Page 54 of Long Time Coming

“Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”

“Thanks. Don’t mind if I do.”

I steeple my fingers, my gaze darting to the screens to see the markets closing. No surprises are a great thing in finance. He’s watching it, too, since his career is based in the same field. I work in the commercial sector. He’s a whiz in personal finance. We’ve both done very well for ourselves as two kids from Peachtree Pass, Texas.

When he turns back, he asks, “So what gives?”

“Busy.”

“Not that busy.”

So fucking confident he knows everything. Always was.“How do you know how busy I am?”

“I don’t but figured if you had a lot of shit going on, you’d tell me.”

“Anna and I settled today.”

He drops his feet and leans forward. “You serious?”

“Yep. It’s signed.”

It’s the first real grin I’ve gotten from him. “I’m happy for you, man.”

“Me, too.” My phone screen lights up with another appointment added to my schedule. I push it to the side to ignore it. “You’re right. I haven’t been in the mood to go out much.”

“Ever since you got back. Any correlation?”

Does appearing indifferent make me look guilty? I take the chance, not moving anything on my face but my mouth. “No,” I lie. Pris has changed my perspective on a few things and had me reevaluating, figuring out how to be happy again. Today was a big step in the right direction. But I also find myself thinking about the woman more than I should, considering we’ve not been in touch once since I left. Why is that?

Is it me?

Or is this what she wants?

We’re both to blame, but I’ve been wondering if I’m the only one who has struggled to reach out.What would I say?

Making you come was a highlight of my year? Kissing you made me regret waiting so long to do it? Being with you . . . well, you’re difficult in some ways, but so am I, so does that make us perfect together?Or a ticking time bomb?

Only one way to find out . . .

“No,” I reply, lying through my teeth again. “Just been preoccupied.”

He stands and bumps his hand against the desktop twice. “Okay. The Yankees are in town. I can get tickets for Saturday. You in?” He grins and points at me. “C’mon, Tag. Tell me you’re in.”

My mind might have been preoccupied with Pris, but I miss hanging out with my best friend. “I’m in.”

“Good. I’ll text the time.” We slap our hands together before he heads for the door. “Wait until I tell you about this little honey I hooked up with from the gym.” His hands fly from each other like an explosive went off. “Whew, pure fire.”

As soon as he walks out, I grab the phone. “Kendra, can you book a flight back to Austin for a week from Saturday?”

“Sure can. Going to visit your folks again?”

“Yeah, that and catch up with some friends.”

I hear the clacking of keys on her end. “Going solo, or should I book for Beckett as well?”

“Solo this time.”

CHAPTER 19

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