“And she enjoyed meeting you far more. I’ll talk to her and arrange for your canvas to be delivered.”
He leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Ciao, Cecilia.”
The words get stuck in my throat, so I just watch as he steps away. At the top of the steps, he stops short, his hand curling into a fist like he’s fighting with himself, before he turns rightback around. With determined steps, he closes the distance and pulls me into his arms.
I don’t know how long we stay like that... my arms around his waist, his wrapped fully around me, his face buried in my hair like he’s trying to hold on, afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
When he finally pulls back, he’s smiling. “Now I can leave.”
“Alexander, about what happened...” I try to gather my thoughts, try to find words that don’t exist yet.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t feel pressured to say anything.”
He cups my face in both hands and presses a kiss to my forehead... then to the tip of my nose.
“I’ll be here for you,” he murmurs. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Then he lets me go and turns, walking toward the car.
When I see that he doesn’t get into the car, that he’s still standing there watching me, I realize he’s waiting for me to go inside and be safe before he leaves.
Once I set the alarm, I lean back on the door and close my eyes.
“I’ll be here for you, whenever you’re ready.”
And what if I’m never ready?
I pour myself a mug of coffee and carry it to my office, taking advantage of the empty house to get ahead on some work for the week.
Ethan texted earlier saying he’d be having lunch with Dalila and her parents, and that he’d only be home in the early evening. Alicia called right after I woke up, excited because her father was taking her to IHOP for breakfast. Something they hadn’t done in years. From everything she told me, things are going well, and I noticed she’s calling himDadagain, without hesitation.
I tap my phone screen. No new messages.
I sent Alexander a text first thing this morning wishing him a safe trip, but he hasn’t replied. I can’t remember if he ever told me what time his flight was.
Thinking about him, and how good it felt to have him here for a month, leaves me with a strange, uneasy feeling in my chest.
Not wanting to linger on it, I open my laptop and reach for my planner. When I flip it open, my eyes go straight to the list I made weeks ago, rereading each item.
Then I pick up a pen and add one more line:
Do more things simply because I want to, without overthinking.
I set the pen aside and throw myself into work.
About two hours later, without giving myself time to reconsider, I pick up my phone and tap the contact I need.
“Hi, did I wake you?”
A laugh slips out at the response. “I think I’m going to need your help.”
Chapter 14
You’re here. You came.
Colin
I was having a good week. The first good week since the day I saw Ceci with that... that arrogant bastard, and completely lost my mind.
