Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I look over at Auggie next to me in the cab and grin at his handsome profile as he gazes out the front windshield. He’s so damned cute. And brave. Despite being scared, Auggie went outside with a freaking mob boss and had a private conversation with him and then walked away to tell the tale. Even better, he walked away triumphant. With Mr. DiMarco singing his praises and wishing us well. Honestly, I swoon every time I think about what Auggie has done for me. I’m deeply sorry for dragging him into my mess, but if that part was an unavoidable, canon event, then I’m awfully glad it was Auggie Vaughn who was by my side for all of this.
Auggie turns his head and looks at me. Apparently, he’s sensed my gaze on him. “I still can’t believe it,” he says. “My mind is blown.”
“Mine, too. Talk about a rollercoaster ride of emotions.”
“Why is Bella in a wheelchair? I didn’t want to ask while we were there.”
“Cerebral palsy. A severe case of it. When Bella was little, the doctors said there’s only a forty percent chance she’ll make it to twenty, so Angela, and everyone connected to her or Carlo, treats every one of Bella’s birthdays like a national holiday, just in case it’s her last.”
Auggie looks pained. He processes that for a beat before saying, “No wonder you’d never miss her birthday. It all makes sense now.”
“Well, I’d also never miss one of Zach’s or Claire’s birthdays, either. With kids, the most important thing is spending time with them. Being present. Sure, they love presents and all that. But nothing beats spending quality time with a kid to let them know you genuinely care.”
As Auggie smiles at me, the passing streetlights flicker across his gorgeous features, making him look even more beautiful than usual. “You’re an amazing person,” he says softly. “I already knew that, but today took my admiration for you to a whole new level.”
My heart flutters. “Yeah, I’m an amazing person who stupidly took you-know-what from you-know-who.” I’m being vague, due to the taxi driver sitting in front of me. But Auggie’s smile tells me he understands my meaning.
“Yeah, and I’m the guy who called the tow truck on you. Nobody’s perfect.”
We both laugh. Clearly, the two things aren’t the same.
Auggie’s smile broadens. “The day I found you and Tessa in front of my building, and Tessa said you’re the best, most amazing friend a person could ever hope to have, I thought she was delusional or full of shit. But now, I can plainly see her description was spot-on.”
My fluttering heart is pounding in my ears now. “I feel the same way about you.”
Auggie squeezes my hand. “You’re so damned smart, Charlotte. Like when you told you-know-who about that so-called dream job.” He chuckles. “You handled that perfectly. The last thing we need is for you to owe him again, only this time for doing you a huge favor.”
My pounding heart suddenly thuds into my toes. Shit. I forgot about the job offer I’ve failed to mention to Auggie. I take a deep breath and speak on my exhale. “I was telling the truth to Mr. DiMarco. I really did get a job offer today, right when we landed. All the details I mentioned at the party were real.”
Auggie looks shell-shocked. “Oh. Wow. C-congratulations. W-when do you start?”
“I haven’t accepted the offer yet. They gave me forty-eight hours. If I take the job, I’ll need to be in Dallas for training on Monday.” He looks like I’ve punched him in the stomach. We’ve got big plans to paint New York City red together, starting tomorrow. If I take this job, we’d have to scrap those plans. But even more disappointing for Auggie, I’m sure, is the thought that this job, if I take it, would almost certainly be the death knell of our situationship. I mentioned all the most pertinent details to Mr. DiMarco while Auggie looked on. First class. Regular route servicing JFK to Heathrow and back. Based in New York. So, Auggie has to be cataloging all those details in his head now and realizing this job would likely mean the end of us.
“Why haven’t you accepted the offer yet?” he asks. “It seems like your dream job, from everything you’ve said you’re looking for. Do you want to negotiate more money?”
Yeah, it’s my dream job—except for the part about it being based in New York. Doesn’t Auggie realize that’s the sticking point for me—the reason I didn’t immediately reply fuck yes—because the thought of not seeing him every fucking day of my life, the same way we’ve been doing, breaks my heart?
“It’s not about the money,” I reply evenly. “The salary and benefits are better than I made at my last job. It’s more that I want to take some time to think about being based in New York. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. I want to sleep on it and think about everything tomorrow with a clear head.” Could I rationally forego the job of a lifetime, literally, to give a two-week relationship a chance to continue to grow and flourish into something lasting? That’d be far more than a leap of faith. It’d be a nosedive into the Grand Canyon.