He got out of bed, and I watched that fine ass walk away toward his closet. When he came back, he was in a pair of gray sweats that hung low on his hips. That muscular V he had from his six-pack was clearly visible as he strutted back to the bed. Moving in and seeing that every day would have its perks.
He handed me a pair of his sweats and a T-shirt.
“We need to talk. Let’s get dressed and go downstairs.” His serious tone had me on edge.
After I dressed, I followed him down the wide staircase that overlooked his living room. It was connected to a gourmet kitchen by a huge island between the two rooms. He put on a pot of coffee as I sat across from him on an island stool.
He leaned against the island, his hands wide as they rested against the black quartz counter. His eyes were downturned, but his gaze lifted to mine before he spoke.
“I’m not used to being in a relationship, Mare. The only one I had, years ago, was not based on what we have. Now I have a decision to make. I’ve never needed to make a decision while thinking of someone else before.”
My saliva filled my mouth and got stuck in my throat, the knot so big. Part of me was impressed he considered me while making this decision.
The other part feared the outcome.
“What is it you need to decide?”
He walked around the island and sat next to me, taking my hands in his before speaking. “The tour this agent offered me. It’s not some local New York bar thing. It’s across the East Coast. It would take me out of state.”
Oh.
Shit.
Thiswasa big deal. For him. And for us.
But he still hadn’t mentioned a decision. I waited for him to continue.
“There are some options,” he said. “One is that I don’t do it.”
“Chase!” I protested, my hands pushing against his chest.
“I know, not the best one, but hear me out. Another is that I go on this tour, and you stay here, in New York. Keep in mind I don’t have all the details, but it’s supposed to start in about a month and last through the summer.”
That was the option I was afraid of.
“But there is another possibility.” The enthusiasm in his voice made me curious. “You could come with me.”
I sat motionless as he waited.
He continued to wait as my brain refused to process his words. That was the “waking up together on a daily basis” proposal. Eventually, his hand covered mine, snapping me from my frozen state.
“I know it’s asking a lot of you,” he said. “But it could be a great thing for us, if you think about it.”
“Chase,” I said. No other words came to mind to continue with.
“Don’t answer me right away. Think about it. It’s a big decision and we should discuss it together. But I’d love for you to join me, and we could see parts of the country we’ve never seen. Together.”
Stunned didn’t begin to describe my emotional state. My initial impulse was to call Evie or Harper to get their input.
The questions mulling around in my mind were ones I knew would dampen his mood. Even possibly dash his dreams.
I didn’t want to be the one responsible for ruining this chance for him. It was something I knew he’d always dreamed of. But these questions needed to be answered.
So I asked them.
“What are you planning on telling Gage? About your new position he just put you in?” I asked.
He nodded as if he was fully expecting this one. “Well, this isn’t a long time I’d…” He paused and smiled. “Or we’d, be gone. I was hoping he’d put it all on hold for a while to let me do this. He knows now how much this would mean to me.”
