“I realized that I’d keep waiting for the next something to keep me hoping. The next weekend away, you’d see how good we were, and we’d go back. That wasn’t healthy either.”
Connor exhaled, nodding a few times before he leaned over so his elbows were on the table. His face twisted into business mode, no hints of a smile, all serious.
“No matter what you decide at the end of the month, I need you to know you are the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me. That will never change.”
“Connor.” God, that sounded like a breakup speech. My stomach clenched, and it hit me that, even after all the heartache, I didn’t want to leave him. I wanted us to make this work. “What—”
He shook me off. “We have weeks to talk this all out and get to a healthy place where we are both confident and happy. We’ll get there.” His eyes shuttered as he said those words, like he wasn’t sure. “But I am the man I am because of you.”
I wanted to believe him so badly. More than breathing. We were in a snow globe right now, cut off from the rest of the world. He could be the version I needed here without the pressures of work, but once Monday hit… that’d be the test.
CHAPTER TEN
CONNOR
Are you fucking kidding me, Connor? You turn off your phone for an entire day?” Petra blasted me Monday morning. Not only did she show up at the rental house unannounced, but she also looked out of sorts.
Petra was always polished. She cared a lot about making a name for herself and once shared that she’d never let her appearance get in the way of someone’s opinion of her. Yet, she stood at the doorway, hair going everywhere and in jeans and a sweatshirt. I didn’t even know she owned jeans.
“Uh, come in.” I ushered her inside, hating the squish of guilt in my chest. Her car would be visible to Laney and her parents. Despite the progress we had made this weekend, talking and cuddling in front of the fire, her concern that I’d replaced her with Petra cut at me.
“Give me a second, okay? I’m letting Laney know you stopped by.”
Her brows rose, the question evident in her eyes. “And why would you need to let her know that?”
“Because, Petra, I’m doing whatever I can to get my wife back.” I found my phone on the counter along with the constant buzz of texts and messages that I had avoided all weekend. I hadn’t even wanted to check it once we got back to Cherrywood. In my decade of hustling to get to the top, I had never turned my phone off for over twenty-four hours. It was so out of character and stressed me the fuck out, but it had been the right choice.
Connor:Hi, good morning. I wanted to let you know Petra showed up unannounced today because I turned my phone off all weekend. I have no idea how long she’ll stay.
Laney:Hi! Okay, thanks for letting me know.
Connor:Can I take you out for dinner tonight?
Laney:Would tomorrow work? I have dinner plans tonight, sorry!
Connor:With who?
I didn’t mean to send that so fast, but images of her perfect high school sweetheart came to mind.
Connor:Sorry, I wish I could unsend that. Tomorrow would be great!
Laney:No need to be jealous of Becky. We’regrabbing dinner to talk about the festival that I’ll be photographing. It will only take an hour.
Connor:I’m jealous of anyone who spends time with you.
“Connor, Jesus Christ.” Petra scoffed. “Are you listening to me at all?”
“Give me a fucking minute.” I ignored her and smiled at my phone.
Connor:Let me know when you’re done with Becky. I’ll pick you up and we can go see an old Christmas movie at the theater.
Laney:!!!!!!
Connor:Those better be YES I WANT TO SEE YOU CONNOR exclamation points.
Laney:Not quite. They are I LOVE POPCORN.
Connor:So, movie date?
