Page 40 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

Her eyes widened. “God, no. Can you imagine? We'll order in. Monday night football tonight.”

I probably should stay and get caught up on work, but I hadn't spent any quality time with my sister in way too long. “Sounds good.”

I buckled down and spent the rest of the day working my ass off. I had dinner with my sister, and then I went back to my empty, quiet condo. I texted Aubrey again. I asked her how she was feeling. I didn't tell her I missed her, even though I missed her like a drowning man misses oxygen. I didn't tell her I couldn't sleep without the warmth of her body in my arms. I didn't tell her any of that, even though it was true, because I knew she didn't want to hear it. She'd made that very clear. If I worked hard enough, if I focused on saving the company, I'd miss her less and I'd get used to sleeping alone again. It was for the best. I'd gotten caught up in some crazy idea of me and Aubrey and the baby being a family, but that's all it was, a crazy idea. I barely had free time or free money to keep myself going, I definitely didn't have enough of either for anyone else. I'd make time for our daughter when I could and I'd focus all the rest of my energy on the family business.

Of course, Aubrey didn't respond to my texts. I tossed my phone on the bed, frustrated and angry. I told her I was willing to try and she decided to cut me off? She'd left me again? And why? Because I had to work? Because I'd chosen to come back to Atlanta? Not knowing why she'd rejected me was driving me almost as crazy as missing her.

I showered and got into bed. I lay there, wondering if she was tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. Twice, I almost got up and went to find her, before remembering she was no longer just down the hall. Finally, at two AM, exhausted and feeling sorry for myself, all my rational reasons for holding back quiet in the dark room, I texted her again:I can't sleep without you in my arms.

This time she responded,You can't tell me things like that. Please stop texting me unless it's about the baby.

Me:Why aren't you willing to try?

Aubrey:If we were meant to be we wouldn't have to try so hard.

My first instinct was to argue with her, but she wasn't wrong. It shouldn't be this hard.

Me:How are you feeling? Not sleeping well?

Aubrey:Baby and I are fine. Goodnight, Noah.

Me:Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well. I almost sent the text but I caught the endearment in time and deleted it. I turned off my phone, then turned it back on, in case something happened and she needed me. I punched my pillow and I closed my eyes, but sleep didn't come. I got out of bed the next morning, more exhausted than I'd been when I got into it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Aubrey

Noah: Good morning. How are you and baby feeling today?

I turned off my phone without answering. Noah had been texting me at least six times a day for the last three days and every time I considered changing my number or canceling my cell service. Every time his name popped up, a part of me wanted to tell him I'd made a mistake and ask him to come back, to tell him we could try. It was stupid. I needed to accept reality and move on.

“I've always thought pregnant women were sexy,” the elderly man standing on the other side of the counter said. His wife stood by his side, while they checked out after a three day stay at Nora's Inn. He'd been giving me the creeps since he'd arrived, and I was very glad he was leaving.

His wife slapped him on the stomach with the back of her hand. “You sound like a pervy old man.”

“I'm just giving her a compliment.”

Honestly, I agreed with his wife on the pervy quotient, since the compliment had been accompanied by a slow up and down perusal of my body. I pasted on a bright, fake smile. “I hope you enjoyed your stay. Come again.”

I waved them off and George helped them get their bags to the car. He somehow managed to find the time to be at the bed and breakfast, helping out in some fashion, at least once a day. He kept talking about favors owed, but I think his presence had a lot more to do with May. Unfortunately for him, she barely noticed him and, if he did get her attention, he only managed to annoy her.

I was amazed by his lack of game. He was a nice, smart, good-looking guy and, yet, he seemed clueless about May and women in general. I might have offered advice or asked him what was going on, but I considered him a friend and I really didn't want to go there. “Dude,” George said, walking back in. “That guy was creeptastic.”

I gave him a genuine smile. “That he was. Are you going to be around much longer?”

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. “I can spare another half hour. What's up?”

“The Halloween decorations on the roof need to come down now that it's November, and I don't think I should be climbing ladders.” As I'd quickly learned, working for a small business meant I wore a lot of different hats on any given day. So far, I really liked the variety. I could see how it would be good for the baby. Some days, when I had to work the front, she might have to go to a sitter, but when I spent the day in the back, working on paperwork or the website or event planning, she could be with me. As she got older, she could probably run around the place and play while I worked. Maybe I was being idealistic and unrealistic, but I knew Nora would help when she could and the atmosphere she'd created at the bed and breakfast was friendly and down-to-earth, rather than stuck-up and serious.

George grinned. He reminded me of an eager puppy, sometimes, always happy to have a job. “No problem,” he said. “I'll get right on it.”

He hurried back toward the front door, passing May as she came in. “Hi, May,” he said. “Um, I like your, um, hair. Did you—?”

“Hey Gary,” May said, breezing past him. She stopped at the counter and leaned on it. She was wearing a cute sun dress with a sweater and her hair was curled like she'd been out somewhere fancy.

“Why do you torture that poor man?” I asked.

She looked genuinely confused. “What poor man?”

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