“And I’m sure I don’t need to say that Claud can’t?—”
An annoyed feeling takes over. “Don’t even say it and insult my intelligence, Harrison. I think we have a bigger issue if you need to tell me not to say anything to your five-year-old daughter.” I spit.
“All right, all right. Stop being so defensive, and let’s end today on a happy note.”
Shooting him a look, I tell him truthfully, “You’re the only one I’m ever like this with.”
Displeasure crosses his face. “What? What are you talking about?”
I think for a moment, “I’m not sure it’s a bad thing. I enjoy the back-and-forth between us.” His knitted brows tell me he’s not sure he should believe me. “I’m being serious, Harrison. You’re challenging and demanding, something I’m not used to. But it’s who you are, and…I like you,” I tell him with a half shrug.
He cups my cheek in a surprisingly tender way. “I’m not too much for you?”
“No, because what also comes along with your prickly side makes me laugh like I’ve never laughed before, even if you’re not trying to be funny. In the last twenty-four hours, I’ve gotten more of an ab workout than I have in ages.” I shoot him a subtle wink, and he lifts my hand to kiss each knuckle.
Leaning in, he turns his head to skim his lips along the sweep of my cheek until he meshes our lips together.
“I don’t want to leave you right now,” he mumbles against me, then audibly swallows before saying, “It’s a new feeling for me, Juliette.”
Leaning back, I look him in the eyes and smile. “I had the best night.”
Overcast skies have the outside suddenly looking dark and dreary, and I can tell it’s about to pour again soon. “I’m not in the mood to get soaked. I should go.”
“What if it’s a different type of soaked?” he asks dryly, and I laugh, swatting his chest.
“See…laughing.” I smile again in an overly exaggerated way.
“You don’t have to walk me,” I tell him when he attempts to get out of the car. “There’s a good chance my mom is looking out the window since a brand-new Bentley is idling outside.”
“This car is typical for a businessman on the Upper East Side, Juliette.”
“You’re right, but it’s not when your mother is nosey and is going to wonder who’s dropping her daughter off from her wildnight out.” As I say it, I duck to look out the window and check—luckily, I don’t see any lingering shadows.
Harrison taps the window, signaling to Robert he can open the door, then takes my face and kisses me one last time. “I’ll speak to you soon.”
Soon.
I know we made no promises, but suddenly, I hate our arrangement, and the expression on my face must tell him everything I’m thinking.
When I’m about to put the key in my door, he lowers his window and calls out my name.
“Not soon—tonight, beautiful.” Then his car drives off andsoongoes from being my least to most favorite word.
However, my happiness quickly dies the second I step over the threshold into my apartment.
The world around me seems to fade, and it’s as if my body knows home is a safe place to let down my guard and unleash the emotions I’ve been holding in for the last two hours.
When my mom sees my distraught face, her forehead creases with worry, and she’s up, off the couch, taking me in her arms, engulfing me with the comforting scent of my father.
“Come, my love,” she whispers, guiding me to the couch, keepingher arms wrapped tightly around me.
Laying in my mother’s comforting embrace has my silent tears quickly turning into sobs. Long overdue tears for a life I no longer live, one I’ve never fully grieved, pour out onto my mom’s shoulder while flashes of me dancing on stage come back in full force.
I miss it terribly.
I miss gliding through the air, freeing my body of gravity.
The accomplishments and ability to push myself to be greater.
