Page 33 of Thicker Than Water

I’m just walking into the house when my phone rings, I answer without looking at it.

“Hello?” I answer as I kick the door shut behind me and slip my shoes off.

“You miss me?” Reece’s deep voice responds. It’s gruff with fatigue, but I can hear the smile in it.

“I do. Reece, your dad, I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”

I walk into the house, turn all the lights on and walk to the fridge to pour myself a glass of water.

“It’s okay. He’s okay. And I’m just tired. It was mild and he got to the hospital really fast,” he says, sounding like he’s not quite convinced yet. “He’s in otherwise really good health, so he’s going to make a full recovery. But, Luc . . .” His voice trails off like he doesn’t want to finish his sentence.

“What? What else happened?” I demand, when he doesn’t say anything.

“I’m going to need to start working from the LA office again. I won’t be back in Malibu for a few weeks.”

I feel selfish for feeling so profoundly disappointed at this news. I try to disguise it. “Okay . . . well the screenplay’s coming along really well. I’ll make sure you get daily upda—”

“I’m not worried about the screenplay,” he says softly, but I can hear the frustration in his voice. “This morning, in the pool, I want to continue that and the conversation.” The gruffness is gone from his voice, and it resonates through me. And my heart smiles; full and wide.

“Me, too,” I respond and am surprised when my voice comes out as a whisper.

“Good. Let me spend the week getting things straight. And I’ll come up next weekend and take you to dinner again. And we’ll talk it out, face-to-face.”

“Sounds good, I can’t wait. Let me know how your dad is doing, okay?”

“I will. And I miss you, too Luc. Sleep tight.”

When I get into bed a few hours later, I’ve replayed our phone call so many times that I feel like it’s imprinted on my brain. Reece misses me. He didn’t leave because of Fabienne. I snuggle into my pillow floating on cloud nine.

This man, this amazing, gorgeous, funny and brilliant man wants me. As much as I want him, if not more. Whatever he’s thinks we’ve got to talk about—my age, the fact that I work for him, maybe even my status—whatever it is, we’ll be able to get over it.

I hope Todd’s right about Fabienne. I didn’t plan on any of this, but now that it’s happening, I want it so badly. I want Reece so badly.

I fall asleep with a smile on my face and a little tendril of hope starts to grow in my heart.

16

Reece

I’ve been in LA for a week. My dad’s being released from the hospital today. As much as I want to get back to Lucía, I’m needed here. Our conversation the night I arrived gave me hope that helped me get to sleep.

But that feels like years go. I’ve been neck deep in work. When I’m not at the office, I’m at my parents’ house. My mother doesn’t trust anyone else to be alone with my father. So, on the weekend when she had to run some errands, she asked me to come and spend the afternoon in the house.

I called Lucía today to say that I wouldn’t be able to come back this weekend like we’d planned. I’d expected her to sound as disappointed as I felt. Instead, she’d just assured me that she was really busy anyway. Her voice was chirpy when she told me that they were hitting it pretty hard on the screenplay and making good progress. But, the lightness in her tone was false. I could hear her biting her tongue.

I started to ask her to tell me what was on her mind, when my phone buzzed. I had a potential partner waiting outside my office. I apologized and disconnected the call.

The studio has done some major juggling. My dad won’t be able to work for at least a month. Today’s been so busy, I didn’t even stop to eat lunch.

At the end of the day, I walk into my dad’s office and take a seat. It’s the first time all day I’ve had more than a couple of minutes to even think. And my thoughts go straight to Lucía.

I look at Lucía and I see endless possibilities. She could be more than just my partner in bed. I’m done fighting what I feel for her.

I’ll find time to drive to Malibu tomorrow, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. I’m going to tell her how I feel.

I settle down at my dad’s desk and pull out my phone. I decide to tackle the other thing that’s been gnawing at me at all week. I bring up my Kindle app and open Lucía’s book. Fabienne’s taunting voice rings in my ear as I jump from the last page I read to chapter fifteen.

I start to read. And half way through the chapter, I stop, convinced that I’ve misread it. I go back to the beginning of the chapter and read it again, but it’s

---