I tap his thigh with my foot.
“Come on, it could be fun. Plus, that would mean you’re stuck with me forever. Even after I’m married.”
He stands to grab the other pint of ice cream, watching me closely.
“Is that something you’re worried about? That I'll disappear once you're married?”
I shake my head instead of answering right away.
I didn’t think it was, but the words fell from my lips so easily that maybe it is.
“No, of course not. I just … you said you wanted to do something different, and I'd love to write a book. It was just an idea.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I smile and sit back down, but something feels off.
Tobias walks behind me to get to his seat but stops, wraps an arm around me to hug me from behind, and kisses the top of my head.
When he joins me at the table again, I sneak a glance his way. Once upon a time, he always went with his gut. He made choices right and left without thinking about them. Now, he doesn’t know what direction to go with anything in his writing life.
I’ve always known how to help him, but today I don’t.
Maybe I’m not afraid to lose him after I get married. Perhaps I’m worried that I already am.
CHAPTER THREE
TOBIAS
I’ve always had trouble sleeping, even as a kid. I was never the type to sleep for long periods of time. I’d fall asleep late and wake up early. I can get five hours of sleep in a night and feel like I slept ten or more. My energy has never lacked, and I don’t spend my days drinking coffee to keep the momentum up.
I’m sure most of that is thanks to my grandmother, or Grandma Betty as I call her. I’m not saying there’s something wrong with kids these days, but the older generations know what hard work looks like and what not giving up means.
I love that I was raised that way. I owe a lot of my success to it.
It’s probably why I’ve been up the last two hours hitting my daily word count and then deleting it, approving next month's copy Nat and I created a couple of nights ago for my social media, and reviewing the six new possible real estate options Simon sent me for our next location—all before seven in the morning.
None of these locations are bad per se, but the two that are within walking distance from other venues or restaurants pull my attention more. People are prone to pick a place to work based on convenience, and if they have to drive even five miles out of town, despite the size of that space being amazing, it’s a drawback. This brings me down to my top two picks.
Tobias
I like the Hillsheer Avenue one that splits up the room. We could put meeting tables and chairs on one side. Consider adding an additional rent cost to book it.
Simon
I haven’t had coffee yet, but I like the one with the apartment over it.
Tobias
Are you thinking of renting it out?
Simon
It’s an option. Or a place for us to crash when we’re there.
