Page 19 of Timeless Valentine

11

GRACE

Some people hate Mondays because it's the start of the work week. Since I work seven days a week, it doesn't make any difference to me. Except tonight I have that extra shift due to Valentine's Day, which means that I will be working double shifts five days in a row this week.

It's actually pretty funny to think that most people look forward to the weekend because they don't work, whereas I look forward to the weekend because it means I only have one job to go to.

Oh well. I'm just grateful that everything is organized and scheduled. When things are predictable, they can be handled.

Leo is a bit quiet as he drives me to the office. I hope it's simply because it's a bit early. I'm sure that he had a good time last night, but I don't exactly have enough experience in the matter to know what men usually are like after they have sex with a woman for the first time.

Personally, I feel more bonded with him. As if we're an official couple now, and everything will move forward at some kind of steady pace.

As we turn onto the street with my office building, I smile at Leo. "Thanks for the best chore festival ever. And the Chinese food."

Instead of stopping out front, he pulls into the alley between the buildings, placing the car in park. He unfastens his seatbelt to turn toward me and take my hands in his.

"Grace, I really care about you."

"I can tell." My voice is barely a whisper. "Which is good, because I care about you, too."

"Last night was the most incredible night of my life, baby. I feel like we're really connecting."

"Me too."

Although Leo is smiling, there's something else in his eyes. "So I really hope that we can be open about absolutely everything."

"Sure…?" A prickle of dread races back and forth between my shoulder blades. Is he about to break our spell and tell me something horrible?

"Last night after you went to sleep, I plugged in our phones, and checked that the kitchen was tidy…"

"I noticed. Thank you."

"...and I saw some mail from Jamison's Care Home."

My breath stutters and my fingers tighten, but Leo begins caressing my hands with his thumbs. Maybe I should have hidden the mail, but when you don’t have visitors you don’t think of such things.

"I'm assuming that's where your mother lives?"

There is no strength in my voice, only a sigh. "Yes."

"Is paying for her care why you have to work three jobs?"

I nod miserably, my eyes dropping to our hands. This feels so serious, and I'm not sure why I'm cringing, but my entire body feels like it's locking up.

"Baby, it's okay. That's a ridiculously huge expense for a young person just starting out. Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes. My brother Ian."

"I assume he pays his fair share as well?"

Leo raises an eyebrow at the small grinding noise that suddenly comes from the back of my throat. "Ian insists that we pay the expenses fifty-fifty even though he's several years older and probably makes five times what I do."

My head shakes as I try to pull my hands away. "But it's not important. I'm getting by. Everything's fine."

Leo clutches my fingers. "Sweetheart, all due respect, it's not fine. You're working yourself to the bone."

"It's just the way my life turned out," I say with an obviously fake smile. "It doesn't matter."

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