Page 68 of My Kind of Trouble
‘Well, I’ve been looking for jobs in publishing. I need something part-time to allow me the time I need to write whenI’m not working and, because we live in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, I’ll probably need to have at least one day a week working remotely from home so I don’t have to drive into the city every day. Apparently those two requirements make me a little unappealing to employers, because that’s the second rejection letter I have had from a publishing house this week.’
She looked deflated now, her usually sparkling eyes were dull, like the light she had recently gained was threatening to be put out. He couldn’t allow that. Even if fear rolled in his gut; fear of this being the beginning of the end. The very thing he’d tried to protect his heart from all along—Noa leaving. But, even amongst all that fear, he still wanted her to have everything she ever dreamed of, so the sad expression she wore as her confidence waned wrecked him even more.
‘Maybe it was more unrealistic than I thought, after all. I guess, at least, I tried right? It’s more than I’ve done so far, so I can feel good about that.’
‘You’re not giving up, are you?’
‘No. I will write the book. It just looks like it’ll end up taking a few years instead of a few months as I’m probably going to have to look into full-time posts and focus on writing as more of a side hobby for the time being. It’s okay, though. I’m not in as much of a rush to have my whole life wrapped up in a neat bow these days. It’s just frustrating, because I was excited to be finally making a decision that would have brought me so much happiness and, if I’m working in the city, I’ll probably have to consider moving closer to there.’
His eyes almost doubled in size. And there it was, the other shoe dropping. He needed to find the words before she heard the sound of his breaking heart.
He’d just got her back. God, this was it, wasn’t it? Everything he’d been afraid of. This was when she left him.Could he even be mad at her if it was what she wanted? If it was a good career move that would make her happy? Noa’s happiness had quickly become one of the most important things to him, and he would move heaven and earth to keep a smile on her face.
‘Is that what you want?’ he, somehow, managed to croak out.
‘No. You’ve seen my list. I always dreamed of coming back home and being closer to family. It’s one of the things that helped me move on from my relationship so quickly. I knew it could never last because he kept me from here, and moving back felt like a dream. I’ve loved being close to my family, and Tes and… having you close by hasn’t sucked.’
Alex squeezed her hips playfully and she giggled, wiggling out of his grasp.
Well, screw it, then.
She didn’t want to leave, and he wouldn’t let her. This was his moment to either shy away and accept that everyone always leaves eventually as inevitable fact, like he usually did, or fight for her to stay. It wasn’t even up for debate; fighting was his only option.
Putting his hand against her cheek, he whispered, ‘Don’t go then. Just… stay.’
‘But how?’
She looked up at him, wide-eyed and beautiful, like he had all the answers. He only had one.
‘Work for me. The bar is becoming increasingly busy, and I’ve needed more staff recently. Work for me, and you will have the flexibility to write whenever. Want weekends off? Done. You want to work evenings only so your days can be filled putting that brilliant little mind to work writing? Done. We can make it work however you need it to, Noa. Just don’t go.’
Her mouth fell open in shock before she righted herself.
‘Careful, Alex. You’re starting to sound a little like you’d miss me.’
He kissed her then, really kissed her. Hoping he could pour all his emotions into one searing kiss, and she would know just how true that was.
‘Oh, Trouble. I just went three days without having my hands on you and turned into a lost puppy. We are way past just missing you, don’t you think?’
She scoffed, as if to mock him, before saying, ‘God, I knew you were obsessed with me.’
He swatted at her ass and nipped her ear, ‘I’ll punish that bratty little mouth of yours later. But, seriously, what do you say?’
‘I… I… Are you sure? You might get sick of me. And… well, you know, how well I take being bossed about… by you, of all people.’
She held her hand out as if to stop him from his next retort. It was probably just as well.
‘Don’t even say it.’
‘I know you, Noa. And I want every stubborn part of you to stay here and work for me. I want you to fight me and make my life hard work. I want you to make your dreams come true, and I want to be the one who gets to help you get there, to stand next to you and bask in your success with you once you do. Please let me.’
He was aware of how pathetic he probably sounded, but he really didn’t care. This was him taking the leap. He held his breath for the few moments it took for her to respond.
‘Despite the nickname, I didn’t want to cause you any trouble.’
The way she said it sounded like she thought she was a burden, and his mouth turned into a hard line with the sour taste that thought left there. Is that what she thought? Could she not see how much richer his and everyone’s lives were when they had her around?
‘You might be trouble, Noa, but you are the kind I want to get into. The kind I would chase no matter the consequences. You are my kind of trouble, and I want you around, now and for as long as you’ll stay. Never doubt that.’
