“Maybe once a year. She travels a lot. She had a tough time as a kid, and she needed to do a lot more growing up before she helped someone else make their way in the world. It’s better for everyone this way. The door’s open for when she’s ready.”
My head nods, as if I understand that. My father lingered, enjoying the aesthetics of family life whilst remaining a burden to us all. Slowly deteriorating the trust we had in the malefigures in our lives, whilst simultaneously turning me off to a family and wife of my own. If the great Arnold Adams can’t have it all, what makes me think I can?
But that’s why I’m here. Living without Mia is not something I want. She’s a part of my life now, whether I like it or not, and I want her in it. Not just in a business capacity. The trouble I have now is that why would she believe me? There’s obviously some mistrust on her part witholder men,as confirmed by the waitress. Thank you for that tidbit, Darlene. But coming in to declare my romantic intentions will only make her suspicious of my reasons. I at least need to figure out if I want to pursue those romantic reasons first. I can’t dive in headfirst if I haven’t analyzed my own feelings for Mia.
But the truth is that I don’t want to waste another second. Not when the possibility of losing her for real is so strong.
“So what deal can we come to? We have just under three months to launch the next stage of your career, and if you come back to work, I’ll help you do that.”
“You will?” Her eyes light up, and hope springs in my chest for the first time since I got here. Okay, except for maybe when she leaned her leg against mine under the table at dinner.
“Yeah. I have a lot of events over the next few months. We’ll get you out rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the Pacific Northwest and get your face out there. It’ll be perfect.”
She thinks for a moment. “I’ll still need to pretend to be your girlfriend, right? If we backtrack now, it will look ridiculous.”
I fight the smile that would tell her I’m very fucking happy about that. “Yeah, that’s true. I think a little longer would be a good idea. At least until you get your first job established.”
“And then we can split up amicably?”
My hands squeeze into tight fists, willing myself to fight the possessive need to grab her and crush my lips to hers. “We’llcross that bridge when we come to it. But nothing will affect your reputation, I promise you that.”
“There is still the slight problem of where I’m going to live…”
I would offer my spare room if I thought it would be appropriate, but something tells me I’d find myself buried in a barrel six feet under by sunrise if her family found out.
“I have some neighbors. They’re moving to Australia for a year and are looking for a house-sitter. I’ll see if they still need one.”
“I’d be on your street?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No—no, I just was looking at other places further away, but near the office would be perfect.”
“At least you wouldn’t have to worry about your living situation for a year or so; you’d have time to get settled before moving.”
She frowns, her lips parting to ask more, but I stand holding out my hand to her. “Are you ready to come home now?”
She slips her warm hand into mine, her cheeks pink as her eyes dance between mine. “Yeah, I’m ready to come home.”
Chapter Fourteen
Alfie
The following Wednesday, the cool winter sun was rising through the window of my practice waiting room. Mia flicks her hair over her shoulder, looking mildly frazzled as she scans the email I just sent her.
“What do you think?” I ask.
Her brow furrows, and she doesn’t look nearly as excited as I thought she would.
“This…is a lot, Alfie.”
“It’s everything that’s upcoming for the next three months.”
I’d sent her a shared calendar invite for every social and networking event that I would usually do my best to avoid. However, a promise is a promise. She’s returned to Seattle, the office has resumed its normal flow, and I am slowly infiltrating her personal space inch by inch until she feels like I belong there. I want to feel like I belong there. This is a trial period where I can truly see whether having a girlfriend, fake or otherwise, would realistically fit into my life. If it is, then this will allow me to encroach on her space under the ruse of fake-dating. If it isn’t, then Mia will find a new job ready for when she passes her dissertation defense.
The responsibility I feel for her is tantamount to how I felt about her returning to Seattle. I want her to have a career she enjoys, something that she can be proud to build on, and networking these opportunities at the events I’ve chosen is the best way to do it. Even if it eventually means she’ll leave me behind.
She laughs, the frown easing between her brows. “Alfie, you never attend these things. You don’t have to sign up to so many.”
