Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
He loves me.
I’m smiling as I talk to him. “Sunday dinner tomorrow, right?” I ask.
“Tomorrow? You’re going to be gone that long?” he grumbles. “I don’t care what time it is when you get home. Call me, and I’ll be there. Or just pack a bag and stay here, or don’t… and wear something you already have here. It’s been too long since I’ve laid eyes on you, Alyssa.”
Alyssa, not Tink. He’s serious Sterling today. “I don’t know how long we’ll be.” That’s the truth. I have two interviews lined up for today. Luckily for me, the hiring managers understood that I was unable to miss a day’s work to come and interview, so they scheduled me for Saturday morning.
Sterling would be happy for me. The issue is that they’re both in Atlanta. An hour’s drive one way. He’s not going to like that, and I know how his mind works. He’s going to assume that I’ll move to Atlanta if I get one of the positions.
I don’t want to move… unless my gut is off, and when I tell him that I’m in love with him too, his drunken confession turns out to have been just words. Then I might be moving. It will be easier to put that distance between us after humiliating myself, but my heart tells me that’s not going to happen.
We’re going to need some time for this conversation. I wanted to have it last weekend, and I was ready, but then when he showed up, he got the call that Ryder needed him, so he left.
The next day he was hungover, and that’s not a conversation for someone who’s battling a headache and a queasy stomach. I didn’t want to talk about it any day after work either. I just feel like we’re going to want some time. In my mind, I tell him how I feel, and he kisses the breath from my lungs, and we make love for hours. I need my confession to come on a day when we have hours for that to happen.
Then there’s the possibility that he’s not feeling the way that I am, and I’ll need some time to get my emotions in order before going back to work the following week. I know I’m overthinking this, and when he hears about why I waited, he’ll tell me so, but that’s how I see it playing out. It’s the plan that’s been in my head for a couple of weeks now, and it’s stuck. So, yeah, I’m avoiding him today because of my interview, and I want more time when we finally sit down and talk. I can’t hold it in any longer.
The next time I see him when it’s just us, I’m going to spill my guts, so it’s a busy schedule of avoidance until then. Even as I think it, I know it’s silly, but I’m rolling with it.
“We’ll see how late it is.”
“Alyssa.” There’s a warning in his tone. Not a mean warning, but a “don’t be stubborn” warning.
“Sterling.” I toss his tone right back at him.
“I miss you.”
His words hit me in the chest. “I miss you too. I’ll for sure be there for Sunday dinner at your parents’ place.”
“Fine,” he grumbles.
“I need to go so I can finish getting ready.”
“What time are you leaving?”
“In about twenty minutes.”
“All right. Text me when you get there.”
“Will do.” I end the call and head back to the bathroom to finish getting ready. I barely make it ten steps before there’s a knock at the door. “Coming,” I call out. I have no idea who it could be, but I don’t have time for this. I need to get dressed. I’m in pajama shorts and a tank. I didn’t want to get makeup on my clothes. When I open the door, my mouth hangs open when I see Sterling standing there. “What are you doing here?”
“I was already in the truck on my way to pick up Blake for our breakfast date when you told me I wasn’t going to get to see you.”
I shake my head at this man. I love him with all that I am. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Keep me?” he asks, and there’s so much hope in his voice that I almost cave and tell him that’s exactly my plan. “Come here.” He hauls me into a hug.
“I’ll get makeup on you.” I try to push him away, but his strength outpowers me.
“Don’t give a fuck, baby.”
Baby.
His arms wrap around me, and I melt into his embrace. I part my lips to tell him everything when he pulls back. He leans down and kisses my cheek. “Be safe, and don’t forget to text me when you get there and when you’re on your way home.” He steps back. “You’re beautiful, Alyssa.”