When I didn’t say anything, he added, “This building doesn't have a doorman.No security.Preston can easily show up at your front door and knock until the door busts open."
"He won't."
"You don't know that.You never thought he’d try picking Mia up at daycare, either.Please think about it.You'd have your own space.Mia would have her own room.You could even have your own bedroom if you wanted.Plus it’s like a fortress.Preston would never make it to my front door.He wouldn’t even make it into the building."
I wanted to argue.But he was right.My apartment suddenly felt vulnerable.But leaving this space exposed us to a whole different level of vulnerability—falling so deep into Nash and his world that we’d have nowhere left to go come December 31.
Right now, I didn’t know which threat was worse.
"I'll think about it," I said quietly.
Nash came over to me and kissed my forehead.I let myself lean into him for just a moment.He was solid.Safe.He felt like home, no matter how much the thought scared me.
Tears pricked at my eyes, a stark reminder I needed to steer the day back into a safe zone.
“I’m going to spend the rest of the day getting myself back into school mode,” I told Nash, pushing up onto my tiptoes to give him a quick, decisive kiss.“I need to finalize my portfolio.”
“You sure?”He squeezed my hips, and I could see desire flash through his gaze.
“Yes.I need to finish my green space suggestions for the final property, and then I’ll be ready to submit it.And we have that big event tomorrow night, so I know I won’t do anything tomorrow with how busy the day will be getting ready.”
He cocked a grin.“I can’t wait to see you in the newest dress.”
“I can’t wait for it to show up magically at my door.”
“Tomorrow will be a big night.I’m going to confront the commissioner directly about the Gideon Hotel permits.He’s seen all the evidence I compiled.Now it’s time to pressure him.”
I grinned up at him.“And I can’t wait to be there when it happens.”
He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger.I could tell he didn’t want to leave.“Thanks for the brilliant idea.”He gave me a soft, meaningful kiss before he said, “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.I promise.”
Nash headed over to Mia, who was playing with her dragon figurines inside the giant doll house, and bent down to kiss the top of her head.“I’ll see you later, little dragon.”
Mia gave Nash a big hug, but once the door closed behind him, she started to pout.
“Where Naff?”
My belly flopped.I’d heard this question roughly a hundred times since returning home from Big Sur.Our week together had gotten her used to his constant presence.But I didn’t want her expecting him around all the time.
Keeping this a part-time arrangement had been my goal at the onset, but now it made more sense to join households.And that made me feel somehow like I’d failed.Keeping our lives separate was meant to protect Mia from getting attached to someone who planned to leave us in a few short months.It seemed it was far too late for that.
I did my best to ignore the dilemma the only way I knew how: unending busywork.I cleaned the apartment.I finished unpacking from the trip.I organized the bathroom.I online shopped for new pots for the plants.And then I finally did what I said I’d do—worked on my portfolio for my application to the green urban planning master’s degree program.
Mia and I had a quiet, sweet evening.It felt just like old times, but with one major difference—I was missing Nash the entire time.I sent him cute pictures of us having dinner, and he sent me back two pictures: one of 2 empty place settings at his big dining room table with the captionWaiting for you two next time; and then a second photo that was just for me, a tatted forearm selfie that readToo pornographic?
That set off a series of increasingly inappropriate selfies that ended with my first ever bona fide experience with phone sex.
So much for keeping my distance.Even when we were apart, Nash could unravel me using his voice alone.
The next morning, I opted to keep Mia home from daycare just in case Preston decided to show up looking for her again.I had my babysitter Sarah lined up to watch her that morning so I could go to all my gala-prep appointments.
By one o’clock, my nails were done and I’d gotten my hair and makeup styled to perfection.I breezed into the apartment to find Sarah sitting on the couch next to Mia, looking down at her with concern.
“Hey, guys.How was the day?”
Sarah glanced up at me, her brows drawn.“It’s been great, until just about ten minutes ago.”
