Chapter 14♥Dearest Edward
Rosa looked up at them when they walked into the office. “So, birthday boy. How did it go?”
“Fine. Just fine.” He nodded along with his words, knowing he really needed to sell his answer.
Rosa’s eyes narrowed.
“We almost died,” Elinor said, sliding into her chair and wheeling it around to Rosa’s desk. She raised an eyebrow at Edward, a silent reprimand at how bad he was at playing it cool. That one little secret look from her was enough to raise his blood pressure. He wanted to take Elinor’s face in his hands and kiss her senseless. The phrase, ‘one-track mind’ had never been so apropos.
“What do you mean, you almost died?” Rosa glanced from Edward to Elinor.
“A car swerved into our lane, and Edward had to drive us off the road to avoid a collision. We made it back safe. That’s all that matters.”
“Qué susto.” Rosa stood and wrapped Edward in a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay. I’m glad both of you are okay.” She let go of Edward and went to hug Elinor before peppering her with questions about the trip. Edward retreated to his desk, where yet another balloon bouquet sat waiting for him, weighed down with candy bars.
He ducked his head back out. “More balloons?”
Rosa shrugged. “Those were delivered about an hour ago. I’m assuming Lucy sent them. There’s a card in there somewhere.”
Lucy. Just the mention of her name had Elinor not meeting his eyes. He went back to his desk and found the card tucked between the candy bars.
Dearest Edward,
I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are. And I hope you are as wonderfully true this week as I hoped. We’re almost there.
Love, Lucy
Birthday wishes and a reminder of what he owed her. A reminder that had arrived a little too late. No, he couldn’t think like that. Lucy would not make him feel guilty about kissing Elinor. Lucy’s happiness was important, but not at the expense of his. Yes, he would go back to being careful. He would wait. But he wasn’t going to let Lucy cheapen this, making the real thing seem like a fling, and the appearance of love all that mattered.
He did love Elinor, he realized. It was new love, but the kind that had the potential to deepen and grow if they let it. Of that, he had no doubt. He rubbed his chest as the discomfort and panic of the timing of it all hit him fully. Someday he’d be free to tell Elinor how he felt about her, but not until he could promise all that went with it. After placing Lucy’s balloon bouquet off to the side, he woke up his computer and logged in.
He had seventeen phone calls to return, dozens of emails to read, and trades to be made. Instead of working while they traveled, making Elinor drive while he was glued to his phone, he’d let himself just enjoy the time with her. But now it was time to get back to work.
***
Edward was still working when Elinor left the office to walk home. The return to their normal routine was both a relief and a crashing disappointment, two opposing forces that battled each other in her mind. She craved time and distance to figure out what to do, but she also wanted more of him, more time with the silly, free-spirited Edward, the ardent Edward who had been dying to kiss her since the night they met.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn’t hear her phone ringing at first. Her cell was in the front pocket of her backpack and she swung the bag around and unzipped it quickly before the call could go to voicemail. It was Lucy.
“Hello?”
“Elinor? It’s Lucy. Can we talk?”
“Yeah, sure.” Elinor glanced behind her and ahead to the street she was about to cross, not wanting to be so distracted that she got mugged or hit by a car. One brush with death was enough for the day.
“Are you still at the office?”
“No, I’m walking home.”
“Edward didn’t take you?” Lucy sounded concerned. “I can’t believe you haven’t found a cheap car yet, even if you have to finance it. When I get back in town, we’ll go look for one together, okay?”
It wasn’t worded in a way that allowed for argument, so Elinor didn’t answer. And she didn’t need to, because in her next breath Lucy asked, “Did Edward mention the balloons I sent him for his birthday today? He doesn’t usually like to have any fanfare, but I had to do something.”
“He asked about them when he got back to the office, and Rosa said there was a card, and that they were probably from you. Other than that, no, he didn’t say anything.”
Lucy sighed. “He didn’t even call and thank me. It’s getting to the point where reaching out to him is a constant lesson in humility. I don’t know what else I can do to show him I’m not giving up on us, but I’m afraid it’s too late. He’s so distant lately, like maybe there’s someone else.”
“That stinks.” Elinor rubbed her forehead with her palm, feeling her skin begin to sweat. Why was Lucy telling her this? It was torturous.
