“I know. Does it make me a bad person that I liked this past week when you didn’t have a job and our main focus was me and the bed we share?”
She laughs. “It was a great week, but this is big for me.”
Graham hired Calla, and she’s been working nonstop. She’ll finish at his place today, and she told me last night that she can’t wait to get pictures for her portfolio.
“I know. I’m proud of you.”
She freezes as I kiss her forehead. “You good?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes.” Then she kisses me so hard that I’m reaching for her clothes, wishing she would come back as she walks out the door.
I let out a sigh, crossing my arms and leaning against the counter as I stare at the front door.
It feels freeing to be this happy.
Alright, we’ll pick this back up when she comes home.
I grab my computer and head to my office.
Today is the day I tell Doug that we should accept HBO’s offer.
Fuck. I’m nervous, but it’s clear that I’m not going to have a new book in time for a movie deal with HBO. Come on, that’s something to check off my bucket list. I can’t turn it down.
Obviously, I need to tell Calla about the book. I wrote a novel based on our story and it turned out so well that two of the biggest movie streamers out there want to buy it and play it for the whole world to see. It sounds harmless. But if I’ve learned anything about Calla since we moved in, she doesn’t trust easily. I just got her—I can’t mess it up. The way I see it, it’ll take weeks, months even, before anything is announced or revealed. I have time to tell her.
Right now, while we’re in the honeymoon stage if you will, isn’t the time to tell her.
I get situated at my desk, shoot Doug an email to tell him to get the contracts going, and then lean back. Everything will work out. Being with Calla is right, and signing this movie deal is right.
I cross my arms and smile at my unfinished office.
Hiring Calla to finish putting this room together was also the right choice.
I jump up. I should keep working, but there’s one more thing Calla doesn’t know about.
The surprise birthday party I’m having tonight here at the house. Her birthday isn’t till tomorrow, so hopefully, she has no idea.
I grab my keys, the list of errands I need to run, and the application I picked up yesterday for Calla. Well, for her gift. Which will be late and might be a little presumptuous of me, but we will find out in a few weeks.
For now, I just want tonight to be perfect for my girl.
* * *
“I’ve got to hand it to you, man, this is pretty cool.”
Simon steps out onto my back patio and clasps a hand on my shoulder. It’s chilly out here, but this is where the grill is, so I’m here till the food is done.
“Yeah, there are still some days where I can’t believe I own this place.”
He grunts. “I’m talking about this party you put together for my sister. One might think the two of you have become friends since she moved in.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“You guess?” He laughs. “Leave it to you and my sister to become friends but never actually admit it out loud.”
I see where my reaction could lead him to think this, but I’m working on the courage to ask him what I really want.
“Can I ask you something about your sister and you promise you won’t get mad?”
