“But you know I’m not backing down, right?” I cut in.
“Yeah,” he says, a smile tugging at his mouth. “I kind of got that.”
Before he can argue further, I reach up, steal the pen from behind his ear, lean over his clipboard, and sign the back of thecheck with a flourish. “There.” I cap the pen and tuck it back behind his ear. “Done. Non-negotiable.”
Could I use the entirety of the check? Of course, but that isn’t the point. Eddie’s crew works their asses off, never once complaining about early mornings or late nights. And the quality of their work?
Chef’s kiss.
So while a $25,000 bonus is a beautiful thing, it’s far better to ensure we all get a piece of the pie. And let’s be real, Eddie is the reason I’m holding this check at all.
Plus, this ensures his take is bigger, which helps Theo, andthathelps me.
“The guys are going to be thrilled.” I pause, then add, softer, “Theo can go to private school now.”
Eddie bites his lower lip, the dimple in his cheek deepening, and it is the most unfairly endearing thing I’ve ever seen. “Come here.”
He steps forward and pulls me into his arms. Just like that, I’m done for. Right back to that seedy bar and our first magical night.
We relax into each other. My hands wrap around his waist, twisting into his shirt as I press my face against his chest and breathe him in. He nudges his nose along the top of my hair, that same absent little gesture he used to do when we were together.
I eagerly await the soft kiss that always followed. But it never materializes.
The moment stretches, fragile and suspended, and neither of us seems capable of breaking contact first.
Can he feel how desperately I miss him? Does he know how many nights I’ve cried over letting him go?
He told me he loved me. It wasn’t that long ago. Maybe if Idare to speak up, I can explain everything and make him understand.
Here goes everything.
I pull back just enough to look up at him. “Well, we have the next couple of days off. Why don’t we celebrate? Finish up here and grab a drink or something.”
An uncomfortable chuckle rises from his throat as his gaze drifts past me, landing somewhere on the far wall. “I’d like to, but…”
“You can’t,” I finish for him, stepping out of the circle of his arms. “Silly me. I forgot that it’s Valentine’s Day. You probably have a hot date or something, right?”
Talk about regretting a question the second it leaves my mouth.
Jesus, Kiki. Why would you ask that? You really don’t want to know the answer.
Except Ineedto know.
“Not exactly. But I do have plans tonight.”
Plans. On Valentine’s Day. Yeah, I’ll bet at least one of Romy’s bouquetsisfrom Eddie. And I have to be okay with that knowledge, even though I don’t have a clue how.
Before Eddie can say anything more, Nolan returns to the room, Romy in tow, and our brief interlude is drowned out by the cacophony of real life.
Chapter 24
Nothing Keeping You Here
Kiki
Ipivot in front of the mirror, critiquing my reflection from every angle. Maybe if I stare long enough I might actually grow an ass and boobs again.
No such luck.
