I’m sorry for being a jealous ass and giving you no other choice but to leave. Please come back to me. I’m not a begging man, but you are my exception. I can’t sleep without you snoring next to me.
Chapter 15
Kensie
The latest research articles surrounded my desk, and I typed rapidly. I’d been in Houston for three days and accomplished more than I had in three weeks in Miami. Maybe Dr. Radi was right. I was losing sight of my own goals. My phone buzzed, alerting my ring camera. Saraj.
I spoke through the mic. “Use the code. I’m in my office.”
Saraj’s steps were heavy as he climbed my stairs. For such a slight man, he walked as if he weighed twice as much. He didn’t wait to walk through the door to lament, “I’m trying to understand how you can be here for three days and haven’t seen me. You tell me that you’re leaving Miami because it’s not working out with Canaan, and then you ghost me.”
I removed my glasses, placed them on my desk, and swiveled in my chair to face him. “I didn’t want to be tempted to call Canaan or check my phone every minute to see if he called. I needed to focus and get work done, so my phone has been off.” I also didn’t want to see him with any woman, because I’d already seen it the night I flew home. My chest burned from that image, and I didn’t know if my ego could take another sighting of Canaan partying in Miami. I kept that reason to myself.
“You can’t go days without posting something, Kensie.”
“Are you here because you’re concerned about me or to stay on my ass about my posts?”
“Both. You need to go back to Miami and be there for him.”
“And lose my place on the research team? I can see if it were the race, but it’s just a practice.” I tapped a pen against the desk.
“It’s his birthday,” Saraj added.
“What?” My stomach lurched. I eased to the edge of my leather chair. “Why wouldn’t he tell me that?”
“Who gets engaged and doesn’t know their partner’s birthday?” Saraj said sarcastically.
“Ha-ha-ha. I knew it. Just didn’t make the connection that it was coming up. Like seriously, how did I forget his birthday?”
“Exactly.” He folded his arms and tapped his foot.
I dropped my head in my hands. “Oh wow, I fucked up.”
He nodded. “Probably why he went all ape crap on you about not being there on Monday, and he probably wanted you towantto be there, which is why he didn’t tell you it was his birthday. If you’re going to maintain this fake engagement, you need to be at least familiar with the basics about each other. You say you’re not having sex, so what have you been doing with him all this time?”
Warm and cozy memories of our time in Miami flashed. “Whatever strikes us. We can talk or be silent together, and we’re becoming friends. He holds me every night like it’s his right, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I like it.”
“Then why did you run after one argument?”
“He went back on his word. We’d already discussed that I might need to fly back to Houston. The minute I told him I needed to leave, he told me not to come back, and you know I don’t do ultimatums. Besides, I needed to be here to meet with Dr. Radi on Monday. I told you that.”
Saraj leaned against the wall beside my desk. “You need to get back to Miami. Now that you’re here, see if you can meet with Dr. Radi sooner and get back to Miami for Canaan’s birthday.”
“He told me not to come back.” I rolled my eyes and corrected, “He told me if I’m not back by Monday, which, to me, is the same thing.”
“If you really believed him, why have you shut off your phone?” He pursed his pouty lips and blinked twice.
My mind scrambled for a reasonable excuse, but found none. “Fine, Saraj. I know Canaan didn’t mean it. He was reacting out of hurt. But I can’t let him think he can demand anything from me and expect me to do it. My career is as important as his.”
“Girl, you wrote a whole book on relationships. Can you at least do what you preach?”
“I know, I know.Don’t letpride get in the way of talking through your conflict.” I recited one of my chapter titles. “His arrogance and sense of entitlement that I’m supposed to be there for him set my teeth on edge. He walked out of the house to do God knows what. Was I supposed to wait around in bed, hoping that he didn’t sleep with someone else? And no matter what I said, he wouldn’t have heard me. He’s used to everything revolving around him.”
“Do you miss him?” Saraj asked quietly.
My eyes watered. “Sometimes I can’t breathe when I think of him. I’ve gotten so much work done since I’ve been in Houston because I can’t let my mind be idle and drift to thoughts of him. And I know that he doesn’t feel that way about me. The truth is, I shouldn’t be this caught up either. It’s too soon.”
Saraj picked up my cell from my desk. “Call your professor, see if you can meet sooner.”
