Her words hit him like a sucker punch to the face.
“It’s now or never—well, now or more money. Can you make it?”
He thought about all the clothing he had in Daisy’s linen closet, the extra shoes—all of which would have to stay behind. That worked out well, because he’d be back and he’d need something to wear.
This trip would be their first one—hopefully all would go well and they’d move forward in their relationship even though they were miles apart. His chest seized. It was a modern world—they could make this work. He had to believe that. Besides, now he had a beautiful reason to return that had nothing to do with closet space and everything to do with the stunning woman who held his heart. “I can make it.” He dug the keys to Daisy’s car out of his pocket. Kelly filled him in on the details as he drove, and by the time he pulled into the garage, he had everything he needed to begin a new project.
He was in such a hurry to pack that he didn’t see Daisy on the couch until he almost sat on her. She was sleeping, her lips slightly parted and her hair cascading over his pillow. The sight was almost too much to bear, knowing he’d be gone in less time than it would take to wash and dry the sheets.
He brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, bringing her to consciousness. She smiled when she saw him and then dove into his arms as if she’d been sinking and he was her life preserver.
“Hey, hey.” He ran his hand down her hair. “What’s this?”
She sniffed. “I lost it.” She proceeded to tell him about the makeup contract falling through. His leg bounced. He listened as patiently as he could, knowing there was a plane he had to catch. Finally, he couldn’t take sitting any longer and he got up to organize the few things he had on the side table as she spoke. Most of it would stay behind, but he wanted the beard oil and his phone charger.
“I am sure you can find another sponsor,” he said as he searched for his toiletries bag.Bathroom! He headed that way.
Daisy followed, talking as they went. “It’s not a regular sponsorship. This was supposed to be my own line of cosmetics. That’s a huge deal in the industry and major brand recognition possibilities.” She twisted her hair behind her head. Her eyes were rimmed with red. He hated that she was crying over this.
“Daisy, you’re amazing. You’ll find a way.” He threw his toothbrush and toothpaste into the bag and zipped it shut. His bag was in the garage. He headed there next, walking backwards so he could face her as he spoke. His words flowed faster than river rapids. “Your channel has more followers than NASA and you’re smart—oh my gosh, you’re so smart. You can make this work for you—I know you can. I believe in what you’re doing withEveryDayGlam!Heck, I’m a product of your mad skills.” He waved his arm down his body. “This isn’t a hurdle—it’s merely a bump in your road.” He grabbed his bag and headed back to the front room, where he proceeded to roll his clothing and stuff it in the bag.
“It’s not just that, I feel lo—” Her hands stilled. “Why are you packing?”
He stopped, taking her by the shoulders. “I have to catch a plane.”Have to—what an interesting choice of words. In all his years with FreeWater, he’d never said hehad tofly out—getting on the plane was always the first step in an adventure. This time, he felt like he was leaving the biggest adventure behind.
“The permits came through. We’re finally going to bring water to the lowlands. This is huge for them. They literally battle alligators for fresh water. I’ve seen women with one arm try to carry their babies—this is so great.” He kissed her forehead, wishing he could pour his excitement into her, though his personal excitement levels were slightly off and he wasn’t sure if he was talking her into this or talking himself into leaving. There were five pairs of jeans on the shelf; he took one and three pairs of shorts.
“You’re really leaving, today?”
“As soon as I can.”
She hugged herself tight, like she might fall apart at any moment. This makeup thing was really messing with her. Beckett stopped. He had the strangest urge to stay. To just turn the page and start a new chapter in his life. He ran his hand through his short hair. Chapters didn’t start that easily. His phone beeped, interrupting his contemplation. If he didn’t get to his assignment, they’d miss the open window. He’d check the text in the car. Socks. Underwear.
Daisy dug her fingers into her hair at the roots. “Is this how your life usually is? Last-minute departures, no warning?”
“Sometimes. Other times I have a set schedule.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “So if you had a kid and he had his first piano recital, would you leave?”
The clock ticked and the pressure to get out the door mounted. “I don’t know. Can we have a kid before we have this conversation?” he said without looking up. The zipper snagged and he had to pull it back down to stuff the socks deeper before trying again.
Daisy chewed her lip. “I’m not a needy person, Beck, but I need a partner in life.”
She was in a strange place right now. Her normal sunny outlook was shadowed with clouds. Beckett dropped his bag and pulled her close. “What do you need from me?” Hopefully it was something he could give in the next thirty seconds.
“I need some time to figure out what I want in the long-term—space to think. I need to be able to think.” She dug her hands through her hair again.
A car honked outside.
“That’s my Uber.” He picked up his bag and threw it over his shoulder. There was something in the air that stuck to him like flour paste. His shoes didn’t want to walk out the door. But he had to go. This was his job—his passion. He kissed Daisy softly. A warm, gentle kiss he hoped explained how he felt better than his words had.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Beckett’s soul cried out. Leaving felt wrong, and yet he simply couldn’t see an alternative.
Daisy would understand. She’d snap out of her funk and she’d see that they were going to be okay. He had to just keep telling himself that, or he’d never get on the plane.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The two-engine plane touched down on a dirt runway. “Touched down” was a loose term that could also mean “slammed hard and jolted Beckett right down to the roots of his teeth.”
