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“Jesus, Billie. Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on your side, Colby, of course. That’s why I don’t want you to make any rash decisions. You need to think this through, look at it from all angles, and play out all possible outcomes.”
My head felt like it was spinning. “I don’t feel so great. Would you mind if we talked about this later? Right now, I just really need to hold you.”
Billie’s face softened. “Sure.”
For the next half hour, I sat with my arms wrapped around my girl. She leaned her back to my chest, and I rested my chin on the top of her head. It felt good, but even that wasn’t enough to shake the feeling of impending doom. Since she’d come after her late night at work, it was soon almost ten o’clock.
“You want to watch some TV before we go to bed?” I asked.
Billie turned to face me. She put a hand on my chest. “Actually, I think I’m going to head home.”
“What? Why?”
“You need some time to think, and I do too.”
I didn’t like it one bit, but I couldn’t argue if space was something Billie needed. So I nodded and tried not to pout. “Okay. Whatever you want. But I’m calling you an Uber.”
Unfortunately, when I hit confirm on the app, the car was only three minutes away, and she still had to get downstairs on the slow-as-shit elevator. “It’s going to be here by the time you get outside.”
Billie nodded, and I walked her to the door. Before I opened it, I took her face in my hands. “I love you. I’m so sorry I’m putting you through this shit.”
“I love you, too.”
“Can I see you tomorrow night?”
“I have a busy afternoon at the shop. Can I let you know?”
A heaviness settled into my chest, yet I nodded. “Sure. Get some sleep.”
“You, too.”
***
The following day, it took every bit of my willpower not to text Billie until the afternoon. I managed to make it until three o’clock.
Colby: Hey, beautiful. Can I make you dinner tonight?
It took almost an hour for her to text back.
Billie: My last appointment is at five. Could we talk for a bit right after I get off, before the babysitter goes home?
I got the feeling that meant she wasn’t planning on staying over again, but I was desperate and would take whatever I could get.
Colby: Sure. I’ll see if she can stay a little later, too.
Billie: See you soon.
When I walked into the shop after work, Deek’s face told me I hadn’t been the only one unable to stop thinking about things today. He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Keep strong, man.”
I nodded and walked over to Billie, who was in the back stocking her portable cart.
“Hey.” I brushed my lips with hers.
Her smile was sad. “I’ll be done in a few minutes.”
“Take your time. The sitter can stay until whenever I need her to.”
“Okay.”
We were both silent until she finished and grabbed her purse. “Do you want to go for a walk, maybe?”
“Sure.” I shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
We walked to a park a few blocks from the shop and got hot dogs from the truck that was always parked at the entrance. Then we sat down on a bench inside and made awkward small talk while we ate. After, I wiped my mouth and lifted a knee up on the bench so I could look at her while I spoke.
“I would give anything for an easy way to fix this so we could go back to the way things are supposed to be, Billie.”
She touched my cheek. “I know you would, Colby, and that’s part of what makes you a special person. You’re willing to sacrifice whatever it takes for the people you love, including your own happiness.” She paused and took a deep breath. “And that’s why I also know that when I ask you to do something for me, you will.”
My brows drew together. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
Billie held my eyes. “I need you to let Maya move in.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She shook her head. “I’m very serious, Colby. I was up all night thinking about things. It’s the only real solution we have. You need to redeem yourself as a married couple during this second interview, and the only chance you have to do that is if you spend time with each other. You need to know things you can’t study for, like your morning routines and habits, and you only have two weeks to learn it all.”
I shook my head. “I can’t do that, Billie. I can’t do that to us.”
“You wouldn’t be doing it to us. You’d be doing it for us. I see you, me, and Saylor as a team, and this team needs to do what is best for Saylor, regardless of how we personally feel.” Billie’s eyes filled with tears. “I love Saylor, too. I’ll never be able to live with myself if my selfishness—not wanting you to live with another woman for a few weeks—got her hurt. So I’m not taking no for an answer. Maya is moving in, and you two are going to spend every waking moment together getting to know each other.”
