Page 150 of A Temporary Forever

Reese was transferred out of the ICU. To Greta’s relief, I decided it’s not the best time to waltz into Reese’s life, but I stayed behind while the two of them visited with her.

That conversation will have to happen soon, followed by legal paperwork, so I can officially become Mia’s parent.

All of that is a problem for another day. Right now, my focus is Celeste and today’s hearing with the ICE officer.

I hope she got some sleep. I can’t wait to wrap her in my arms and help her through today.

Checking my watch, I confirm I have time for one more important stop.

The Merged floor is eerily quiet at this hour. I walk around the glass-walled offices with a strange feeling of nostalgia, which makes no sense since this place is still very new to me.

Declan and Xander wait for me in our boardroom, the necessary paperwork laid out on the table. I certainly made Cressard earn his fees in the last twenty-four hours.

Declan leans against the wall and glares at me, not bothering to greet me.

Xander paces the room. “You look like shit.”

“It’s good I’m not here for a beauty contest, then.”

Mindful of my wife waiting at home, I sit down and scan the documents.

“Are you sure about this?” Declan asks, a hint of a dare in his voice.

“Is your brother sober yet?” I hit back, just to spite him.

Pulling out a pen from my jacket, I scribble my name across the paperwork I never expected to sign.

But that’s life. I don’t have time to ponder the significance of the deed, because I have more important things to do today.

I stand and walk to the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I have an important meeting in a few hours.”

I walk out of there with mixed feelings, but I focus on what I’m walking toward.

If she gets deported, we’ll move to Canada. That way we won’t burden Mia with regular overseas flights.

But that’s a hugeifI’m not willing to entertain. I yawn as I step out of the elevator and into the penthouse.

The silence that greets me feels as eerie as the one I faced in Merged.

She must be sleeping still, and my exhausted mind is playing tricks. I shake off my wrinkled jacket and get to the kitchen.

Downing a double shot of espresso, I make myway upstairs. I don’t want to wake Celeste up, so I decide to take a shower in her room. Well, it’s really a guest room at this point, but she hasn’t fully vacated it yet.

She must have moved more of her things out though, because our room feels inhabited. That’s good. She’s where she should be. In my bedroom. In our bedroom.

I take a good half an hour under the pelting hot water, my muscles screaming for a good sleep. By the time I get out, the coffee kicks in enough for me to function reasonably.

I wrap the towel around my waist and pad across the hall to our bedroom. I close the door behind me with care, so I don’t wake her.

When I turn, I blink a few times. The image in front of me slowly seeps into my weary, exhausted mind. But even blinking doesn’t change the fact that our bed is empty.

It hasn’t been slept in.

A thousand scenarios rush through my mind, none of them encouraging.

I’m immediately on alert, any remnants of sleepiness evaporating. Shit. She must have been so nervous, she couldn’t sleep and probably left early.

I go text her, and realize she never responded to my message last night. I assumed she was sleeping alreadyand forgot all about it. But it’s not like her not to acknowledge the message after she woke up.

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