Page 129 of Effortless

“Of course, I’m here, Cam.”

She patted his cheek with her warm palm. “So, fair warning. The next time you see me, I’ll have mermaid hair.”

Tom cocked a brow. “Mermaid hair?”

“Pink at the roots. Purple in the middle. Blue on the tips.”

“Huh.”

“It’ll be nice.”

“Mmhmm,” he said.

What else could he say?

This woman constantly surprised him.

Camilla poked a finger right in the middle of his chest. “The only acceptable response you can give me when you see it is a compliment, or asking what I plan to do next. Understood?”

Tom gave a single nod. “Got it, babe.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to come visit soon?”

“I will,” he promised. “Not sure when, but I will figure it out.”

“And I can come up on some weekends.”

“You better.”

Camilla winked, and then her amusement faded fast. “We’ll figure this out, won’t we?”

“Hmm, what?”

“The distance. The space. New York and Chicago. Just … us.”

Tom pulled her in for one last kiss—they really were cutting it close, and it was going to take forever for her to get through O’Hare’s security. “We will figure it all out one thing at a time, Camilla. It’s worth that, isn’t it?”

“We’re definitely worth it,” she whispered.

“Thought so. Go catch your flight.”

She hesitated for a second, and he knew that feeling well. Like he didn’t want her to leave, but he knew life was set up elsewhere for her. It was things they would have to work on and figure out.

Worth it, though.

“Call me when you get settled,” he told her.

Camilla nodded, and her hand tightened around his wrist momentarily. One last kiss between them, and she headed into the departure entrance of the large airport. Tom was left watching her go.

Fuck.

He already wanted her back.

Tom cursed under his breath as a text message rang through the Bluetooth in his ear. A message from his father, it seemed.

Head to my restaurant downtown. I need you for something today.

The guys on the crew were expecting him in less than a half an hour to go over their business for the week. He thought to text his father back and say he was on his way to the warehouse, but didn’t bother. A boss was a boss—when a boss called, a man went. It was as simple as that.