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"You're serious about this?"
"I am," I said. "I'm sorry I was so resistant. I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to say no. But if you've lost everything else here, how could I be the one to say no? I can still paint. I can write. I'll still have you and Sophie. And my dad can visit anytime he feels like."
"We'd have to get a really big house there so Ethan and Elaine could come and stay for the winter."
"We would. Somewhere close to the water. Maybe a renovated old house with a huge acreage. I'd love for Sophie to grow up surrounded by nature instead of the streets of Manhattan."
"Seriously? I'd have thought you would want her to grow up in the city the way you did."
I shook my head. "I've soured a bit on Manhattan since all this happened. The way the press treated you. How predatory everyone is -- the tabloids, the paparazzi. The character assassination. I want to live somewhere with a nice rural feel to it, where people are private and polite."
"We could find a place close to the ocean. That would be nice."
We kissed and my heart filled with love for him. He didn't push me to make the decision. He let me come to it myself, giving me the space and time to realize it was the right decision.
"Thank you," he said. "I love you so much."
"I love you so much," I replied and kissed him once more.
We fell asleep that way, lying together, with him spooned behind me.
*
* *
We made love the next morning but it was plain old vanilla sex.
"I hope you're not disappointed," he said and kissed me, his erection still hard inside me after his orgasm. I had planned on going all Dom on you again after last night's success, but I just wanted to be inside of you as soon as possible."
"Never," I said and pulled him down for a kiss. My body still spasmed from my orgasm, and a thin sheen of moisture from exertion covered me. When the kiss broke, I locked eyes with him. "I told you that you could take control in the bedroom. I know you'll always make me happy and you do."
"Then I'm happy," he said. "Now, let's plan the rest of our lives."
I smiled. For the first time in a long while, I no longer felt that dark cloud hanging over me.
Drake
Of course, Michael was overjoyed to hear from me.
"Drake, I am so happy you reconsidered. Seriously. This is positively the best news!"
"I hope you didn't hire someone else," I said and smiled to myself. "If so, it would suck to be that person."
"No," Michael replied. "I spoke with several other surgeons who have experience with robotics, but I didn't commit. You put me in a bad position because none of the other candidates have your level of expertise. This makes me very happy all around."
I cleared my throat. "There'll be no issue with my recent tabloid coverage?"
"No," he said adamantly. "This is my baby and I have complete authority over hiring. I proposed you as my first choice and the administration only considered your experience, your time in Africa and your work in NYP. You were widely approved."
"That's great," I said, a huge sense of relief flooding me. "I don't want to face staff who are unhappy to have me there."
"No need to worry about that. They're eager to learn from you. I can't wait for you and Kate to get here – and that pretty little girl of yours, too."
"Thanks, Michael. This really is the most exciting opportunity I could ever think of. And it comes at the perfect time. Kate will have an adjustment to make, but she's happy that I'll be working, doing what I love."
"She can paint here. There are great nurseries for children Sophie's age. The school system is first rate if Liam comes. Really, I think you'll love it here."
"I'm sure we will."
