Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
KEELEY
Iavoid all people for the rest of the morning, and when Addie calls to postpone our lunch—because Mom needs her—I sigh in relief. And silently thank Mom for getting me out of it. I have no doubt she lied to help me.
My mind whirs in the silence, so I get up and put on some music, smiling when “Baker Street” is one of the first songs to come on. I added it to my playlist after my night with Sal, and it’s the perfect song for wallowing.
Though I shouldn’t be wallowing at all. I promised myself I’d call Sal, and I’ve been putting it off. Despite the fact that he’s called me twice.
The song changes, this time to Britney Spears’s “Toxic” and I burst out laughing, picturing Sal’s face if I told him this was one of the five songs I think he’d like.
My conversation with my mom comes back to mind, and a shiver runs through me. I was always the one telling Sal it wasn’t a big deal—that our relationship and the age gap between us wasn’t a big deal—and now I’m the one second-guessing everything.
Except my feelings. They haven’t changed.
When he calls a third time, I take in a deep breath and sit down on the couch, curling my feet up underneath me.
“Hi,” I answer softly, maybe a little more hesitantly than I normally would when it comes to Sal.
He sighs in relief, rushing out a “thank god,” not bothering to hide how affected he is by me not answering his calls.
“I’m sorry. I?—”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. How’s your mom, now that she’s home?”
“She’s good. She wants everything to return to normal, and for us all to stop checking in on her.”
“That sounds like Rochelle.” There’s a slight smile in his voice, but when he speaks again, it’s gone.
“I have to go to New York. Only I don’t want to go until I’ve seen you. Are you home?”
“You have to go to New York?”
“I do.” My chest tightens until I realize that’s probably a good idea. It will give us both a chance to think about how we want to move forward from here. I want Sal in my life, that much I know. It’s the how that has my stomach in knots.
It’s easy to tell myself I don’t care what anyone thinks about me, or our relationship, but when those people are my friends, my colleagues, my family, it’s harder to ignore.
“It’s the worst fucking timing. There’s an issue with one of my sites and I have to meet with lawyers and?—”
“Lawyers? Is everything okay?”
“It will be. But we need to talk first. Can?—”
“You should go. We can talk when you get back. Nothing is going to change between now and then. In fact, things may be better. They might have settled down a little.”
“Keeley, I?—”
“Please, Sal. D’Angelo Construction is important. How long will you be gone for? A week?”
“A couple of days, at most.”
“There you go. You’ll be back before anyone’s even moved on from the gossip.” I wince at the words coming out of my mouth, but it’s the truth. We’ll be a hot topic for a while; I have no doubt.
Sal’s quiet for a beat until he clears his throat. “I’m coming over.”
“What?”
“I’m coming over.”
“Sal.” I laugh. “You’re being crazy. I’ll be here when you get back. I promise. You have to go.” I refuse to be a woman who holds back her man.
“I’m already pulling up out front. Let me up when they buzz you. Okay?”
I close my eyes while my heart beats frantically in my chest.
“Okay.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up to a slew of texts, one from Callum, checking in, and the rest from the girls in our group chat.
HAYLEY: Hi Keeley. Now that you’ve had a night of peace, I have to ask… Do you have something to tell us?
The girls all messaged last night asking about my mom, and I was surprised when none of them mentioned Sal. Now I understand.
AMELIA: Leave her alone. She’ll tell us when she’s ready
HAYLEY: Of course. Tell us when you’re ready. As long as it’s soon
BLAIR: Take your time, we’re all here to talk if you need us
HAYLEY: The guys’ chat is blowing up too. Blair’s right. We’re all here
HAYLEY sent a photo
I groan, burying my face into my hands. That was not the best way for everyone to find out about Sal and me.
And I can’t help but notice that Paige wasn’t part of that group chat.
She seemed okay last night. I have to wonder, is that still the case this morning?
After she’s had a chance to think it through or talk to Easton.
My intercom buzzes, and I stare at the machine on the wall before pressing the button to let Sal in, slowly walking toward the door. I hover in the entry, pacing anxiously, until he knocks.
With my hand curled around the handle, I take a deep breath before opening the door, and the second I see Sal, all of my pain, all of my insecurities, instantly melt away. He’s like an off switch for my mind. When he’s around, the noise disappears.
“Sal.” His name leaves my mouth on a breath and I throw myself into his arms. He catches me easily, sighing into my hair.
“Thanks for letting me up.”
With a rushed laugh, I step back and stare into his smiling eyes, shaking my head. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“It crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure where your head was at after yesterday.”
“I’m not sure either. But I’m working on it.” I gesture for Sal to come inside, and he grabs my hand as he walks past, shutting the door behind him.
“Talk to me, Keels. Let me help.”
“Is that your way of saying that your head is all clear?”
“God, no.” Sal comically winces and I huff out a soft laugh.
“There’s still so much we have to work through, so much to say.
But when I saw you upset, none of that mattered.
I wanted to be the guy you turned to. The guy to help you through it.
Basically, there was no way in hell I was letting Luke pull you into his arms.”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “He’s married.”
“Doesn’t make a difference. At that moment, it had to be me.”
“Good. Because you’re the only one I needed. I’m not sure what I would have done if you hadn’t come back inside.”
Sal smiles before he gently cups my cheeks, angling my face toward him as he slowly glides his thumb over my cheek. “We made a mess of things, huh?”
“At least they all found out at once.”
“Very true.” He chuckles and the familiar sound warms me, while my chest fills with regret.
“I shouldn’t have walked away last night,” I admit, holding my breath as I wait for his response.
“And I shouldn’t have let you leave. We’re both idiots.”
“What do we do from here?”
“First, I’m going to kiss that beautiful mouth of yours and then…”
“Then?”
“How about we agree to work through this mess together?”
“That’s probably a good idea. We do work better as a team. First, back to the kissing.”
Sal’s lips curl into a delicious smirk seconds before his hands sink into my hair, and he leans down, pressing his lips to mine.
I melt at his touch, my lips parting on a sigh. A groan rumbles in the back of his throat and he increases the pressure, his mouth molding with mine, the feel of him all-consuming.
Sal does many things well, but his kisses are pure perfection. He kisses with passion, sending a spark of ecstasy through to my core, as he walks me back toward the wall.
My body hits the plaster and we both pause, breaths ragged as our gazes lock. “God, I wish I could take you to bed. But I don’t have enough time to worship you like you deserve.”
“I’m okay with a quickie.”
“I’m not. Not for our first time. And definitely not before we’ve talked.”
I smile before pulling him back into me, not at all surprised that we won’t be taking things further tonight. That just adds to Sal’s appeal.
Doesn’t mean I’m ready to stop.
“I’ll let you be a gentleman tonight, but you better kiss me like your life depends on it. Leave me desperate for more, counting down the seconds until you come home.”
Sal’s eyes widen, but I don’t get the chance to ask why before his mouth descends again, his tongue tracing my lips as he seeks entry. Entry I easily grant him.
Our tongues swirl, and the feeling of warmth dances through my veins, lighting me up from my head to my toes, making them curl into the carpet.
Sal growls against me before his tongue disappears and he gently sucks my lip into his mouth, releasing me as I sigh.
He kisses the corner of my mouth, my cheek, my jaw, making his way down my neck with a fiery possession, burning a path across my skin.
I mewl as my breath quickens, tightening my hold on his shirt, pulling him closer until there’s barely a space between us.
“I don’t want to stop,” I whisper as he nibbles on my shoulder, his hands curling into my hair.
“I’m not stopping,” he rasps against my skin, the vibrations making me shiver while I laugh.
“You have to, remember?”
“No.”
“Sal.”
“No.”
His phone vibrates once against me, and I jump at the feeling, my legs clenching as my body begs for more.
“You have to go.”
“One more minute.” He’s barely finished speaking when his phone buzzes again, this time more incessant, a call rather than a text.
“Do you have a minute?” I ask with a giggle, and he pauses his kisses as he growls. He stands tall and checks his watch, cursing under his breath.
“Not really.”
“Then go. It’s only a few days, right? We can talk when you get back.”
“Talk?” He raises an eyebrow knowing that’s not what I meant.
“Among other things.”
“Okay. I’m going. I—” He cuts himself off before pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. “Talk to you later?” He smiles, but there’s an edge to it, a nervousness he doesn’t need.
“Yes, please. Call me when you get there.”
Something shifts in his eyes and I laugh. “Come on. You know I’m a mother type. I’m like this with all the guys.” Sal’s face drops for a split second before he forces a chuckle.
“Very true. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“In your private jet?”
“On the commercial flight Tabitha booked while I was on the way here.”
“Boo. You’re no fun.”
“Do you want me to buy a jet, Keeley?”
“God, no. What a waste.”
Sal chuckles again before pressing another kiss to my head, then my nose, and my mouth. “Bye, Keeley.”
“Bye, Sal.”
With another parting kiss, he leaves, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried.
Maybe this is all going to work out okay.
My phone chimes from the kitchen, and I smile as I jog to check it, breathing a sigh of relief when I see that it’s Paige.
PAIGE: Any chance you’re free to meet for dinner tomorrow?
If that isn’t code for “we need to talk” then I don’t know what is.
KEELEY: Of course. Where were you thinking?
PAIGE: Second Chapter at seven?
KEELEY: I’ll be there
PAIGE: Thanks Keeley. I appreciate it
She appreciates it? I’m the one that should be grateful. As if I was going to say no. It’s time to tell her the truth. That I’m falling for her dad.