Page 58 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

I really do.

Chapter twenty-four

AUSTIN

It's been four days since I came to China, and for the first time since the night I arrived, I finally make it back to my hotel room. With a loud thud, I collapse onto the bed, my body sinking into the soft mattress.

"Uuggh," I groan, feeling like I'm laying on a cloud of feathers – a big change to the hard chairs of conference rooms I've been occupying for what feels like an eternity.

"I wish the work was over," I mumble, stifling a yawn. My eyes flutter closed, and before I know it, I'm drifting off into a much-needed sleep. When I finally open my eyes, the first thing I look at is the clock. I'm shocked to see that three hours have passed in what felt like mere seconds.

"Man, I'm so tired," I yawn, somehow feeling even more lethargic than before. Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I realize that despite my exhaustion, there's no way I can sleep again.

With only 30 minutes before I need to head back to the office, I reach for my phone to check for any missed work calls.

There's no message from Wei and none from back home.

"I guess that's a good sign," I yawn once more, scratching the stubble that has formed. As I'm about to set my phone down, the message icon suddenly pops up on the screen.

Badum. Badum.My heart begins to race, but this time it's not due to work-related anxiety.

Suddenly my world turns upside down.

It's not a dream.

The message is from Hayley, and though it's only one sentence, it's enough to make my head spin.I miss you, I hope you come back soon.

A burst of giddiness runs through me, and I can't help the wide grin that spreads across my face. At that moment, I wish I could teleport across the ocean, wrap my arms around her, and tell her how much I've missed her too.

Honestly, my heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.

I know this doesn't necessarily mean she's ready to date me, but it has to be a good sign...right?

Without thinking, I hit the call button. "Come on Hayley, pick up…" I mumble, absently bouncing my leg. But even after the thirty seconds are up, there's no answer. I try again, and still nothing. On my third attempt, I finally accept that she's not going to pick up.

Suddenly energized, I leap off the bed and bolt across the room. My mind is racing, torn between the urge to shower and make myself presentable and the desire to go out immediately. In the end, I settle for washing my face - I need to look somewhat put together, at least.

Grabbing a few things off the nightstand, I'm out the door in record time, feeling more alive than I have in days. Minuteslater, I find myself at the airport, staring down at what I had grabbed earlier- my passport, my heart pounding with anticipation.

I pull out my phone and dial Wei's number. Immediately the call goes through, and he answers. I waste no time with pleasantries. "Wei, I need you to hold down the fort for the next 24 hours," I say, my words coming out in a rush. "I'll be back tomorrow."

There's a pause on the other end before Wei responds, his voice filled with concern. "The Japanese team is scheduled to arrive at 4 PM tomorrow. If they don't see you here, they might cancel everything we've worked for."

I take a deep breath, weighing the risks. "I'll make it back before then, I promise."

"Is something wrong?" Wei asks, his tone cautious.

A smile tugs at my lips as I reply, "No, something more important has come up."

As I end the call, I make my way down the departure hall towards my gate.

***

The journey back to Texas feels like the longest journey of my life. Every minute that ticks by is agonizing, my mind filled with thoughts of getting back to see Hayley.

A delay at the airport cuts into my already limited time, and I find myself doing mental calculations. By the time I reach Texas, I'll have at most 30 minutes to see Hayley before I need to turn around and head back to China.

When we finally touch down in Texas, I'm relieved to see a helicopter waiting to fly me to Redstone. As we fly over the familiar landscape, I notice the sun beginning to set, creating beautiful colors of orange and pink.

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