Page 15 of Line Change

My phone rings, startling me out of the email I was reading, and I snatch it up from my desk.

“Hey,” I greet Sebastian.

“Hi, love. We just got to the hotel in Charlotte. Figured I’d call you and see how things were going before I took a nap.”

My heart does a stutter step at the fact that he thought to call to check on me, at the way he calls me love, and for a second, I let myself imagine what it would be like if I really was his. How nice it would be to have a partner, have someone who cares about me and checks up on me. Not that my friends don’t care about me, because they do, but the kind of care and concern that comes from a partner is different. But now is not the time nor the place to unpack those thoughts.

“I’m good. What’s up?” I click on my calendar to see what meetings I have this afternoon. Thankfully, my schedule is light.

“Wanted to let you know the movers are scheduled for Sunday.”

“Okay. Any idea how much it’ll cost?”

“It’s all taken care of, love.”

I sit up straight in my chair. What? No. “Sebastian.”

“What?”

“You can’t do that,” I whisper. I can’t let him pay.

“I can, and I will.”

“It’s too much.” I blink away the tears threatening to fall. I’m not normally this emotional; it must be the pregnancy hormones.

“It’s not too much.”

“Regardless, I can’t accept. Please tell me how much it is, and I’ll pay you back.”

“No,” he huffs out.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I, and I’m telling you not to worry about it.”

“I can’t let you do this.” I prop my head up with one hand.

“Please, let me do this for you. Consider it a gift. Let me take care of you. Help you out with this.” My breath hitches.

Get it together. He’s just being nice.

“Fine.” I relent. “But I’m going to get everything packed so it takes them less time.” And is hopefully cheaper for him.

“I’d rather you let them handle it.”

“Nope.”

He sighs. “Fine, but if it gets to be too much, just leave it, and the movers will do it.”

“Okay.” I can agree to his compromise.

There’s silence for a few beats before he says, “Shit, sorry. Someone’s knocking at the door. Probably room service. I gotta go, but I’ll call you later.”

“You don’t have to.” But I want you to.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye.”