Page 79 of The Long Game

“Sure. I can be there whenever you need,” I tell her.

The sooner I get to see you, the better.

“Great. I can get out of here early now that we got the go-ahead on the project I proposed.”

“They approved your project?”

I can’t help my enthusiasm. Not just because I’m proud of her but because this puts her one more step closer to her goals…which gives her less argument against us being together.

“Yes! I just found out this morning.”

I can hear it her voice. She’s practically giddy with the news.

“Congratulations, baby.” I let it slip on accident.

“Thank you.” Her tone suggests she didn’t hate my term of endearment. I can almost hear her blushing over the phone.

“We should go out to celebrate. My treat. Where do you want to go?”

“Marciano’s?”

The restaurant she suggests is a little hole in the wall Italian place. At night, the whole place is only lit by candlelight and the tiny back patio only has five tables covered by a canopy of old grape vines.

It’s December but they usually have heaters. This place is a dating hot spot, if you know where to find it.

Best part… because it’s the best kept secret in Chicago, only locals frequent it. All of which I grew up with or know me and won’t be star struck. I won’t have to worry about selfies or distractions from fans.

“Wherever you want. I’ll call for reservations.”

“Ok. See you at three-thirty at Clayton’s? Caffeinate. I’m about to put you through the ultimate marathon of shopping. I hope you can handle it.”

“I’m a natural born athlete. I can handle anything,” I say, hearing her chuckle in the background.

“Oh, my sweet sweet Evans. You have no idea what you’re in for.” She jokes with a slightly devilish laugh. I’m loving every second of this conversation.

“Throw anything you got at me. I’ll catch it.”

She laughs. “Yes, I think you will. See you soon.”

“Bye.” I hang up with a smile I’ll be wearing no matter how many reps Desh puts me through today.

*****

Lexi hadn’t been joking. From the minute I walk into the home store, until several hours later, I barely know what hit me. Lexi and Miguel, the sales manager at Clayton’s, had seemingly laid out the entire house and I couldn’t remember a single thing we saw. It was all a blur.

At first, I was reading Lexi’s cues. She was adamant that I pick out all the finishes and fixtures even though I want the house to be her vision.

She tried to pitch me softballs, narrowing my decisions to two. Lexi’s pick and the one she thought I would like based on her extensive knowledge of me.

Knowing Lexi for as long as I have, I knew she had no poker face to speak of. It was easy to identify which of the two options she liked the most. I made sure that was the one I picked.

In all honesty, I didn’t care. Her taste was better than mine and everything she was picking would look the best set together, giving the house the best resale value. Not that I ever intend on selling.

With any luck, this would be the house Lexi and I would grow old in together. Host our kids and, some day, our grandkids.

But if Lexi ever wanted a different house, I wouldn’t blink an eye. She was my home. No building made of wood or brick was going to compare to her. My life’s mission going forward is to make all of Lexi’s dreams come true.

Lexi

---