Page 34 of Desperate Needs

Something to hold on to.

Even if only for a little while.

The emptiness of my ritzy apartment mirrored the cold, bleak winter’s day waiting for me outside.

The gray sky hung low, and a chill crept through me as I looked out the window.

Knock it off, Clem.

My inner voice was a bitch, but she was right. I wasn’t going to let this get to me.

And I had zero right to feel put out.

So, today I would just push through, one step at a time.

I’d had good sex last night for the first time in like ever. Okay, it was better than good. It was fantastic. Explosive. Like Vesuvius.

Then he left. Like he should have. Like I’d expected him to.

That I felt weepy thinking about it was my own mess.

My baggage. Not his.

Just breathe. You’re fine. Everything is fine.

My inner voice was right. This wasn’t the end of the world.

Even if it was Monday.

Today was an office day. My last week working for Pop’s company, and I had no choice but to get ready and face it head on.

My family was great, but they were relentless when they suspected one of us was sad or upset. I needed to shake this off before I got there.

Work was good.

It would distract me.

Besides, I had too much going on right now to think about relationships.

There was a whole world out there, waiting to be lived, and I couldn’t let a little disappointment keep me from making the most of it.

No more lingering thoughts, I told myself and took a deep breath and set about my morning routine.

Shower. Dress. Coffee. Go.

Truth was Connor did me a favor. I had no time for him or any man.

At least, that was what I told myself. And I kept telling myself that the entire time I rode into the city with the driver my father had sent that morning. All the way up until I got in the elevator.

Then my phone pinged with a text alert.

I looked down at the unfamiliar number before clicking on the message. When I read it, I damn near swooned.

Connor

Have a good day at work, Darlin’.

Holy shit. He texted me! I bit my lip, walking blindly to my office as I thought about my reply.

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