Page 167 of The Sweetest Return

“Your place?”

“My home. No hotel. No alumni. No cameras. No comment section. Somewhere we can talk without anybody else in the room.”

“You think that fixes it?”

“No. I think it gives us privacy while we work on it.”

“And if I say no?”

My hand stopped on the office door.

“Then you say no, and I go home knowing I came toward you this time instead of sitting here hoping you understand what I didn't say.”

Her breathing changed.

That was all I wanted her to hear.

“I wanted you to call because you were ready. You did. Now I'm coming because I'm ready too.”

“Dre.”

“What?”

“I’m nervous.”

“I know.”

“I don't know why.”

“Yes, you do.”

She exhaled.

“I’m not coming to argue. I want to see you. Then we can talk somewhere the whole world doesn't think it bought a ticket.”

“You make it sound simple.”

“It isn't. But everybody else doesn't have to make it harder.”

The quiet lasted another second.

“Okay.”

My grip tightened on the phone.

“Okay?”

“I’ll be downstairs in ten.”

The breath that left me was impossible to hide.

“Good.”

“Bossy.”

“With you? Yeah.”

She hung up.