Page 70 of Auctioned To Be Mine

“Shit, shit, shit.”

I started the car, abandoned my grocery list, and headed home. There would be no dinner tonight. I had to work. I could not leave Betty hanging.

25

CALLUM

I’d been sitting in my house for an hour, eating leftover takeout at the kitchen island and staring at the wall. It was too quiet. I’d gotten used to having Victoria around. My house would never feel the same. I needed her in it. I missed her.

I threw away the rest of the takeout and grabbed my keys. She’d told me she had work. A lot of it. I understood she was probably falling behind as well. We’d both been devoting all our time to one another, which was great for us but not so great for our jobs and responsibilities. But I couldn’t stay away.

Even if that meant sitting in the same room with her and just watching her work. I wouldn’t disturb her. I just needed to be in her presence. That was something I would examine later. Since when did I depend on breathing the same air as another person?

Whatever.

I stopped at a coffee shop that stayed open longer than most others. They catered to the swing-shift and graveyard folks that didn’t drink coffee at six a.m. I knew they had good pastries that were made fresh throughout the day. I ordered two coffees and chose a variety of pastries. I had a good idea about the one Victoria would like, but I wanted to give her options. It was kind of my thing.

I would bring her sustenance, sneak a kiss, and then go home. She had work. I only needed a quick hit of my beautiful Victoria and I would survive another day.

And because I’m not a total animal, I sent her a quick text before just knocking on her door.

Me: Knock knock.

Victoria: Who’s there?

Me: I’m right outside.

Victoria: I’m right outside, who?

I laughed and shook my head. Good to see she still had her sense of humor. I got out, grabbed the goodies, and jogged upstairs. She had the door open when I cleared the landing. She was in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings with her hair up.

“Hey there,” I said.

“Hi,” she replied. And then she leaned in and hugged me, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “I’m really happy to see you, but I have so much work.”

“I know. I’m not staying.” I held up the bag when she pulled back. “Caffeine and sugar. Consider it an apology for missing lunch today.”

She took it from me and looked inside. Something shifted in her face. “Is that an almond croissant?”

“And a chocolate thing. I don’t know what it’s called. It looked like something you would like.”

“Come in. I will take a coffee break.”

The kitchen table looked like a filing cabinet exploded. Papers, pens, and several highlighters. Her notebook with its arrows and margin notes. Her laptop was open with two empty takeout containers next to it.

She grimaced like she was just seeing the disaster for the first time. “Don’t judge the mess,” she said. “I’m in a zone.”

“I’m not judging anything,” I said. “Leave it.”

I set the coffees down on the one clear corner and pulled out the pastries. She sat down and took a long sip, closed her eyes for a second, and exhaled slowly.

“How bad is it?” I asked, nodding at the table.

“I told Betty I’d have a proposal ready tomorrow.” She pulled the croissant out of the bag and took a healthy bite. “The proposal didn’t exist this morning.”

“How long have you known about it?”

She gave me a look.