Page 36 of Kissing My Soulmate

Lyle, the project lead, gives me a fist pump and a quiet clap, making me smile like a lunatic. “I am so glad you like it, Mr. Allen. I pride myself on being able to read someone’s vision and put it into their brand.”

“You’ve done excellent work. I like that it can be used for merchandising as well,” he says as we shake hands.

After he signs off on everything, John walks him out. Sienna, our intern, stands up and jumps up and down. “Oh my God, that was so amazing. Your design is going to be all over.”

“I wouldn’t say, all over. I think there are only three in town, but it is pretty cool to think my design will be all over their stores,” I say as I walk around the table, picking papers up.

“There’s a Buzz Coffee by the College of Charleston so they’ll for sure see your designs. That’s where I went to school and that is a great study spot,” Sienna says as she grabs the laptop for presentations and smiles at me as she walks out.

I gather my belongings and turn to head out but find Lyle standing in the doorway. “Hey, Mr. Allen really liked our presentation, didn’t he?”

He steps farther into the conference room. “Oh yeah. He knows some other small business owners he’s going to recommend us to.” He steps closer and says, “I want you to be the graphic designer if we get those accounts. What do you think?”

I smile and I try very hard not to hop up and down. It always feels good to be wanted and your work to be valued. “I’d be honored.” Do I tell him I am pregnant, and I will be gone for three months next spring? Nope, not yet. Not until we reach the twelve-week mark. “Thanks so much.”

“Your work is top-notch. You have a way to bring simplicity to life, but in the most beautiful way.” Lyle walks back to the door, and I follow behind him. “If you can get me the finalized files by the middle of next week.”

“I’m off next week because we’re moving this weekend. I suppose I can work on them and get them to you in the morning that day.”

He stops outside the conference room. “No worries, just send them before Friday.” We separate and I head back to my desk.

***

I run the packing tape over the box I just closed. Pushing the box into the corner, I then grab another box, getting it ready. I’m packing the box with books off the bookcase. Once I get it sealed up, I push it over next to the other boxes.

Bob Vance watches me from his perch on the arm of the sofa. “Meow,” he says and licks his paw before falling back to sleep.

“Thanks for the help, brat,” I tell him, but he just ignores me and curls up and falls back to sleep. “Fine, I guess I’ll do it by myself.”

I’m sealing another box when the apartment door opens, and my man comes in. “Hey, what are you doing?”

I stand up and come to him, kissing his lips, and smile. “Just packing up some of the stuff that is easy. Don’t worry, I was careful.”

He kisses my cheek and then disappears into the bedroom. Once the door shuts, I push the box over into the corner with the others. The timer goes off and I head into the kitchen and pull the baked ziti out of the oven, placing it on the stovetop. I whip up a salad and place the garlic bread in the oven.

Jasper comes into the kitchen and grabs a beer out of the refrigerator. “I wish you wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble, I’m not that hungry.”

“What?” I follow him into the living room, where he plants himself on the sofa. “What do you mean you’re not that hungry?”

He flips the TV on and doesn’t even look at me. “I’m not that hungry, sorry.”

I stomp back into the kitchen, dish up some food, and eat alone in the kitchen. In no time, I clear my plate. Jasper doesn’t come in at all. I quickly clean up and put the leftovers away. Walking through the apartment, I head right into the bathroom.

Washing my face, I let my irritation fester until I’m ready to explode, but instead of going out into the living room, I finish my nightly routine before I head into our bedroom. Lying on the bed I open my e-reader and read until I’m tired.

It’s as I’m starting to fall asleep that I realize Jasper didn’t join me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jasper

I’m gone before Lie is even awake, I know it’s a coward move, but I’ve had a lot on my mind and just trying to process everything. A month ago, while I was at home, Greg had texted me that there was a woman at the clinic named Sally, who was claiming to be my mother.

I felt sick as hell and a part of me just wanted to tell him to send her away. Instead, I told Lorelei I had to head to the clinic. Nerves assailed me as I pulled into the parking lot. I sat in my truck trying to get the nerve to head inside. Finally, I took a deep breath, got out, and went in.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but she looked like an older, better version of the mother I remember.

She saw me when I stepped inside. “Oh, Jasper.” Her words were broken and laced with tears.

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