Page 52 of Losing Ansley

"One, I didn't realize you were staying for three weeks. That makes me very happy. Two, you will be staying with me. If you want to have a girl's night and stay at Liv's or Caroline's, I think I can be away from you for one night tops. Three, I'm definitely fucking this ass."

I punctuate it by grabbing her ass and pulling her close. She laughs again, making me want to hear her laughter every day for the rest of my life. I gently push her off my lap. She stands, and I crowd her until she's perched against my desk.

"I don't know how I'm going to do this. With you there and me here." I exclaim. I push her shirt off her shoulder, run my teeth along her neck and shoulder, and then follow it with my tongue. She shutters, and I do it again until she's panting.

"Me either, Lincoln. I could barely sleep last night." She confesses, and I sink my teeth into her shoulder and then kiss the pain away. She tilts her neck giving me better access.

"I have something I'd like to run by you. Do you want to go grab dinner?" She asks, and I pull back at the seriousness in her tone. I wrap my hand around her neck and massage the base of her scalp.

"Is everything okay?" She moans as I massage a particularly sensitive spot.

"Yeah." She hesitates, and I arch an eyebrow. "I'd rather wait and go somewhere I know we won't be interrupted." She explains, and I try to figure out what she could be talking about. I glance down at my phone, picking it up to see it's almost five o'clock. I fix her shirt so it's covering her shoulder again.

"Let's go." I turn my computer off and pocket my phone grabbing her hand. She grabs her purse she dropped on the floor when I pulled her into my lap. Caroline and Liv are there when we get to the elevator, and they eye us. I can tell by the look on their faces that they want to hang out with my girl.

"I know you two haven't seen Ansley in a while, and I promise you can have her tomorrow, but she's mine tonight. Okay?" I try my best to say it politely. Their eyes arch, and Ansley leans into me, kissing my cheek.

"Wow!" Liv exclaims. She looks from Caroline to Ansley and then back to me. "I didn't realize you had it in you to be that polite." Ansley snorts. Caroline covers her mouth as she laughs, and I scowl.

"I'm still your boss Liv, and I could fire you." I remind her, and Ansley scoffs.

"No, he won't." She says as the elevators open, and we all pile inside, and I pull her in close. She turns to me. "Tell her you won't." She demands. I snarl into her ear but turn to Liv.

"I won't." They all giggle, and I roll my eyes as I hide a smile in Ansley's hair. I've always liked Caroline and Liv. Ansley and Liv have been friends a little longer, but Caroline was brought into their fold several months ago, and they all clicked. Ansley deserves to have people who love her, especially when she grew up lacking that.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

LINCOLN

WE FOLLOWthe host to our table, my hand on the small of Ansley's back. When we arrived at our booth, the host told us our server would be with us soon. Ansley slides into the booth, and I try to slide in beside her, but she stops me.

"Can you sit across from me? At least until I tell you. I'm nervous and need space, and I want to see your face completely." She rambles. I don't like it, but I agree and move to the booth across from her.

She assured me on the way here, it has nothing to do with us, but I'm still curious about why she's so nervous. Our server arrives, and we both order wine as we glance over the menu.

"Alright, Ans. Please put me out of my misery." I plead, and she takes a deep breath.

"I don't want to do costume design anymore." She blurts out, and my eyebrows shoot up as I lean back in my seat, placing my menu on the table. I'll order what I usually do anyway.

"Okay. What do you want to do?" I ask her. She runs her hands through her hair and places them on the table, fidgeting with the silverware.

"I want to open my own boutique and sell clothes." She announces, and my mouth lifts into a smile.

"That's a great idea, Ans!" I encourage her, and she breaks out into a smile. She clears her throat again.

"I want to move back home and open the boutique here." She explains, and relief washes over me at the thought of her moving back here.

"When?" I ask her. She fidgets more with her silverware.

"That's where the problem is. I have a contract at my building, and I don't want to break it, so I have to stay until that's up. I've already told my supervisor that I'd be on set for next season because of that. So, for at least six more months." She sighs in defeat. I can't stand sitting across from her any longer. I stand and slide in next to her. As I do, our server arrives with our wine and takes our order. I glance at her.

"Do you want what you usually get?" I ask her, and she nods. I order for us, wrap my arm around Ansley's shoulder, and pull her into me.

"How much does it cost to get out of your contract?" I question. She huffs.

"Three months rent. I am not living paycheck to paycheck anymore like I was. I have some money saved up, but I'm not using it to get out of my contract. I want to use it to open a boutique." I hum, thinking through numbers but not commenting right now. I'm not sure if she'll accept my help or not. Maybe since we're in a relationship now, she will.

"Let's talk about the boutique. Will you be making your own clothes? Or buying clothes?" Her whole face lights up at my questions.

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