Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Her hands move to my face, cupping my cheeks, and the blanket falls to the floor. I don’t bother to reach for it. She has my full attention.
“You are everything I’ve ever wanted. I’ve dreamed of you being mine. I’m going to miss you.” She leans in and kisses me. She eventually pulls back, just enough so that we can make eye contact. “I’ll sleep with you wrapped around me every night.”
“And you’ll call and text. I don’t care when or what time. I’ll do my best to answer. If I can’t, leave a message. If it’s urgent, keep calling and I’ll know that you need me.”
“I don’t want to disrupt your life.”
“Baby girl, you are my life. If you need me, you keep calling and I’ll know. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Good. Now kiss me. It’s time for you to go. I don’t want you arriving after dark.”
I slide my hand behind her neck and kiss her like it very well could be our last time. My heart cracks just a little, and it makes me feel like a pussy. I can handle a little separation. We aren’t the first to deal with it.
“Be safe. I want updates when you stop, and call me when you get there.”
“You sound like my brother.” She playfully rolls her eyes.
“Not your brother, baby girl. I’m just yours.”
“Mine.”
One more swift kiss, and I help her put her blanket back into the bag and walk her to the door. “Be safe, Em.”
“I will. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll see you soon.” I open the door for her and watch her walk to her car. I wish I could walk with her, but it’s the light of day, and that would blow our cover should someone drive by. So for now, I stand here in my doorway and wave as I watch my heart drive away.
November can’t get here fast enough.
I force myself to go into the shop for my two clients at the end of the day. I’m quiet, but the guys don’t call me out on it. They think I’m still not feeling well, and I’m not.
My heart hurts.
Emerson left my place just after one. It’s five thirty now, and I haven’t heard from her. She texted me around three and said they were stopping for food and were going to fill their cars up while they were stopped. I feel better that they are traveling with one another. At least she’s not alone. However, she should have arrived back in Lexington by now, if my calculations are correct.
“You’re all set, Matt,” I tell my client. He stands and stretches. “Drake is at the front desk. He’ll get you taken care of and go over aftercare.” That’s a perk of hiring Drake. He really does know his stuff. I walk Matt to the door. “Drake, can you talk Matt through aftercare?”
“You got it.” He nods, and I walk back into my room and shut the door. As I’m reaching for my phone, it rings.
Fucking finally.
“Hey, baby girl,” I say softy, not wanting the guys to hear me.
“We made it. We’re going to order pizza and get groceries tomorrow. We’re both exhausted.”
“I just finished with a client and have one more. I’ll call you when I get home.”
“Perfect. I’m going to start unpacking.”
“Talk soon, baby.” I end the call and place my phone back on my desk. Relief washes over me knowing she made it back to college safe and sound. I miss her already, but we’ve got this.
Less than a year and I never have to be away from her again.
Chapter
Sixteen
Emerson
* * *
“Did you track it?” Monroe asks, as she settles next to me on the couch with a large bowl of popcorn.
“Yeah, says it was delivered today.”
“Have you heard from him?”
“Not for a couple of hours, but he was working on a back piece, so that’s to be expected.”
She grins. “I have no doubt as soon as he opens it, he’s going to call.”
“I’m having regrets,” I tell her.
“What? Why? The man is a total badass until it comes to you. You soften him in a way I’ve never seen before. He’s going to love it, and probably going to play the five-finger shuffle more than a few times.” She winks.
“Where do you come up with this stuff?” I laugh.
“Fine.” She playfully rolls her eyes. “He’s going to stroke his cock until he comes thinking of you.”
“All because I mailed him a blanket.”
“Your blanket, Em. He gave you one, and you gave him one. Did you write the note the way we discussed?”
“Yes, and it’s corny as hell, and he’s going to wonder what the hell he’s doing dating or whatever this is, a woman who’s ten years younger than him.”
“Photo evidence or it didn’t happen.” She holds her hand out for my phone.
I know my best friend, and I knew she would ask, and part of me wanted her opinion on how corny it was, so I did indeed take a picture. I swipe through my images, pulling up the one in question, and hand her my phone.