Page 36 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

BRETON:He has the phone, I told him that I had a surprise for him.

BRETON:I have you programmed in the chat as CUPCAKE

JESSA:How did you know?

BRETON:He told me one night when he was drunk at my mom’s place, he was hungry and we went to eat the leftovers…

JESSA:Do you know if he’s alone at the moment?

BRETON:He’s not, but don’t let that stop you.

JESSA:You’re the best.

BRETON:I know. Good luck. Love ya, bye

I did the mental time difference in my head; it was going on early evening back home. With any luck, he was able to check his messages.

Here goes nothing.

CUPCAKE:shhhh

CUPCAKE:Happy Easter Drew

His reply came in almost instantly.

DREW:Is this a sick joke?

CHAPTER 11

DREW

Present Day

I may not have known where Jessa was, but what I did know was that she was safe, she was happy, and was always at the other end of the phone. No matter what time I messaged her, she was always there to answer me. Sometimes it took her a few minutes, but never more than half an hour or so.

Ever since she’d first messaged me a few months ago, and I found out she was still alive, we had been constantly texting every day and occasionally we would talk over the audio application, but I’d yet to video conference with her. I knew it was her; her voice I’d know to my passing day. It was like we had picked up where we left off. She had this uncanny way to lift me after a long day with her humor or even mundane details about what she was doing, reading or watching. It was the simple routine things that grounded me to her, that spoke volumes more than anything else ever could.

The days we actually talked were the best, there was nothing greater than hearing her voice and better yet, her laugh—something I was noticing she was doing a lot more now than she ever had before. Regardless of how hard it had been on me, and how much I wanted her to be home, I couldn’t knock her for doing it. Not only to protect herself and her family, but I was really starting to realize the best thing to come from this distance was Jessa discovering who she was.

I feared sometimes that when she returned, I would not be enough for her, or in her time away she had been exploring the company of others. I was scared to death to ask her, however, the uncertainty of it was also killing me. Soon, I would have to bite the bullet and cave, for the sake of my sanity.

I had no room to talk, I thought she was dead and tried to move on, but even when I tried, I knew I was failing miserably at it. Lisa deserved far better than I ever gave her. There was only one person I could give my all, and I’d been doing that with my fidelity, my heart, and as soon as we were back together, everything I had—if she will still have me.

The summer was passing so quickly. Between the renovation of the departure terminal and jobs on the Cape I had hired a crew of four to work full-time with me to get all the jobs I committed to completed. I was lucky to be able to use Cahill Global’s staff to help with bookkeeping, invoices, finances, and payroll. It was also a great excuse to drive into Boston and stop by the office to see Zoe.

In addition to running a business and putting in 12-plus hours of labor every day, I was busy with renovations at the house. Slowly, it was starting to really come together.

What a difference a few months and a new lease on life could do for not only a man but a project. Prior to Easter, the house was just a contractual agreement, work I was doing for Steve, a job that was causing me a great deal of mental anguish. I dreaded coming home each night, dreaded having to put any amount of effort into this place, I was going through the emotion with it, just like I had been with my own life.

After finding out about Jessa, I knew right then and there that I needed to make this place into a home, a home I could share with Jessa. A home that she would love to come back to.

From that point forward, it was no longer just a commitment I needed to fulfill, it was a labor of love, a passion where I didn't want anything overlooked. Jessa deserved the very best in everything, and our home was no exception. We spent a lot of our time going over plans. It surprised me that she was particular and had a vision for the house; I indulged every single one of them. Even the ones she fought with Colleen over.

My girl was growing, and I for one was so happy for it. I just hoped that she still had room for me in this new life she was creating.

I always felt guilty when I’d leave the Cape and my crew to handle all the grueling work. I had loved being so busy this summer, and as things looked, it would extend far into the fall too. Last week over beers and wings I asked the guys I had hired if they were open to working into the fall, and they were all onboard, for which I was grateful. I’d be heading over to England next month for Ali’s wedding.

The wedding was fast approaching, and I needed to get the departures terminal completely finished before I could go.I’d be spending a week in the city, both for work and would take as much time as I had left to be social with my friends.

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