Page 141 of Getting Down to Business

Alyssa’s plan included Grayson, and she smiled as she pulled out her phone to schedule the flight the next morning at breakfast. Her mother had already left for work, but it was okay. They’d promised to keep in touch more. She’d even shown her mother how to Skype.

Two days later, Alyssa was standing outside the San Diego office of Hasher Borne. She was waiting to build up enough courage to go in. Twenty minutes had gone by and still she wasn’t quite ready.

It didn’t matter, because he walked out of the building.

Alyssa’s heart thumped in her chest with joy and then…pain.

He was with a woman.

She was younger than Alyssa, talking animatedly while he laughed.

Alyssa hadn’t considered he’d have a girlfriend. She should have known. He wanted the happily-ever-after like his parents had. It made sense to see him hugging this woman. He waved as the brunette walked away, she turned to smile and wave at him and he smiled back with affection.

Before her brain had a chance to weigh in on the decision, her body turned and her feet were taking her away from the scene as quickly as possible.

“Alyssa?” The sound of his voice stopped her in her tracks. Her heart forced her to stay.

* * * *

It was her.

Grayson watched as her shoulders hunched slightly. Slowly, she turned toward him, giving him a chance to get his expression in order.

She winced as he walked closer.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. It came off sounding harsh, but he was so surprised he didn’t know what else to say.

“Is that your new roommate?” she asked instead of answering.

“What?” Oh. The woman he just hugged. Why did she care? “No. That was Suzanna, Trent’s little sister. She stopped by to see if I wanted to go to lunch. I’d already eaten.”

Alyssa nodded and bit her lip.

“What are you doing here?” he tried again.

“You didn’t answer my emails.” She made this sound like it was a reasonable explanation.

He squinted up at the sun and took a breath.

“I know. I figured we would inevitably lose touch. I didn’t want it to drag out. I didn’t want it to become a thing.” He gave her a smile. “Most people get the hint and let the other person fade off into the sunset. They don’t hunt them down on the other side of the country to yell at them.” He couldn’t believe she was standing there in front of him. He had to fight the urge to grab her and pull her close. He loved her just as much as he had in New York. Maybe more. It wasn’t getting better. Iz had been right.

It didn’t matter how far he ran, Alyssa was a part of him.

“Yeah, well, most people aren’t missing you like crazy,” she said.

His eyes searched her face, waiting for the joke.

“You miss me?” He couldn’t believe his ears. Could he hope…? No, surely she meant as friends and roommates.

“Yes.”

“Trent said you were moving out of our place, I’m sure you’ll have fun with whoever you’re moving in with now.”

“Actually,” she bit her lip. “I’m not living with anyone. I stored my stuff at my mother’s place until I figured out where I wanted to be. I’ve been doing some soul searching. My therapist suggested it.”

“You’re seeing a therapist?” Hope reared again. He worked hard to subdue it.

“Yeah. It turns out I was letting guilt keep me from being happy.”