Page 38 of Until I Have You

8

THEO

I stare downat my phone.

Who knew a single text could grab my attention and keep it for forty-eight hours?

Home.Thank you again.My night would have gone differently if you hadn’t stepped in.

When Abigail’s name popped up on my phone in the middle of my nightcap with Helene, I had to interrupt the conversation, which is most likely why I have not heard back from Helene since our date.

She clearly is a woman of expectations, which I cannot begrudge.

But I also think my preoccupation with Abigail was obvious.

“My best friend’s daughter, you understand,” I said in my defense.

That defense became weaker and weaker as the night went on until she yawned loudly and said, “I’m going to go home.”

My response to Abigial is anemic at best.I spent far too long crafting it.

It was my pleasure.

Pleasure.Like I was getting something out of it.

I admit, I did get something out of it.I was able to be her white knight, remove her from a situation that was so clearly awful, it broadcasted itself across the bar.

Still, though, I don’t want her to think I was trying to…to get anything out of it.

If she had wanted to stay and talk, well that would have been her prerogative.I wouldn’t have said no.But I also wouldn’t have tried to pull anything.I’m too much of a gentleman for that.

At least I hope I am.

My concentration on the texts is broken by Bonnie’s little voice.“Daddy?”

I look up from my desk.

Bonnie on a chaise longue in the corner of my office by the window, her headphones pulled down around her neck and her iPad flat on her stomach.“What is it, love?”

“It’s out of battery.”

I sigh.“Then plug it in.”

Bonnie rolls over on her side and reaches down for the iPad charger, her tongue rolling out of her mouth.“Can’t…reach…”

I push myself out of my seat to go retrieve the tiny bit for her.

I should just tell her to get up and stop being lazy, but I don’t have the will in me to fight that fight right now.

Of course, just as I’m crouched over, there’s a knock on my office door.“Yes, what is it?”

“Your three o’clock is here for you, Mr.Wallington.”

I snap to standing and check my watch.It’s a quarter to three.Unsurprising, considering the clients I’m trying to snag to move their money into my wealth management firm.

“Ah, my three o’clock!”

I hand the charger to Bonnie and leave her in my wake as I go greet the older couple in the doorway.“Mr.and Mrs.Garrison, a pleasure."

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