“I might need to see a psychiatrist. I have a problem.”
“You and me both.” Sal chuckles. “I think you’re currently in the detox stage. It will pass.”
“Easy for you to say. Off you go.”
“Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
“Are you sure you won’t tell me what your meeting is about?”
“I’m sure.”
“Me too.”
As though me becoming his girlfriend meant he can’t walk away without kissing me, Sal presses his lips to my forehead, and I take comfort in his warmth.
He’s trying, and I’m making his life difficult.
He turns to leave, walking straight past his laptop, and a thought hits me.
“Wait. You’re not going after Vance, are you?”
“What? No.” Sal turns, surprised. “If I was going to do that, I would have done it already, probably while you were still in the hospital. I promised I’d let you confront him, and I’m keeping that promise. It’s all set for tomorrow. Though I will say, you’re killing me by asking me not to do it myself.”
“Good, now you know how I feel.”
“It’s definitely not the same. I want to hurt someone that hurt you. You’re recovering from an injury.”
“Neither of us get to do what we want to do. That feels the same to me.”
Sal chuckles again, this time under his breath, before he walks back and grabs his laptop, waving before he heads to the door. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Have fun.” The sarcasm drips from my tone, and Sal shakes his head with the suppressed smile.
“I’m going to be just as bored as you are. I promise.”
“Good.” I throw him a smile of my own, this one full of sass.
“God, I… I’ll see you soon.” Sal’s smile turns awkward for the briefest of moments, and a warm glow runs through me. He was going to say I love you. I know it. Only like me, he knew it wasn’t the right time.
From the outside looking in, I’m sure people would call us hopeless, but they’re wrong. Sal gets me more than anyone else ever has.
And I think I’m finally ready to show him how I feel.
When the time is right.
It’s just ticked over to two hours and thirty-seven minutes since Sal left—yes, I’ve been counting—when someone knocks on my door. I immediately call out for them to come in, not even bothering to ask who it is. I gave my concierge a list of people they could let up unannounced, at Sal’s request, so I didn’t have to try and get to the intercom. Which means it’s either Sal returning, because he still insists on knocking despite practically living here, Paige, or my mom. I figured Easton wasn’t going to come on his own, so I didn’t bother putting his name down. And I’m not good enough company for anyone else.
Paige walks in, and I hate that I’m a little disappointed.
A part of me was hoping Sal was home with a surprise laptop in hand.Wishful thinking.
“Good afternoon, sunshine,” Paige jokes and I roll my eyes. “Why is it so gloomy here?” She points to my closed curtains and I point to my ankle. I’m not going to admit I’m the one that got up and closed them after Sal left. I don’t want to sound too tragic.
“You’re allowed to move around, Keeley. You just have to stay off your feet for most of the day.” She walks over to the curtains, her eyes dropping to my cast.
“I want to heal as fast as possible. The more I laze around, the quicker I recover.” I fold my arms over my chest.
“You sound grumpier than when I came by the other day. I will never question if you and Easton are related again. I don’t need proof. This personality right here is doing the trick.”
