Page 69 of The Best Number

“I didn’t know what was going on. I thought something was wrong.” He closes his eyes and the tired lines are evident in every part of his face. “I couldn’t lose you. Either of you.”

“But you left us,” Cassidy prods him.

“I was coming back. The whole time I’ve been away, I’ve missed you both so much. I realised a week in, probably even before that, when I stepped out of the airport at JFK, that it wasn’t where I wanted to be. And then when we didn’t properly talk for weeks, it was so hard. But I had a contract. My plan was to get to the end of the three months and then come back and grovel.” He gives me a smile and then moves his hand to stroke a strand of her hair behind her ears.

“Then on Friday, Brad, my boss, offered to extend my contract for a year. I was just trying to work out what the hell I was supposed to do when your call came in.”

“You might stay in New York even longer?” Cassidy looks aghast.

“I don’t think so. I was trying to work out if I could split my time so I could still see you guys every month or so. But then the dramatic panic and I didn’t get very far with that idea.” He pauses. “In fact, on the plane on the way here, I thought about packing it all in early and not going back. But they don’t know I’ve flown home. And I’ve left everything behind. I need to go back at some point.”

“You should at least see the three-month contract out, Jack. It wouldn’t be great for your career if you cut it short.” Her breathing is much calmer now. But she’s still gripping me tightly around the waist with her head resting on my chest.

“I guess.” He bites his lip. “If I went back for this final month and then came home, what would you guys think of that?”

I look down at Cassidy, but she shows no signs of replying straight away.

“How would you want things to look when you come back?” I ask.

“I’m not sure I have any right to determine that when I was the one who left.” He pauses for a moment. “But if it was up to me, I’d want to have a proper go at this relationship, with both of you.”

“Back to how it was before you left?” I ask, pushing down the hopefulness eager to rise within me.

He shakes his head, frowning. “No. I mean, a serious go. I would want us to be fully exclusive and I’d like us to move in together.”

Cassidy gasps and looks up at me, as if trying to read my thoughts about what Jack is saying.

“Wow,” is all I can manage in reply. “That seems a lot.”

“Guys, being away from you has sucked. If I’m coming back for us to be together, I want to actually stand a chance of spending time with you both—not around all of our varying schedules. The easiest way to do that is to live in one place together.”

“Where?” Cassidy whispers her question.

“I don’t know. I don’t think any of our places are big enough at the moment. But I’m happy to keep subletting mine out and get somewhere bigger for all of us. I’m due a bonus at the end of the three months. If it works out, I should be able to put down a deposit somewhere.”

“My lease is up in a couple of months. I’ve just got the paperwork to sign to renew it,” Cassidy tells us.

It all feels like it’s coming together. But I don’t want to get my hopes up. Someone needs to be sensible. “Hang on guys, I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here. Let’s put the logistics to one side for now and focus on the heart of it.” I look at Jack. “What about New York? That’s always been your dream.”

“I’m glad I did it. But it made me realise what I left behind. I love you, Tom. And you, Cassidy. I had an inkling that was the case before I left. That night you met my parents, and I told you about Claire, I just panicked. But I’m sure of it now. It’s you two that I want to be with. No one else. The rest we can figure out as we go along, right?”

A wave of emotion pours over me. I’ve waited such a long time to hear those words from Jack. I swallow hard, but it does nothing to stem the tears building up, ready to break the dam and slide down my face. Cassidy eases from my grip, making space for Jack to step closer.

“Let me say it again. I love you, Tom Mitchell.” He reaches to grip my face in both hands, smashing our lips together as he kisses me hard. He pulls away and I grasp the back of his neck, keeping him close as I whisper my response.

“I love you, Jack. It’s always been you. And now it’s Cassidy, too.” I laugh as the overwhelming emotions threaten to consume me. Laughter seems the only way through. I look at Cassidy and she’s watching us both, her eyes still ferociously red and puffy, but she’s grinning.

Jack reaches down and kisses her. One of his hands is behind her head and the other behind mine.

“I love you, Cassidy Connor,” he tells her. “Please be mine. And be Tom’s. Let’s all belong to each other.”

“Yes.” Cassidy nods as she kisses Jack and then me. “I love you both so much. I don’t know what I’d do without either of you. Let’s fucking do this!”

We get Jack booked on a flight back to New York. He leaves in twenty-four hours in time for work on Monday morning. But he’s planning to request a transfer back to the UK office and should be back in four weeks' time. If that doesn’t work out, he’s planning to leave and find something else. It’s a bit up in the air, but he’s committed to being with us and I’m more than willing to support him while he looks for another job.As long as we can all be together.

Despite still feeling rough, Cassidy and I decide to brave it and have brunch with Jack. After a big plate of food and coffee, we start to feel better. I speak to Abby and she agrees to manage the bar for me tonight. It’s a big ask on a Saturday, but I speak to all the staff rostered and check they will all be there as well as getting some extra cover too. Once I have all my ducks in a row, I feel like I can breathe again. I walk out of Cassidy’s bedroom where I’d been making all my calls and see Jack and Cass curled up on the couch kissing.

“You started without me?” I ask them teasingly.

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