I’m slipping into sleep myself when an insistent buzzing sound brings me back to awareness.It stops and starts again, and I realize it’s one of our phones.I peer at Nathan’s sleeping face, getting lost for a moment in how peaceful and relaxed he looks.The lines that are often etched into his forehead—his deep thinking lines, as I’ve always thought of them—have smoothed.
The buzzing starts again.I untangle myself from the sheets and search out the sound, rifling through our discarded clothes until I discover my vibrating phone in the pocket of my dress.It’s gone silent by the time I get it free.The sight of several texts and two missed calls from Mila sends panic surging through me.
I hit her number and slip into the hallway.The second she answers, I ask, “Are you okay?Is Mum okay?”
“Yes, yes, everyone and everything is fine,” she says quickly.“I know this is theworsttiming, but I have news about Sanjay, and I didn’t think it could wait.”
I had slumped against the wall when she told me everything was fine, but I jerk upright now.“What is it?”
“You know Deirdre, who works in the London office of On the Go?Well, without giving her many details, I asked her to keep an eye on Sanjay’s schedule while I was away, and to let me know when he’s back.She was heading to the airport for an early-morning flight, and got a notification that Sanjay will be in the office from the fifth to the seventh.I know you’ve been hesitant to set a date to leave, but this is our chance, Fiona.We can go to London, ambush Sanjay, and refuse to leave until he hears us out.Deirdre will be back by then, and she said she’ll help us make it happen.”
From the moment Mila said ‘ambush’, I’ve felt an uncontrollable urge to laugh.This situation is so bizarre.I never thought my best friend and I would be reduced to things like ambushing and blackmail disguised as motivation.I think of what Nathan said earlier about how he and Dad admired my courage to go after my dreams.This is exactly what that is.
“I can go on my own if you’re not ready to leave Honeywell,” Mila says when I don’t respond immediately.
“No, I can’t let you do that.Iwon’t.We’re in this together.Besides, even if Sanjay’s not willing to dissolve the non-compete clause, we still need to give our notice, and it looks like we need to do that in person since no one’s taking our calls.”
“Are you sure?”Mila asks.
I peer around the doorway into Nathan’s room.Seeing him in his bed, rumpled sheets covering him from the waist down, weakens my resolve.AmI sure?Hell, no, but this is what needs to be done.After we get this business in London sorted, we can come back here and figure things out.
“I’m sure,” I say finally, ducking back around the corner.
“Okay.I’m looking at flights right now.How does May fourth sound?”
That’s one week from today.That’ll give me enough time to tell Mum without it seeming like I’m springing it on her…and to tell her the truth about why I’m still here, along with what Mila and I plan to do.
“That works.My passport is in the top right drawer of my desk.I don’t have my credit card on me—”
“Don’t worry about that, you can pay me back later.”There’s a rustling sound on her end, followed by what I recognize as my ancient desk drawer creaking open.“You sure about this, Fi?We can wait a while longer, or I can—”
“I’m sure,” I say firmly.“We need to get this over with so we can move on with our plans.Book the flight.”
“Okay.I’ll get it done now and forward you the confirmation.”Now I can hear clicking as she types on her laptop.“We’ll talk in the morning, yeah?You can tell me all about your rendezvous with Nathan over coffee and breakfast.”
I laugh.“Deal.Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I stare blankly at the dark screen after the call disconnects.Nathan said himself that he knows I’m leaving, and yet something about this makes a heavy ball of dread settle in the pit of my stomach.I head back into the bedroom, freezing just inside the door when I see Nathan is awake and sitting up against the headboard.
His face is expressionless other than a quirk of his brows, which makes me suddenly aware that I’m completely naked.
“Sorry if I woke you,” I say.“Mila needed to tell me something.”
“Everything okay?”
I could tell him everything right now.Lay it all out and see if he has any solutions to the turmoil churning inside me.Any words of wisdom, Seamus Murphy style, regarding my desire to have both roots and wings.But my body is still buzzing from sex, my mind is muddled with a million thoughts, and above all, I can’t bear to see the disappointment and hurt on Nathan’s face after what just happened between us.
And so, like the coward I am, I say, “Yeah, everything’s fine.I guess I should get going, though.”
His gaze drops to his hands, which are resting in his lap.“Or…you could stay with me.Just for a bit longer.”
He meets my eyes again.Something about his tone and the searching way he looks at me makes me wonder if he overheard my conversation with Mila.If he knows, like I do, that our time together is coming to an end.He must see my acquiescence without me having to say a word because he pulls back the sheets in invitation.I crawl in beside him and straight into his waiting arms.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ~ FIONA
The scents of cooking meat and spices hang in the air, making my mouth water and my stomach growl.
