Page 55 of Timeless: Encore

“Now, I know you’re full of it.” She elbows me in the side. “I was the one born cool, I had to give you cool-guy lessons.”

“Ah. I remember that now.” I hold my finger up into the air.

She sits at her desk. “Did Mia get off to school okay?”

“She slid down the fucking banister again. I scolded her. Hopefully she won’t do it again.” I sink down on the couch adjacent to the three desks. “Other than that, yeah. It’s all pretty chill.”

“We’re setting up the dining area today. Most of the serving plates and dishes have arrived. They’re stunning.” Her grin is from ear to ear. She doesn’t look stressed at all.

“I’m glad she worked out.” Fee hired an elder from the Puyallup Indian tribe to create all of the pieces she’ll serve her courses on. A friend of Carter’s aunt.

She touches her dad’s photo, which is framed on her desk next to a picture of the three of us. “It seemed like it was meant to be.”

I glance around the office, which is now set up not just for Fee, but also Justice, Petra, Daire, and Wolf. “I haven’t been back here in a couple weeks. It’s a perfect setup.”

“Right?” Fee stands and locks the door. “I figure if we can go at this pace through summer and into fall, we’ll get service dialed in. Then we can switch the main schedule and settle in.”

I must zone out or something because she stops talking and looks at me. “Zane?”

“Yeah?” My elbows rest on my thighs, my hands clasped. “Sorry.”

“Are you okay?” She sits next to me on the couch.

I can’t figure out how to describe what I’m feeling. I’m always the positive guy. I work hard at it. It just feels like my entire world is a little off-kilter. It occurs to me I might be projecting my own shit onto Fee. Reading into things that aren’t there because her career is all in front of her.

Fuck. Am I envious?

Not exactly. No. I’m the one who’s struggling to adapt to the changes in our lives.

“Zane?” Fee puts her hand on my thigh. “Talk to me.”

“I don’t know, babe. I think maybe it’s the band. Something’s off on the timing for the band. Jace all but said Alex isn’t on board with touring., so he won’t want to go You know what’s happening to Ronni. She’s dealing with so much legal shit. Which means Connor won’t want to be away from her.”

“Yeah, but Ty is on board, isn’t he? They’ll need a little downtime after Zoey gives birth, but she’ll be excited to go on the road.” Fee turns sideways. Rubs my thigh to comfort me. “And Mia and I will be with you as much as possible.”

I lean in and kiss her. She’s trying so hard, but I’m just blue today. “I know. I guess after what you just said, I’m settling into the reality you won’t exactly be available at will. If I’m honest, after an entire year hanging out with Mia every day, I can’t imagine being away from her. Maybe this is the end.”

“Zane…“ Fiona’s eyebrows crease.

I take her hand and bring it to my lips. “I want you to have Gus. You’ve worked so hard. It’s time. I’ve lived my dream, Fee. You deserve yours too.”

“God, remember how much we wanted to grow up so we could be together when we were kids?” She leans her head on my shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re older than our parents were when you moved to Denver. How did we get to be grownups? It’s not as easy as we thought it would be.”

I press my forehead down toward hers for a head snuggle. “Time keeps on going by, but I never love you any less. In fact, it feels like each day we’re together my love for you multiplies, if that’s possible. I want you to know that if something happens with LTZ, or any of the guys decide to peace out, I’ll be okay with it.”

“Zane…” Fee tilts her head up. I peer into her blue eyes, which are flecked with so many hues it’s breathtaking.

“I mean it.” I snake my arms around her so her entire upper body is pressed against mine. I whisper in her ear, “I mean it.”

She hooks her arms around me and buries her face in my neck. Looks up. “My love for you is so … so … all-consuming. Knowing you’re always with me, even if we’re not in the same room, city, country. Feeling that you’re part of me. You know that, right?”

“I do, Fee.” I trace her cheekbone with my thumb. “I feel you too. That’s the best part about being your other half.”

She nods. “We’re so fucking sappy.”

“Yeah, we might be.” I kiss her, savoring her lips. “What we have is worth billions. I sometimes have to pinch myself that we’re fucking married. Really married. We have Mia. We have businesses. Homes. God, we are living the dream.”

Her smile is brilliant. Unencumbered. Free. “We do. So let’s maybe try not to control all the things. We don’t know what’s going on with any of the guys or their partners. Not really. I have faith that things will happen the way they are supposed to.”

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