Page 107 of American Beauty

“Hey, favorite.”

Warmth floods through me at the sound of his voice, wrapping around me like a hug.

God, I missed this. I missed him.

“Hey. Guess what?”

There’s a smile in his voice. “Sounds like you’re about to tell me something worth celebrating.”

I press my free hand to my chest, still riding the high. “I got it, big guy. I landed the client. A full design contract for a luxury spa.”

A beat. Then—“Damn right, you got it.”

His confidence in me is unwavering, solid as bedrock. It anchors me when I doubt myself. “Congratulations, babe. No one deserves this more than you do.”

A rush of emotion rises in my throat. I sink into my chair, twirling as I soak in the pride in his voice. “I’m proud of myself.”

“You should be. You did it.”

I press my lips together, swallowing hard. He believes in me. Even when I don’t always believe in myself. He’ll never know what that means to me.

“I wish you were here.”

“I am here, remember? And I’m taking you out to celebrate tonight.”

A slow smile spreads across my lips. “You are, huh?”

“You, me, good food, a bottle of champagne. What do you say?”

It’s a hell yes, but I tease him instead. “Hmm… what kind of champagne?”

A low chuckle. “The expensive kind.”

I bite my lip, grinning. “Umm… then I say yes.”

“When can you leave?”

I glance around the office, forcing my thoughts to shift out of celebration mode. “Give me a few minutes to straighten up the office.”

“It’s still early. Want to do some shopping before dinner? Maybe buy replacements for what got destroyed last night? I want to make it up to you.”

Home decor shopping––this man is speaking my language. “How could I say no to that?”

“How about I catch a taxi and meet you at your office?”

“Sounds good. See you soon.”

I hang up, still smiling, as I clutch my phone to my chest. Life is falling back into place. For the first time in a long time, everything is right.

Still buzzing from my big win, I force myself to refocus. As much as I want to float out of here on a cloud of victory, I need to tidy up for the day.

I grab my preliminary design board for the spa, gliding my palm over the sleek surface before tucking it into my portfolio. This project is going to be everything.

With my presentation put away, I move to the break area, pouring out the last bit of coffee and washing the pot in the sink. A normal task, something I do every day—but there’s an extra lightness in my chest now.

This is what I’ve been working toward. What I fought for. And now it’s happening.

Setting the clean coffee pot in the dish drainer, I swipe a towel over the counter, my mind already drifting to Alex. He’s on his way. We’re going shopping. Then dinner. Then… more.

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