"Oh god, not your plan to reenact the scene from An Affair to Remember?"She rolled her eyes.“That only works in the movies, Jay.You know what a zoo the Empire State Building is at night.We’ll miss the concert.”
"Humor me a little?Two lovers meeting up at the top of the most famous building in New York City?Can you think of a better way to kick off Nancy Chen?”he asked.“And it’s only a short walk to Radio City.We’ll make it."
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
CLAIRE
Claire’s goal to wrap the New York project by noon had come and gone.With a stack of papers still on her borrowed desk, she knew the delay wasn’t entirely her fault.Jay had called multiple times, pulling her out of focus with his sharp, twisted sense of humor.Even though they would be together in a few hours, she couldn’t stop the flutter already building in her chest.
If I hurry, I can be out of here by four.She shuffled through another stack of proofs, exhaling heavily just as her phone rang again.Liz’s name flashed across the screen.Claire didn’t move.She only stared at it, waiting to see if it would ring off as it had before.After the fourth ring, she drew a shaky breath and pressed speaker.
"Liz?Oh my God, hi.I can’t believe?—”
"It’s not Liz.It’s me”
"Cally?"she whispered.
"It's so good to hear your voice, love.”he said.
Claire sank down into the desk chair, stunned.
"Claire, are you there?"he asked.
"Uh, yeah, I’m here,” she said.
A long silence stretched between them as Claire tried to untangle the flood of emotions knotting inside her.
"Quite a shock, I'm sure," he added.“I made Liz give me her phone.I wouldn't take no for an answer.I’m sure that doesn't surprise you."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, hidden beneath layers of guilt, she knew.Eventually Calvin would come back… to himself and to her.There'd never really been anyone else in either of their lives.He'd enjoyed a string of actresses and models over the years, but the women in his past were little more than props for his A-lister persona.She'd dated a number of interesting men—academics, adventurers, even a pro football player—but never for more than the occasional night on the town.
"How's, uh, how’s your physical therapy going?"she finally asked.
"It's bloody brutal if you want to know the truth, but like you always said, I’m not afraid of a little hard work.”
Calvin laughed, but Claire's heart contracted with pain.His tone didn't fool her.His humor had always been a mask.She closed her eyes, seeing the image of Calvin lying in the hospital with haunting clarity.
"I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"You want to know something?It doesn't hurt nearly as much as losing you."
Emotions rushed to the surface as tears filled her eyes.When she didn’t respond, he quickly changed the subject.
“So, how is life in London?Are you happy at Avi?”
“It’s been challenging, but I’m adjusting,” she said.
“What’s the weather like there at the moment?A soggy mess, I suppose?”
“Actually, I’m not in London.I’m working on a project at our New York office.”
“You’re in New York?For how long?”he asked.
“Just through the weekend.We, uh… I mean, I fly back to London on Sunday.”
“God, if I could, I’d be on the next plane.I’d give anything to see you, Claire.It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“It’s good to hear yours too.Really, really good.”
