Page 42 of Begin Again
I close the remaining distance between us, and just like our kisses in the past, it feels like I’ve come home. Annie has always been my home, my North Star. She’s my everything and I want to show her just exactly what she means to me. So I kiss hertenderly, one hand on her hip and the other in her hair. Holding her steady as I kiss her in a way that I hope shows just how much I love her.
The kiss turns needy as she tries to pull herself closer to me, and I’ve got a lot of self-control but not that much.
I pull back from her every so slightly. “Slow down, sunshine.”
She blinks up at me as if she can’t believe that she lost control of herself just a little.
“I’ll kiss you all night, we’ve got plenty of time.”
And that’s exactly what I do.
22
ANNIE
January 2024
Peace. All I feel is peace. Sam’s heavy arm is wrapped around my waist, pinning me to him, not that I want to move out of his warm embrace. But I’ve been mostly awake for the past hour and my stomach has been grumbling for most of it.
“Sam?” I ask, not wanting to pop the bubble we’ve been in for the past two days. We’ve spent most of them in bed, talking, laughing, and kissing. Lots and lots of kissing.
“Mhm?” he murmurs against my shoulder.
“I’m starving.”
He laughs and his entire body shakes mine. “I was having a good dream,” he tells me as he slips out of the bed and pulls on a shirt. “Want a bagel?”
“Yes please.” I sit up and his shirt that I’ve been wearing slips further off my shoulder. His eyes follow the movement.
“But I’m going to stay here, okay?”
“I’ll be back in a few.” He grabs his keys and his wallet and I sigh, leaning back in the bed. I reach for my phone for the first time in two days.
I have a dozen missed calls from Chiara and other co-workers and a handful from Austen’s. I groan, but I’ve got to get this over with. I open Chiara’s text thread.
Chiara
Are you okay? You went in to meet with Mitch and then you left and Mitch left and he looked furious.
Is everything alright? You’ve missed another shift and that’s not like you.
I asked Mitch what was going on and he told me and the other staff that because of a family matter, you won’t be returning to Austen’s. What happened!?
I text her back.
Mitch isn’t telling you the truth. Well, I’m not coming back to Austen’s, but he’s the reason why.
Chiara texts back almost seconds later.
YOU’RE ALIVE! I was about to send out a search party. He’s the reason your face was bruised, isn’t he?
Chiara and I never talked about what Mitch did to me, but it turns out she’s a better friend than I gave her credit for.
Yes. Our history is long and complicated, but it’s done. I’m finally free.
My hands shake as I type the words that I so desperately want to believe, but I don’t yet. Maybe if I say them enough, they will feel true.
I’m proud of you, but you should know that I overheard Mitch talking on the phone to some food critic this morning. He’s trying to ruin you. But I’ll back you up. I’m putting in my letter of resignation today.
