Page 81 of Mine to Love

Waking up at the ass crack of dawn to catch the five-a.m. flight to Portland and putting in a full day at the office is worth it. The coffee I pick up at Dunkin gets me from Bangor to Acadia Falls, but Reese carries me through the day and weekend.

We haven’t yet talked about what had happened that morning when we crossed the thin line in my office. Nothing sexual has happened at the office since. Granted, with Autumn around, sex in my or her office isn’t as easy to pull off. Not that the temptation or thought hasn’t been there.

Thirty minutes later, I pull around back to our private parking spaces and frown when I don’t see Reese’s car. I keep up with her schedule for the most part, but an appointment could have been moved around while I was in flight.

Disappointed I won’t have her beautiful face to greet me, I stop in the donut shop. A poor replacement and won’t taste nearly as sweet, not that I’ve kissed her in the office since that morning either. We’ve kept our relationship professional during the day and don’t bring up anything work related once in her apartment. As soon as the work clothes come off, it’s all kissing, touching, and loving.

When I have the donuts, I head up the stairs to the office and am greeted by Autumn.

“Good morning, Mr. Pierce. I hope your flight was uneventful.”

“It was, thank you, Autumn.”

“Your ten o’clock conference call checked in early. Mr. Callister asked to stay in the virtual waiting room, but you still have eighteen minutes until you need to login. He’s aware.”

“Thank you.” I glance down the hallway and listen for noise from Reese’s office. “Is Miss Elliot in her office? I didn’t see her car out back.”

“No. She took the day off. I rearranged her appointments for Monday since it’s a slow day anyway.”

I’m about to ask if she knows why Reese took the day off and think better of it. That would cross the line between business and...personal life. She doesn’t owe Autumn or me an explanation. She’s allowed to use her days as necessary. Still, an uneasiness stirs in the pit of my stomach.

Since I still have fifteen minutes to spare, I close my office door and call Reese. When she doesn’t answer and it goes to voicemail, I hang up. My fingers hover over my phone while I think about what to text to her.

For the past six weeks I’ve spent every Friday and Saturday night at her apartment, only leaving if my family has a gathering. Most weekends they don’t even know I’m home.

Home. Yes, Maine is more home to me than Texas. Austin is work. Maine is family and home, even if I don’t have my own place or even my own car here.

Maybe I’ve looked too much into our relationship. Maybe she took today off to avoid the awkward conversation about not wanting me to come over tonight. I can’t blame her. She had a life before me, and I’ve pretty much sucked it away by crashing at her place.

We aren’t at the stage where we send cute and flirty texts to each other either. It comes easy when in the comfort of her apartment. Now I feel like the math geek squad at school trying to figure out words to say to the homecoming queen.

I open my texts and start typing.

Logan: Enjoy your day off. Well-deserved. See you soon?

I stare at the message and read it with a variety of tones. If she doesn’t want to see me tonight or this weekend, she’ll ignore me completely. I don’t want that. Even if she has plans, I still hope to talk to her, even if it’s only through texts.

I erase the question and send the first part. The alarm goes off on my phone and my heart leaps thinking she replied already. It takes a minute to realize it’s the alarm reminding me of my conference call.

I set my phone on my desk and fire up my laptop. “Good morning, Bob. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

***

MY BACK-TO-BACK APPOINTMENTS keep me busy but not too busy to not check my phone every ten minutes hoping to have a response from Reese. It isn’t until after three when her name shows up on my screen.

Reese: Thanks! Been busy. Hanging with Emerson tonight. Your parents will be happy to see you :-)

Ouch. If that isn’t a kick in the balls. I shouldn’t be upset. Or annoyed. I expect too much of her. It’s good to back off a bit before I get too attached.

Too late.

After work, I drive out to my parents’ place. As soon as I park, they come out the front door.

“Oh, Logan! I didn’t know you were coming home this weekend.” My mother engulfs me in a hug and my father gives me a pat on the back.

“Good to see you, son.”

“Your father and I are heading to Bar Harbor for dinner with the Cantons. Would you like to join us?”

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