21. Andrea
The sound of Deacon’s alarm going off in the morning was akin to having cold water thrown on us.
Our one weekend together was officially over.
He kissed my forehead before heaving himself out of the bed and heading directly into the shower. Although I could’ve joined him, the state of my emotions had me staying where it was safe.
As if Callie sensed my mood, she came over to put her head on my leg.
“I know, girl. Come on.” I dressed quickly in sweats and took her outside to the backyard to do her business. Taking out my phone, I ordered an Uber to arrive in thirty minutes.
“You could’ve stayed in bed longer,” Deacon remarked, walking out the sliding glass door. He was wearing nothing but a low-slung pair of jeans.
Dear Universe, just make it even harder for me to leave, why don’t you?
“I’m sure you need to pack and get to the airport. Plus, I should get home as I have to work today.” I’d taken Friday off and had a lot to do to catch up as there was a project due in a few days’ time. But work was actually an excuse to get out of here before my feelings about never seeing him again erupted into tears.
“I can make you breakfast. Drive you home.”
It was tempting to prolong the inevitable, but saying goodbye in a car in front of my house with the paparazzi staked out to get a picture of the intimate moment was the last thing I wanted. “Thanks. But I arranged a car to pick me up. It should be here in half an hour.”
He stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Right. Okay. I’ll let you get ready.”
I packed up my bags quickly, with Deacon nowhere to be seen. I had everything ready to go by the front door when he came walking toward me. Fully dressed now, he presented an unreadable face.
He’d been clear regarding our mutual expectations for the weekend, and I had no regrets in spending it with him. There’d been enough drama from our exes over the last few days that I was sure he was anxious to get to the other side of the world, and I didn”t begrudge him his well-earned escape.
A few weeks from now, Deacon would be deep in his writing cave, the press about us would die down, and I’d hopefully be looking at an amenable divorce agreement in the rearview mirror, just waiting for the judge to sign off. Although I was anxious about my future, I was also looking forward to having the independence to make my own decisions for the first time in years.
The buzz at the gate announced the Uber driver had arrived. Deacon pulled up the video and sighed as he hit the button to let the driver in.
“Here, I’ll help you load up.” He grabbed Callie’s bed and my suitcase, taking them out to the SUV.
When the driver got out to help him, Deacon slipped him a bill. Judging from the driver’s face, it had been a big one. “Please help Ms. Foreman unload when you get to her home.”
“Absolutely, sir. Thank you.”
I turned to hug him one more time, but squeaked when he took my hand and pulled me backward.
“Give us two minutes,” Deacon told him.
Once we were back inside of his house, he shut the door and slammed his lips to mine, completely devouring and devastating me with our last kiss. When he pulled away, we were both panting heavily. Laying his forehead against mine, he sighed. “I needed our goodbye to be private.”
I ran my hands over his back, memorizing his warmth and muscular build. “I’m glad you did.”
Taking a set of keys from his pocket, he put them in my hand.
“What are these?”
“Keys to this place if ever you need an escape. And before you say no, understand that I wouldn’t offer these to just anyone. I trust you, and it would make me feel better to know you have a refuge if you need it. I’ll text you the alarm and gate codes.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t think I’d ever use his house, but his thoughtfulness and generosity overwhelmed me. “It means a lot to me. This entire weekend has changed my life at a time I desperately needed it. Thank you for everything.”
“Promise you’ll reach out if you have any trouble with Jeff or your attorney or anything else?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
My voice was thick with emotion, and I needed to leave before it boiled over into tears.