“Nothing?” he asked.
I shook my head, staring at the screen. “Nothing, love.”
I fought the urge to throw it against the wall. But the only thing that would do was cut off all communication I had with him after I left. And I couldn’t stand that.
As I sat slumped over on the edge of the bed, Carson’s hand ran up and down my back as I tried to figure out what in the bloody hell had happened. This process was supposed to be easy, not break my fucking heart.
“Are you okay?” he asked, scooting closer.
Carson wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back onto him. I cuddled into his touch as the sky continued to lighten.
We laid wrapped around one another until I had to get up.
“I should shower. With Monday traffic, we’ll need to leave earlier, I suppose.”
His body moved under me. “Probably.”
When I finally got out of bed, I padded to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, I waited for the water to warm. I wanted to be numb to everything. The happiness, the hurt.
Stepping in, I hung my head under the spray and allowed myself to feel it all.
When I got out of the shower, Carson was sitting on the edge of the bed. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot from no sleep. He looked up and held his hand out. I went to him, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, laying the side of his face on my abdomen.
“This is temporary,” he said. “We’ll get this straightened out, and you’ll be back here before you know it.”
“Uh-huh,” I agreed, terrified that he was wrong.
Running my fingers through his hair, I pulled his head back and looked at him. His hazel eyes were glassy, and saying goodbye to him was going to kill me.
“We need to leave soon. I’ve already checked in.”
He nodded, not looking away. A tear slipped down his face, making me start all over again. I thought I’d gotten all my tears out in the shower, but maybe not.
Leaning down, I kissed him, then moved back to dress. No suit this time, just jeans and a sweater.
Carson stood and headed for the closet. He returned dressed similarly to me. I still had reservations about leaving Allister, because I just couldn’t shake the feeling I wasn’t coming back. Maybe it was my past coming back to haunt me, but nothing good ever stayed in my life for long. I hadn’t banked on falling in love, and Carson was the best thing to ever happen to me.
As if he knew I needed him, Allister jumped up on the bed for his morning rub. I sat down on the edge of the bed and held him in my arms. “You be a good boy while daddy’s away,” I said to him. “Keep Carson and Bella safe while I’m gone.”
I held my cat close while he rubbed his scent all over me. When he was done, I let him go.
“You should go to the Super Bowl with Lennox and Dane,” I suggested.
Carson shrugged. “We’ll see.”
I zipped up my duffle bag with the things I was taking back. It was summer in Sydney, so I’d be fine.
Carson picked up my bag and hung it over his shoulder. Reaching for my hand, I followed him down the stairs to the kitchen to say goodbye to Bella. With that done, we headed to the garage.
“Two weeks,” he said. “That’s all I’m giving you to get back here.”
I smiled and bit my lip. “Or what?”
He pulled me to his chest. “Or I’m coming after you.”
And he pressed his mouth to mine.
When we arrived at the airport, Carson turned into the hourly parking lot.
