I smile to myself as I sip my wine, excited for the moment I get to share this surprise and—hopefully—watch as her face lights up with an equal measure of excitement.
We’ve been together nearly eight months now, but that feels like nothing. When I close my eyes and picture what my life looks like, all I can see is her and the life we’re going to build together. I’m eager to see everything come together and watch all the pieces fall into place—but I’m also content to enjoy every individual day that I get to spend with her.
It’s hard for me to imagine that there was a time in my life that I didn’t know her. I didn’t know what it was like to count down every second of the day until I got to see her again. I suppose it’s a good thing because if I had, I’m not sure anything could have stopped me from scouring the Earth until I found her. Until we were together and everything was how it should be.
Something so simple as running into each other at the workplace turned out to be exactly what we both needed.
Our group makes small talk once the waiter comes by and takes our orders. Mostly talk of work, or in Leila’s case, what her plans are while she’s off school for thesummer.
“I don’t know, man. I think Melinda has the hots for you,” Chase says before reaching for a piece of the complimentary bread provided by the restaurant. I make a face at the mention of one of the older members of the Board of Directors at Nexus.
“She definitely doesn’t,” I argue back.
He laughs. “Oh, she does. Every time I run across her, she makes a point of asking how you are.”
“She does, I’ve seen it happen,” Whitney adds. I shoot a glance at my girlfriend and grin wickedly.
“And how does that make you feel?”
She waves me off. “If you want to leave me for her, I’d probably let you. She’s got to be a millionaire or something.”
I quirk a brow at her. “I’m already a millionaire.”
“Well, then you two would be perfect for each other,” she says, sticking her tongue out at me.
“You two are sickening,” Leila says, shaking her head. “I don’t know why we even hang out with you.”
“Because you love us,” Whitney admonishes her friend.
Leila rolls her eyes but fights off a smile. “I suppose you’re right. I’m so bummed you can’t come with me to the Bahamas, Whitney.”
Whitney laughs and then gives Chase a pointed stare. “You better talk to this one about that. He’s got a strict, no Caribbean vacations policy.”
“Unless I’m invited,” Chase teases with a wink.
Leila looks like she’s pondering it, inviting Chase and Whitney on her vacation, but then she shakes her head and changes the topic before anyone else can say anything else on the matter. Our food arrives not long after, and we all dig into our meals, laughing and joking away the remainder of the night.
As we walk out of the restaurant and start making our way back toward home, the girls take off ahead of us, loopingtheir arms through each other and then leaning close to speak softly. Chase and I stay a few feet behind them, walking side by side. I have my hands tucked into my pants pockets as we stroll across the sidewalk. Surprisingly, the city isn’t too busy tonight, giving us plenty of room to meander and enjoy the spring evening.
“You’re happy, right?” my brother asks me out of the blue, in a rare show of vulnerability for him.
I don’t look away from Whitney, watching the way her long hair swings against her back with every step. I nod my head. “Yeah, I am.”
“Do you miss being at Nexus?”
I ponder his question, wondering if I do. I sometimes look up from my desk when someone walks into my office, still expecting to see Whitney standing there expectantly. I’m always a little disappointed when it’s not her, but then I remember that I get to spend every night and every morning with her, and that eases any type of longing for our past surreptitious relationship.
“Not especially,” I finally respond. And it’s true. Aside from getting to see Whitney every day, the work at Nexus compared to my new company, Pinnacle, is essentially the same. The only difference is that Pinnacle has been around much longer than Nexus and has a far wider reach as far as property demographics. Other than that, the workload is identical.
“Must be nice to have someone you can be so confident in,” Chase says, his voice whimsical.
Now, I do look over at him and catch his gaze lingering on Leila as she walks right next to my girlfriend. Chase and Leila have been on and off for the last eight months that I’ve been seeing Whitney. When they’re on, they’reon. But when they’re off, I try my hardest not to get in the crossfire because it can get messyreal quick.
Though, by the way, my brother is looking at her now, I wonder if he’s yearning for something a little more sturdy. Something more stable.
“You should talk to her,” I suggest, reading between the lines. Though Chase and Leila were on good terms for this evening’s festivities, I know they’re not actively seeing each other right now. No matter how much either of them wants it.
Chase exhales. “I don’t know what good that’d do. She’s a free spirit. All I can do is hope that she’ll come around to the idea of something eventually.”
