57. Auden
Sean closes his office door as I sit in front of his desk, and I let out a shaky rush of air.
“Look at you, kid. Banged out two clients and they’ve made appointments with you for their next session.”
I can’t stop smiling, my nerves have uplifted and as soon as I met the clients that Sean and I will be working with, I knew this job was meant for me. “Did you know she was adopted, too?”
He nods, leaning on his desk in front of me. “That’s why I stuck my neck out to get you in here. No one can relate to them like you can. And truthfully, you fucking nailed it.”
I cover my face and shriek excitedly. “Gosh, I was freaking out this morning for nothing.”
He laughs, pulling me into a hug. “Freaking out so much you told your boy toy you loved him.”
I groan, burying my face on his chest. “I know, but I mean it. I love that sexy son of a bitch.”
“You think he’ll come for lunch?” he asks, leaving a kiss on my head before I step away.
I take my phone from my pocket and see that he hasn’t replied to my last text message. “I’m not sure. He said he’d unpack today and check out the bar he’s going to work at.”
I go to give him a call and the line trills before I get his voicemail. “You’ve reached Storm Bowman, leave your message at the beep. And if this is my angel, I’m sorry I missed you, baby.” The line beeps and I hang up, biting back a smile. He truly does know how to make my day with something so silly.
“No answer?” Sean asks, tucking folders into drawers. I try a second time and send a quick text message with question marks. Then a third call, still no answer.
I shake my head and lift a shoulder. “He’s probably unpacking and listening to his country music on vinyl.”
Sean tucks his client notebooks into a locked cabinet behind him, looking over his shoulder at me. “He actually gave me a few suggestions at the wedding, and I have to say, your bestie is getting into country music.”
I laugh, taking his coffee from the desk and sipping it. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?”
“You’re whipped.”
I am.
A smile crests my lips as I sit back down, looking out the window at the views of the city. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more confident with anything in my life. Storm is my future. We’re really doing this.”
I return my attention to Sean and he’s beaming, coming around the desk and crouching down beside me. “I’m so damn happy for you, kid.” He kisses my knee. “You better make me maid of honor at your wedding and godfather to your kids.”
I shove his face away, laughing as I do. “As long as you wear a dress, you can be my maid of honor.”
He laughs, sending me into a fit of giggles until I’m wiping the tears from my cheeks. “Look at us, kid. I never thought we’d be talking about your wedding with someone you’re not even engaged to.”
“Someone I’ve been dating for not even two weeks,” I add, sniffling.
“Reminds me of us as kids, remember when I’d tell you I’d buy you the moon one day?”
I nod slowly, nibbling my lip. Looks like the one Sean’s giving—eyes smiling, cheeks a light shade of pink, and the glance at my lips every five seconds—is what makes Storm’s jealousy go into overdrive. But it’s Sean, I can never think of letting him go as a friend, no matter our history. “I mean, you can still buy me the moon, Sean. That would be the coolest gift ever.”
He kisses my forehead when he stands, taking my hand. “C’mon, let’s get some food in your belly.”
I’ll always lean on Sean for my problems and when I need someone to talk to, but as I hold his hand and walk through the office to the elevators, my stomach is in knots. All I want to do is speak with Storm. I want to tell him about my day, tell him about my experience with my clients. I want nothing more than to hear his voice, yet he’s nowhere to be found.
My mind is sent into a tailspin that maybe he woke up and realized this is too much for him. That this stable life isn’t what he wants. He enjoys the freedom, the partying. Not the security of being a responsible adult.
As much as I do not regret telling him I loved him this morning, I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of saying it again and him telling me it was a mistake.
***
I haven’t spoken to Storm all day.
No reply to my texts. No answers to my calls. This is so unlike him. Isn’t it?
Sean offered to walk me to the door, but I wanted to be alone. We stayed later than intended at work, too, and if Storm is home, then I want to spend time with him and find out why he didn’t answer me all day.
My hand is shaking as I reach for the knob and slide my key in. Storm’s soft country music is playing in the distance, most of the lights are turned off but there are rose petals on the floor and it smells heavenly in here.
I hear sniffling in the distance and take a few steps into the apartment to find him sitting on the couch with a glass of caramel-colored liquid in hand. He isn’t moving, his gaze is focused on the ice cube floating in his glass, breathing shallowly until he sniffles again. “H-hey?”
He lifts his head quickly and smiles. “Hey, babe.” He downs his drink, exhaling sharply, and comes toward me. His entire face lights up as if I hadn’t witnessed his somber moment. “How was your first day?”
I frown, unable to hide my smile because I did have a wonderful day. “It was, um…it was amazing. My clients are welcoming and like me, which is a plus. One of them is adopted and we clicked the moment we met—” I stop and pull him into a hug. “Are you okay?”
He kisses my cheek, inhaling me. “I’m good, baby. I just missed you.”
“Why didn’t you answer my calls or texts? I was worried,” I voice, stepping away from him with furrowed brows. “I felt like maybe you were upset that I spat out my feelings this morning and—”
He grabs my face and captures my lips, sliding his tongue into my mouth. “Nuh-uh, I love when you let your guard down and your feelings speak for themselves. Like this morning. Because, Auden, I fucking love the shit out of you and I don’t care if it’s only been twelve days. You’re my forever, baby. So get used to this face.”
I chuckle weakly, holding his gaze. “Then why didn’t you speak to me all day?”
He sputters, stepping back and leaning on the wall. “Rick called and told me how Denny’s doing.” He tongues his cheek and shakes his head. “Then I got an email from him which didn’t make any of this any better. So I left my shit here and went for a walk, ended up a little lost, but when I found Central Park and sat there and just watched everyone for a while. It helped, y’know. I realized that when I’m feeling off, I’m gonna go to the park and just walk. It cleared my head.” He rubs the back of his neck and leans his head back with a deep breath. “But when I got back home, I felt worse than I did when I left because Denny’s email was open on my phone. I didn’t want to look at the damn thing, either.” He reaches a hand out to me and pulls me to his chest. “Then my new boss called and I went to check out my new job like I said I would.” His eyes light up. “I get to run the bar section, make schedules for the bartenders, and plan out the drink of the day. My new boss tested me, too, today. And your man passed with flying colors.”
I touch his face, eyeing the beard he hasn’t touched since we met. “You’re happy?”
“Exceedingly,” he says, chuckling. “I even got to FaceTime with Heath around four and watch as he ate pizza. He wanted to say hi to you, but you’re here at almost seven o’clock.”
I groan, dropping my head. “I’m sorry. Sean introduced me to everyone at the office and they wanted to have a drink at the bar downstairs. Sean was my ride home, so we stayed and I had three Shirley temples with extra cherries.” I bop his nose. “If you answered my texts you could’ve met up with us.”
“Sorry. I didn’t want my shit to ruin your big day,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my forehead.
“Your shit is my shit, Storm.”
He nods, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “Come, let’s eat and I want to hear all about your clients.”
I scrunch my nose, get out of my heels, and tiptop through the kitchen. Storm had a rough day, which I kind of expected. This is all new to him. This life is not what he knows. He’s used to silence and seclusion. It’s a big change and I can’t commend him enough for changing with me.