Chapter 24 William
We were sweaty and perfectly sticky. Kit ran her fingers across my back and arms softly and told me that she loved me.
It was the perfect moment. During sex, I had been in control, giving Kit pleasure and then taking my own, but in that moment, Kit was in control.
I was putty in her hands. The way she was glowing after our sex.
The way she became tender and sultry. Her eyes dreamy and the corner of her lips curled into a slight smile.
The way she smelled. The way she tasted. I knew I just couldn’t live without it.
We cleaned up, then got back into bed. Kit pulled up our house listing, and we scrolled through it together.
We started talking about what we wanted to do in each room.
It was the most engaged Kit had ever been in talking about our future.
It was the most open and excited I’d ever seen her.
I felt like a door into Kit’s trust had been unlocked for me.
Kit’s willingness to move to Atlanta had made everything so much better.
Not just because it would be so much easier to live in the same city, but because it meant Kit was as serious about me as I was about her.
Later that night, I told Kit I had to head back to Atlanta the next day for work, but I asked if she would join me on Friday for a work happy hour.
There was a company-wide leadership retreat on Thursday and Friday.
My promotion created a domino effect within the company.
Leadership musical chairs had happened, and the leadership retreat was where all the subsequent job promotions were being announced.
Friday night the company would host a happy hour, and we were encouraged to invite our spouses to attend.
I knew Kit didn’t want to go to a corporate happy hour, but I promised her we would spend all day on Saturday at her mom’s art exhibit and visiting niche bookstores in Atlanta.
Our project managers had invited several of their key community partners to the happy hour, so I was making my way through an endless lineup of introductions.
During one particularly drawn-out introduction, I saw Kit walk into the bar.
I couldn’t help but smile. I’d offered to go back to the hotel to pick her up, but she assured me she could find her way to the bar on her own.
She wore a cute summer dress. Her hair was down.
Kit pushed her sunglasses back onto the top of her head, and I watched as her eyes adjusted to the dark lighting in the bar.
I patted the shoulder of our project manager, and I said, “Hey, guys. I need to catch up with someone really quick. It was a pleasure chatting with you.”
The bar was crowded. Mostly with people from our company.
A sea of business casual was between us.
Her face was serious as she scanned the bar looking for me.
I would pay money to see the smile that spread across her face again when she finally spotted me in the crowd.
I made my way toward her. She stood on her toes and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “It’s so crowded here.”
“I know,” I said looking around, “The company’s picking up the tab, so everyone from the Atlanta office came.”
“Well, hello! If it isn’t Kit Campbell,” a voice interrupted us.
We both turned to see Charles approaching us.
“I can’t imagine that this is a coincidence.
” I rolled my eyes. Charles received the bad news that he would be promoted within his division.
I had talked to him about how more retirements were expected in the next two years.
I felt confident that, with his work record, he’d be next in line for a promotion—but I could tell he was upset, especially since Meredith had been promoted to vice president.
Kit said something polite to Charles, then looked up at me.
“We’ll catch up with you soon, Charles. We’re going to the bar to get a drink for Kit.
” I hooked my arm around Kit’s waist and walked her to the bar.
I could feel her body relax the farther away from Charles we got.
Kit never told me exactly what Charles had said that night when we looked at houses, but Meredith mentioned walking up to Kit and Charles having a conversation, and Kit had looked uneasy.
As we made our way to the bar, half a dozen people stopped me to say hello.
At the bar, we ran into Braithway. I introduced them.
Kit was her normal charming self. She shook Braithway’s hand.
I couldn’t quite hear their exchange because the bar was getting crowded, but Braithway nodded with a laugh.
I felt his hand on my shoulder. He leaned in and said, “William I need to introduce you to a couple of guys who are about to leave.”
Kit gave me a reassuring nod and a wink. She turned to order herself a drink. I excused myself and headed toward the door with Braithway.