His shoulders shook with a chuckle as he lifted his head.
“And I love you too,” I said, clearing my throat when my voice cracked. “So much, you couldn’t imagine.”
He shot me a dazed smile and pressed his forehead against mine.
“How about we clean up for dinner, and then bring dessert upstairs to bed?”
“Can I sing happy birthday then?”
“You can sing whatever you want as long as you don’t put any clothes on. Come on, wife.” He lifted me off the table and set me down on the floor.
Come on, wife.
I’d be his wife, wear his ring and take his name and him, forever.
All he had to do was say the word.
24
LANDON
Travel had always been a part of my job. Since I’d made partner, I could count the full weeks I’d spent sleeping in my apartment and not in a hotel for at least a night on one hand. I’d lived alone, with no pets or plants to take care of, and could come and go as I pleased with no obligations. While I was never a fan of weeks of back-to-back travel, it never really bothered me.
But as I packed my suitcase for a week in Charlotte, I dreaded everything about this trip, beginning with getting on a plane and leaving Julie for seven days.
Being this torn up about leaving was ridiculous. I’d always known I’d have to fly back and forth at least once a quarter to meet with my bosses at NameTech, but I’d gotten too used to sleeping in my own bed every night.
Or, sleeping in the bed I shared with Julie.
I had inquiries with clients for potential meetings in other states too, and if all went as I intended it, I had some overnight trips to New Hampshire and Maine in the upcoming weeks. It was all part of my job and how I’d done it from the beginning.
So why did my dopey heart feel so damn heavy as I zipped up my bags and set them in the hallway for tomorrow morning?
“I don’t mind driving you to the airport. You don’t need to take an Uber,” Julie said as she leaned against the wall in the upstairs hallway, the frown pulling at her lips mimicking the lousy twinge in the pit of my stomach.
“My flight is at seven. It’s stupid to get up that early to drive back and forth when I could take a cab and be at LaGuardia in less than thirty minutes.”
I smiled at her defeated sigh as she averted her gaze from mine to the carpet.
“Listen to me,” I said, taking her face in my hands. “There is no need for you to take me to the airport for a drawn-out goodbye, especially when they don’t even let you park at the terminal for more than five minutes.”
“I know,” she said with a long sigh. “I’m being ridiculous and clingy. This is like all those other times you went back to Charlotte, and I need to get over it.”
“No, Jules. It’s not.” I dropped my hands to her waist and drew her closer. “This time, I’m coming back in a week. I liveherenow—with you.” A tiny smile pulled across her mouth when I dipped my head to meet her gaze. “Just think about all that reunion sex.”
I skimmed my hands over her hips, squeezing her perfect ass as I pulled her flush to my body.
“And after being without you for seven days…well…” I pressed my lips to hers, nibbling on her bottom lip as I slowly pulled away. “You better rest upallweek for when I get back.”
She chuckled and dropped her head to my chest.
“I hate leaving you just as much,” I whispered as I kissed the top of her head. “So, we’re both being ridiculous.”
“You know, every time you’d visit and go back, I’d get a little withdrawn and sad for a couple of days. Mopey.” She shrugged, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Nate and I used to fight about it. I told him that you were my best friend, and it was just hard to see you leave. But looking back…I think that may have been one of those clues I didn’t pick up on.”
“It’s actually pretty funny. Or sad, but I’m going with funny.” I cupped her neck. “At the time, I figured you were always my first thought because you were my best friend. I’d tell Shayla the same thing when she’d call me out on it. But looking back?” I shrugged, shaking my head. “All the puzzle pieces were there, we just didn’t know to put them together.”
“Very true,” she said, her gaze drifting over my shoulder. “Are you all packed?”
