been asleep for a long time now. “But you’ve got to tell me.”
“Well, Justine Schwartz, being the little shit that she is, stole Tommy Jordan’s underpants.”
As soon as he said it, loud laughter escaped, and my mood lightened. “How did she get his underpants.”
“Do you remember when Melody told us that he takes a long time in the bathroom?”
“Yes.”
“Well, apparently he likes to strip naked if he has to poop,” he said, and I could hear him fighting back his laughter. “Justine cracked the door open, saw the pile of clothing, and snatched his undies.”
“That girl is really something.” I shook my head with a laugh. “So where were the undies?”
“She placed them in Mrs. Groucher’s inbox.”
“No.” I was laughing hysterically now. “Just no. Everyone knows that box is for completed work only.”
“Well, I think he completed his work in the shitter, so she delivered his briefs for him.”
“So what happened?”
“I guess Tommy went back in the bathroom to put on his undies, and Justine went to Principal Carver’s office once again.”
“She’s going to need a nameplate on his door because she’s there so often.”
“Agreed. You want to hear the best part?”
“I can’t imagine that this could get any better,” I said.
“Melody asked me at dinner if we could go buy some tighty-whities for Tommy to keep in his cubby in case this happened again.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I drained the tub water and climbed out, then wrapped a towel around myself and hit FaceTime.
His handsome face came across the screen when he answered.
“Hey,” I whispered as I padded out to the room and sat on the bed.
“Hi.”
“I was surprised you didn’t FaceTime me, and I wanted to see your face before I went to bed.”
“I love that face,” he said, with a sleepy smile. His green eyes looked heavy. “But I miss it more when I see it.”
I nodded. “I miss you, too, Archie.”
“Three weeks. It’ll be a piece of cake.” He sighed.
“Okay.” I blew out a breath. I was so exhausted. “I’ve got to be up in four hours to get to the airport.”
“Close your eyes, baby. I’ll stay on the phone until you fall asleep.”
I didn’t want to tell him about the other things in the works that would require more travel.
I knew he’d tell me it was a good thing.
But right now, being away from this man did not feel like a good thing.