I stand and grab my jacket and put it on.My back’s to the door when it opens…
And then my jaw drops open when I turn and see Daniel standing there.He hadn’t responded yet to my good-morning text today, but that isn’t unusual when he’s busy.
I still text him every morning and every night.Liam, too, but always Daniel first thing in the morning, and last thing at night.I haven’t chatted over text with Liam in a couple of days, though, because he’s been busy with hearings.
Daniel closes the door behind him and locks it.“Hello, boy,” he whispers.
My body’s nervous system is torn between wanting to drop to my knees before him and remaining professional.I opt to remain standing.“Hello, Sir.”
He slides his hands into his pockets and leans against the door, looking as handsome as he did the last time I saw him in person.My heart painfully squeezes in my chest at how much I miss him and Liam.They’ve been good about not asking me when I’m coming back, and I appreciate that, because it means I don’t have to lie to them.
“Plans tonight?”he asks.
I shake my head.
His left eyebrow slowly arches and I realize my mistake.“No, Sir.”
“Excellent.”He withdraws a slip of paper from his pocket and walks over, dropping it on my desk.The entire way, his eyes scour my body.I still haven’t moved from where I was standing when he walked in.“Eight tonight.”
He turns and I realize he’s leaving, just like that.“Liam?”
“Is in DC,” Daniel says, his back to me.“I’m here for work and flew down early.Have to meet with some people on Monday in Tallahassee.He doesn’t know I’m here right now, but we need to talk, you and I.DonotletHimknow I’m here.”
He turns back to me with his hand on the doorknob.“Just the two of us tonight,boy.Don’t be late.If you don’t show, don’t bother letting our names ever cross your mind again, much less your lips.”
Like that, he’s gone.
My hand trembles as I reach for the piece of paper.Unfolding it, I realize it’s from a hotel notepad, a Hilton not even fifteen minutes from here.
The only writing on it is a number I assume is his room number.
Terror fills me.I should run away.I should definitelynotgo.What happens if something breaks over my father’s crimes and I’m caught up in it?If I’m tied to Liam and Daniel, it would splash back on them.
I should ignore the insane ideas streaking through my mind at light speed.
I’m also miserable and feel like I’ve only compounded my life’s mistakes by walking away from those two men.
At least this time, I made sure to say good-bye to them first and didn’t ghost on them.They didn’t want our separation to be permanent and I didn’t tell them otherwise, but I’m a realist.People like me don’t get happy endings.
Do I?
My father dying was only part of the battle.I knew if I didn’t get Olivia out of my life before our secret was exposed, none of us would ever find happiness.She and her family would have done everything in their power to ruin Daniel and Liam, and I refused to let that happen.Plus, The Fellowship might have tried to go after the men professionally.
Now?
Olivia’s no longer in my life, my father’s dead, and…
And Liam will soon be looking at another Senate campaign, even if he hasn’t announced he’ll be running for his fourth term.It’s assumed he’ll run, and he really doesn’t need to officially declare for over a year yet.He has no reasonnotto run.His poll numbers are incredible.
So when I remain at the office later than everyone else that evening, watching the clock so I can arrive at the hotel at least five minutes early, I’m certain by the time I finally collapse alone in bed in my small condo later tonight that I will have finalized my decades of heartbreak.
Just from the way Daniel didn’t even attempt to give me any of the silent cues we have tell me tonight will likely be a final good-bye.
Maybe he doesn’t want Liam here for it, afraid he’d be overruled.
I finger my bracelet, my day collar.
I wear it every day.
