Page 18 of Eat Your Heart Out
We headed to a landing with a huge window. My heart strummed, but I asked, “Why are you leaving your amazing family?”
He tilted his head and stared at the dock as if looking at a ghost. “They are great, but I can’t figure myself out in a crowd. Anyhow, your room has a laptop and a phone. My brother is waving.”
I peered down the pier and saw a man in a white short-sleeved shirt. “I’ll walk with you upstairs, if that’s okay.”
“Perfect,” he said. “Let me check that he’s okay before we go.”
For a second, as we made it to the top deck, I wondered if I should leave. I wasn’t good in relationships, and being a companion sounded like a lot of one-on-one time. I wasn’t sure how to stop my lips from aching to kiss Gerard. He was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. I couldn’t imagine how he could get any hotter.
His brother hopped aboard, and Gerard clasped hands with him.
“Elon,” Gerard said.
I headed toward the library, intending to grab a book, but I lingered behind the wall.
I could hear them both clearly as Elon said, “I wanted to catch you before you took off.”
“What’s going on?”
Caring about others made Gerard a wonderful person. I sucked on my bottom lip. I should step back and avoid eavesdropping, but I stayed where I was and lowered my head. My soul whispered that Gerard was steady, loving, and sweet and made time for his family despite his plan to shove off immediately after breakfast.
Elon asked, “I just wanted to ask how you knew it was time to leave your company.”
Heat rose through my skull, as I shouldn’t eavesdrop.
Gerard asked, “You thinking about quitting?”
“I’ve decided that now that it’s established, I want to stay home and handle only the bare necessities.”
“What about your new girlfriend?”
“Ex.”
Interesting. Norouzi men seemed loyal, so I felt lucky that Ashley had used Gerard and left him available. I would probably not be there if she hadn’t taken advantage.
I took a deep breath and wondered if that was why his mother was so nice to me. She knew I would watch out for her son.
“Ah. Look, as long as she’s not using you for your cash, don’t stress about taking a smaller role in your company, but you’ll probably need a companion, as you tend to sulk.”
“I don’t sulk, but I don’t think I could take a year off like you are either.”
“Well, take your time and make the right decision.”
Elon said, “Thanks for listening. I’ll get out of your way. See you in Hawaii.”
I fidgeted in the library and pretended to browse as he said, “Call me anytime.”
When Gerard came in, I said, “You two are close.”
We both took seats opposite each other, and he relaxed in his chair. “Elon and Kir and I were like the three musketeers growing up. In fact, we probably reenacted the books.”
I would be a fool if I left, though being on the ship once we departed meant I was truly trapped with just him and his crew for company.
I slipped out of my flats and sat cross-legged on my chair as I relaxed. “I only ever saw the movie.”
“That’s a shame. The book is so much better.”
“I’m sure.” I curled my lips as a thought struck me. He would never want me the way I desired him.
