I paused. “A couple weeks.”
“You guys going to be okay being apart this much?” Archer asked.
“Absolutely. I’m working on things on my end, getting these new guys trained so I can have more time away.” I took a sip of my beer. “The truth is, I was miserable without Wren for two years. So just getting to talk to her every day is enough for now. I feel bad I can’t be there to support her when she sounds exhausted, but we can get through this.”
“That’s some big love, brother,” Archer said. “She’s always been your girl, hasn’t she?”
“She has. It just took us a while to figure it out.” I blew out a breath. “So now we’ll deal with the distance until we don’t have to.”
“It could be a couple years, right?” Easton said, his gaze locking with mine.
“Yep.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Clark asked.
“I am.”
“Realistically, how long can you guys manage this?” Archer pressed.
“As long as it fucking takes,” I said, my words coming out harsher than I meant them to. But this shit was hard, and we’d just started. I knew the beginning would be the most challenging, until we found our rhythm.
“Good answer.” Bridger held his beer up, and I clinked my bottle against his.
“You’ve got this,” Clark said. “You two were meant to be together.”
“Thanks,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s definitely going to be tough. I miss her already, and we’re only a few weeks in.”
“Get the new guys trained, and it’ll be easier to get away,” Easton said.
I nodded. “Working on it. I’ve thought about trying to relocate the business, but I’ve got my whole warehouse here, and my team in place.”
“And she’s not certain how long she’ll be there.” Archer clapped me on the shoulder.
“Right. So we’ll give it a few months and figure something out.”
That was the plan, and I was sticking to it.
When I got home that night my phone rang, and I dropped to sit on the couch when I saw a FaceTime call from Wren.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked, noting how pale she looked.
“I’m okay. I think I’m just worn out. We’ve been pushing hard. But I’m just missing you,” she said. “I didn’t realize how late it was when I finally got home.”
“Why is he pushing you so hard?”
“The Hampton Classic is considered the most important competition aside from the actual Olympics, so the athletes attending this one are all going to be the best of the best.”
“You’re the best of the best,” I said.
“Tell me about your night. I feel like we’ve barely gotten to talk this week.” I heard the sadness there, and I fucking hated it.
“We’re finishing up a few of the orders that we’d gotten behind on. I just went and had a few beers with the guys, and I’m missing my girl.”
“Missing you, too, Cowboy.” She had her back against her headboard, and her eyes looked sleepy. “I talked to my dad today.”
“How did that go?”
“It was fine. He wanted to tell me that he was coming to New York for the Hampton Classic.” She sighed. “And he’s bringing a very pregnant Chrissy with him.”
