“Do you love it enough to move there?” she asks quietly so her daughter doesn’t hear.
I smile. “Adrianna told you?”
“Sorry. She let it slip, then wondered if it was a secret. She didn’t mean to.”
I nod. “I know. It’s okay. I assume you didn’t tell Mason since Max hasn’t chewed my ass.”
“It’s none of his business. I don’t keep secrets from him, but he hasn’t asked, and I feel no reason to tell him,” she admits.
“Thank you. To answer your question, I don’t know. I’m weighing my options,” I murmur.
“Either way, we will support you, but you know our vote,” she says as the server brings our food over.
I do. They think I am too far as it is. Putting an ocean between us would change everything.
The conversation shifts as we eat, and we catch up. I didn’t realize how much I missed girl time and just being able to catch up with someone other than Max or Clint.
My heart aches as I think about them going home tomorrow. I don’t want them to go. Or I want them to go and take me with them.
I miss the unfiltered access I used to have to all of them. How we would be able to make last-minute plans.
Some days I wish we never had to come to New York. That I wished The Williamson Group had never moved their offices to New York all those decades ago.
Still, I know I wouldn’t change my decision. Max was leaving, and I couldn’t stand the thought of being without him, so I followed him.
I can’t regret that.
MAX
I check my watch for the hundredth time. Mason and his family’s flight landed an hour ago, and he told me they are on their way. They should be here soon.
I’m excited to see my brother and the girls. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen them, and I miss them like crazy
Just another reason we need to make sure the board agrees to move our headquarters back from New York City to Boston.
Just the thought makes me smile. I can’t wait. Don’t get me wrong, the city is great, but it’s just not for me. Not long-term, at least. I miss the atmosphere of Boston. It is a city as well, but it’s different than New York. Slower in a way, yet still a bit hectic. I miss being able to meet the guys down at the pub for a beer or being able to attend every birthday party for everyone.
Now with Ari in the picture, I know I am missing milestones.
The sound of pounding little feet makes me smile, and I spin away from my desk.
They’re here.
“Uncle Max!” Ari cheers as they step into my office.
I jump up and round my desk. I pick her up and hug her tight as her parents walk in and shut the door behind them.
“I missed you,” I murmur.
“I missed you too.” She pulls back and cups my face. “Daddy said he needed to come help you. Is everything okay?”
She is such a sweet girl. She cares so deeply with her whole heart. She has her mother to thank for that. She showed her how to love so she could bestow that love on the rest of us.
I hate that we missed four years with her, but Olivia did one hell of a job.
“Everything is fine,” I reassure her.
Ari’s head bobs. “Good.”
