Page 24 of American Beauty

“I know. Same.”

I get up and walk to the window, staring out over the harbor, the sky stretching wide and endless. “I don’t think I can wait for you to come back.”

Her voice turns playful. “Umm… Alex. Are you breaking up with me?”

“Never, lovie. I’m saying maybe I should come to you sooner rather than later.”

I brace for her to tell me it’s a bad idea—that it’s too soon, too complicated—that it’ll only make things harder when we have to part again.

But she says, “Yes, Alex. Please come. Nothing would make me happier.”

Relief punches through me, knocking loose some of the ache lodged in my chest since the moment she left. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear that.”

“I think I sort of do.” Her voice is so certain.

I glance at my work calendar, my head spinning through everything I need to clear. “How soon do you want me there?”

“As soon as you can get here.” She doesn’t hesitate. “I miss you too much to pretend otherwise.”

“I could be free in two weeks. Three at the latest. I need to tie up a few loose ends here.”

“Two weeks…” A small, shaky laugh crackles through the phone. “It’s soon, but it feels like forever. Will you be able to stay long?”

“I’ll stay as long as I can.”

“I’ll take whatever time you can give me.”

The weight between us shifts—no longer heavy with sadness but humming with something new. Anticipation.

“So… word on the street is you hired a new assistant?”

What a fuckup on my part. “Yeah. Worst bloody mistake I ever made.”

“What does Leilani do for you?”

Aside from annoying the fuck out of me? “She’s my personal assistant. And I’m already regretting it.”

Magnolia laughs, the sound so sweet it cuts straight through me. “I think she’ll be the perfect personal assistant. She can keep you in line.”

“Well, we’ll see about that.”

Before she can respond, there’s a knock at her door. “That’ll be Vi. Hold on.”

I hear the door creak open, followed by Violet’s voice carrying through the phone. “What up, bitch? I’ve aged five years waiting for you.”

Magnolia laughs. “Sorry, I was just talking to Alex. I’m putting you on speaker.”

“Ohhh,” Violet drawls. “The boyfriend.”

The boyfriend. I don’t hate being called that.

“Violet, are you going to keep my girl out of trouble tonight?”

“I damn sure hope not. I’m taking her out for sushi and cocktails. Hopefully a little dancing if I can talk her into it. She’s been moping around missing your ass, and to be honest, it’s killing my vibe. A little trouble would be fun.”

“Show her a good time—but not too good, yeah? I’d like my girlfriend returned in one piece.”

“Girlfriend, huh? About damn time you started claiming her.”

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