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“Is something wrong?”
“Vince emailed me today.”
I glanced sideways at her. “What the fuck? Why?”
“Said we need to talk. I disagree. I’ll ignore him forever.”
“That’s the plan?” I tried to keep my voice calm and even.
“Why? Do you have any other ideas?”
“Yes. Tell me who the fucker is, and I’ll get him off your back.”
“Trust me, he’s not worth your time.”
“Natalie—”
“Jake!”
“Ignoring issues will not solve anything.”
“He’s not an issue. Just a nuisance. He likes to provoke me. When we worked together, I couldn’t ignore him. I had to engage because he was right there. And look where that got me. Fired. So yeah, I’m going to ignore him.”
“You said he was trying to get back with you after you were both fired.”
She frowned, twiddling her thumbs. “Yeah, he started sending me all these nice messages all of a sudden. It was weird, almost like he had a personality change. But now he’s switched back to asshole mode. His last message was very much like the Vince I knew.”
“Then you have all the more reason to—"
“Please, let’s just drop it. I hate wasting our time together on him.”
It killed me not to say more, but I obliged. For now.
“Fine.”
***
"Idon't think I’llever get tired of walking inside this place and seeing everything perfectly in order," she said when we entered the suite.
Yesterday, we’d gone over to her place to choose one of the paintings. She decided on the one depicting a postmodern version of a couple dancing. I knew jack shit about art, but I liked seeing this painting hanging in here.
She took off her shoes as she came inside, and stepped on the carpet. "It’s so soft and cozy. "
I liked the things she noticed. Like what made the room cozy, not luxurious. I went up to her, putting an arm around her waist, trailing my fingers up and down her back. She parted her lips when I skimmed my fingers from the fabric of her blouse to the bare skin of her upper back.
We could always move into one of those penthouses they sell on top of hotels.
The thought popped into my mind with a refreshing energy. Where had that come from? I swallowed hard, looking down at her. I knew in this moment that it was exactly what I wanted. To live with her, to be with her. But it was impossible. I was due back in New York whenever I wrapped up things here. And in her own words, she wasn't sure how long she was in Boston either. There was no point bringing this up.
"You're so quiet," she murmured. "Quiet but not broody. That's unusual for you. What are you thinking about?"
"That I love you."
She gasped. "Oh my God. You do, Jake?"
"Yes." I might not be ready to admit that I wanted us to move in together, but I didn't want to hold back my feelings.
She grinned and then did a little dance with her hips. “And I thought this day couldn't get any better.” She twirled once, like she was dancing to an imaginary song.
