He sighed and stepped up to me again. Hesitantly, his lips pressed to my forehead, temple, and cheek. “I’m heading to Atlanta in the morning for the weekend,” he said. “There’s a conference I like to attend with Zayn every year.” His hands wrapped into mine, and he stared into my eyes.
“Gavin…”
“Don’t make me any promises,” he whispered. “Take this weekend and figure it out.”
The only thing I could do was nod.
He was gone with the next chime of the elevator, and I was left in that hallway to the torture of my own throbbing heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR - CHLOE
***WARNING: THE FOLLOWING chapter contains depictions of domestic violence.***
My texts with Gavin on Saturday were few. He was getting on a plane with his friend, and I was in the car with Ezzie for dress shopping starting at 9 A.M. that morning. Yet on Sunday, I woke to breakfast, a book, and a single sunflower delivered outside my door.
I hope it’s not too much, the note on the breakfast bag said.
I smiled at the sunflower before looking at the small book he’d left. And when I saw the art on the front, I snorted so unexpectedly that I dropped my breakfast, trying to clap my hand over my mouth. Another note fell out of it, and I reached down to grab it.
You should have seen the cashier’s face when I took this to the counter, it said.If you already have it, let me know. I’ll buy the entire library to get one you don’t have if I have to.
I had the book on my tablet, but a physical copy had yet to make it onto my shelf.
I set all of it on the counter when I went inside and grabbed my phone to text him.
Thank you, I said.
He texted me a few minutes later while I was settling in front of the tv.I know you don’t like gifts, so I tried to get you something you had use for, he said.
Food and books are always the correct answer, I replied.
I’m heading into the conference room now.Can I video you later?
Video? Seems like a big step, I bantered.
I miss your face.
Goddamn, these butterflies.
Okay, I said.When do you get out of the conference?
It’ll be after nine here once we get back to the hotel. Is that okay?
Yeah. I’ll take a nap.
I love the way you look when you wake up.
I chewed my lip so hard that it hurt, unsure what to say next.
Gavin replied before I could.
I’ll text you later.
I spent most of my day hugging my blanket around me and staring at the television. I tried reading, but my mind kept wandering to him, to that kiss. Fuck, that kiss. It had been everything. I could still feel that need in my bones, see the desperation and greed in his eyes when he’d held himself back from going to my apartment.
I had to catch myself a few times when I thought of a future with Gavin.
The need for him to be in my life was overwhelming and terrifying. Such a need that I was envisioning how to tell Tyler to go fuck himself when he arrived home the next day.
