Page 24 of Last Love

“We will absolutely get together when I get home and go shopping and for drinks and find things for us to do with and without my precious bundle of sass – which again thank you for cutting Carter slack on pickup duty. I swear that man probably won’t even understand why he has to attend his own funeral.”

Giggling together feels good.

Overdue.

“In the meantime, try to get away from work, away from your Spring Fling event, away from the employee applications…”

Seriously.

Does she have a camera setup in my office?”

“Try to do something social again, darling.” Voices in the background prompt her departure. “I gotta go. Time for wardrobe.”

“Knock ‘em dead.”

“Don’t I always?”

A small snicker slips free as I nod in agreement. “Send me the link to watch the interview once you have it.”

“Of course.”

Her final words cause me to cock a sweet smile and end the call.

As soon as I do, I’m informed that I have two new unread text messages.

God, I hope it isn’t Antonio asking me to look at adorable toddler clothes.

I’m not sure my ovaries can handle that level of cuteness right now.

It only takes on tap to reveal something shocking.

Xander: I really miss you.

Xander: I would really love to see you, Presley.

Disbelief keeps my back pinned against the leather chair.

Huh…

I’d ask if this text was meant for me if it didn’t have my fucking name in it.

He basically never extended this much effort to express more than the scheduled plans or appropriate affections I.E. Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary.

Being yet again speechless, leaves my mouth agape while I silently debate on what to do with the data that’s literally sitting in the palm of my hand.

What should I do?

What should I say?

What is there to say?

An unexpected knock on my office door thankfully ceases any further contemplation.

“Come in!”

Merrick’s always smiling face peers around curiously around the corner. “Got a sec?”

“Hundreds.” I hastily close the message, push the phone to the side, and wave a hand at the chair in front of my desk. “What’s on your mind?”

He flops down in the seat and casually leans back. “Any idea why the final Spring Fling carnival booth signs that need to be painted haven’t arrived yet?”

“Delivery is scheduled for today.”

“Time?”

“No idea. However, their deliveries have been running behind lately due to a change in overhead, so I expect that’s why they haven’t arrived yet. Want me to see if I can check their tracking? Give you an idea or estimate?”

“Could you?” His frame leans forward in a slightly excited fashion. “I’ve already got plans and would especially hate to cancel them since this is the first time my roommate has actually agreed to come hang out with us.”

“Aw,” the coo is genuine, “loner?”

“Let’s go with cautious.”

“Totally get that,” I mutter while redirecting my attention to my desktop.

“Not much for leaving your fancy new mansion, boss lady?”

“Um…let’s go with not good at it.” Keying in the vendors name in the search slot is followed by me playfully stating, “Which is not something I should probably be telling my employee.”

“That you’re a workaholic? It’s all good. Already guessed that.”

He’s shot a surprised stare.

“All due respect, boss?”

There’s hesitation to nod, but since I evidently signed up for truth bomb day, I have no choice but to allow them safe droppage.

“You remind me of my big brother. He operates – well he operated – the same way. He was always focused on business or keeping our, you know whats, in line. It was either work or eating and on the very, very rare occasion leaving work to ruin our fun.” His impish grin inspires me to grow one. “I honestly never thought he’d loosen up or do more than work himself into an early grave."

“What changed?”

It’s his turn to flash reluctance upon answering. “Losing pieces of your family has a way of teaching you to relook at the way you’re living.”

An undeniable sadness rushes through me. “I’m so sorry that happened to you guys.”

“Me too…” he quietly echoes before his blue eyes somehow find a sweeter glow, “but we all made a vow to not let those deaths have been in vain, which means we take risks. And we take chances. And we give second chances. And we make the most of the days we’ve got because we know firsthand you don’t really know many of those mofos you’ve got left.”

His words hit much harder than I’m expecting.

God, I’m basically the poster child for wasting time.

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