Isquinted when the sunset hit me in the face as I followed the small path toward the back of the Society’s property. Admittedly, I was late. I should’ve headed over shortly after leaving the condo, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I needed some time alone. I needed to sit with my thoughts.
Unfortunately, my thoughts had proven to be painfully one-track all day.
Liam.
Liam asleep and curled around the pillow. Liam smiling in that soft, half-awake way that had no business finding a permanent residence in my head. Liam waking up alone. Liam reading the note I’d left behind. Liam finding the watch I’d had no business giving him.
My jaw ticked, and my fingers tightened on the steering wheel. I’d spent the better part of the day attempting to convince myselfthat I was being ridiculous. I’d gone for a run and doubled up on my distance to wear myself out. I’d reorganized my kitchen cabinets for reasons I still couldn’t explain, other than it kept me busy. I’d stood in my shower so long the water had gone cold.
None of it helped. Every quiet moment I created inevitably circled right back to him.
To the way he looked at me.
To the way he’d saidI really like youwith that soft, sleepy voice of his.
To the way I’d kissed him when I absolutely, unquestionably should not have.
I exhaled slowly through my nose as I rolled to a stop in front of Vincent’s house. In all my years as an Architect, I’d never once faltered in my duties or my approach. I’d never once delayed a debrief.
Vincent would notice. Hell, Vincent noticed everything. And the worst part? I didn’t know how to explain my behavior if he asked—whenhe asked. ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about him’ wasn’t an acceptable answer.
And it certainly would not keep me my job.
The front door flew open before I could knock, and Elena stood on the other side with a warm smile. She was comfortably dressed in an oversized sweater and leggings. Even her socks were fluffy and practically came up to her knees.
“Owen!” she exclaimed as a way of greeting. “We were starting to think you weren’t coming.”
Her presence was a surprise, but I concealed it. While Vincent and Elena had a platonic marriage that I couldn’t begin to understand, she didn’t often stay at his house. She had her own place in the city, but she also spent quite a bit of time traveling the world. I rarely saw her here.
“It’s good to see you,” I said with a smile. There was no getting into the house without hugging her first—that was just who shewas. I kept it brief, bending down to give her a proper hug and letting her slip her arm through mine the moment we pulled back. “Are you staying long?”
“Not this time,” she replied. I followed as she steered me right toward Vincent’s office. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“I doubt it, but thank you for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome anytime, Owen.”
“Thank you.”
We stopped outside the open door to his office. Vincent sat behind his desk, completely at ease, as if I hadn’t kept him waiting all day. There were papers scattered across his desk, and quiet music filled the space. He shut it off the minute he saw me. Elena left while I entered the room.
“I was beginning to think I wouldn’t see you today,” Vincent said as he gestured to the chair across from his desk. I took a seat and made myself visibly comfortable, hopeful he wouldn’t notice my inner turmoil.
“I apologize for being late.”
“You’re never late, Owen.”
“I know.” There wasn’t much I could say about it—wasn’t an explanation that would help.
“Are you all right?” he asked. The genuine concern in his voice incited a low ache of guilt in my core because he did care. There was never a doubt of that. My blatant difficulty with this experience felt something like betrayal.
“I’m all right,” I reassured. “It has nothing to do with the experience.”
It had everything to do with my inability to let a man go.
“And did everything go as you planned?”
“It did,” I said. I gave him the briefest summary of the experience, doing my best to keep it clinical and unattached. I included all the usual details to make sure he was informed. Heheard me out, giving me the space to go through everything like the checklist I’d prepared.
