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"Yeah but ours is still…" he trailed off as if looking for the right word.
"I know ours is different. I don't mind telling him I'm talking to you if you want me to. I just wanted to avoid drama if I could."
"Oh, no, I understand. I don't want you to cause drama. I can't help but feel a little protective of you though. The way you came to me, and the way you kind of… are already in my heart… I don't know. I'm just protective a little already, Ari. I'm sorry."
"Please don't be sorry," I said breathlessly. I had the phone pressed to my ear, hanging onto his every word.
"I don't need you to tell that guy anything about me," he said. "That's your deal at work. But know that I'm really happy and thankful you broke up with him. And I'm sitting over here counting the minutes until January. You need to make reservations."
"I did make reservations."
"You have a ticket? You're coming here? You have a trip planned? You're coming to Seattle?"
"Yes, I am," I said laughing at how quickly he rattled off those questions.
"Did you already pay for it and everything?"
"I did."
"For when, exactly?"
"A couple of months. January eighth or ninth. I'll stay with Sabrina and just… you and I can just—"
"I'm so happy," he said. "I can't believe you're coming here. Thank you for doing that. I'm really going to look forward to this."
"You are?"
"Yes, I am, Ari. I can't wait. I wish you would get here tomorrow."
"It will feel like tomorrow with all the stuff I have to do. We're doing a new theme this year, and we had to build new set pieces for it. I'm behind on all of those since I had to step in and teach classes this week. I have a ton of painting to do."
"Do you want me to come over there and help you?"
"Yes, please," I said, assuming he was joking. "I'm going in for about four hours tomorrow. Would you like me to pick you up on my way?"
"You're joking, but I was being serious," he said.
"Are you going to fly here and help?" I asked. I still thought he was being casual, but I felt excitement at the thought that he might come here sometime.
"I can't come tomorrow, but I can definitely come before January. I was thinking about Thanksgiving."
I choked getting words out. "S-s-seriously?"
"Yes," he said.
I was speechless for a second. "I would love to have you here for that," I said.
Even as those words came out of my mouth I knew having him visit Atlanta would raise questions. My family would have questions if I brought Isaac home for Thanksgiving, and Kathy would certainly have questions if I brought him around the studio to help me with set pieces.
But I did not give a rat's rear end about either of those things. I wanted Isaac to come as soon as possible and I said whatever it took to make that happen.
"I would looove to have you here for Thanksgiving, Isaac," I said, honestly.
"Then I'll make it happen," he replied.
Chapter 12
Almost Thanksgiving
