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“I don’t want off the phone, I just…”
“You just what?”
“It’s like the middle of the night there, isn’t it?”
“Just hit midnight.”
Rolling onto her side, she breathed out and closed her eyes. “And you’re about to lie down in your bed… I dreamed about you last night.”
“Oh yeah?” he said, dripping with swagger. “Want to tell me about it?”
She laughed, though her body relaxed. “When I came to bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. About how I needed your arms around me, how much I wanted to just lie with you.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said, solemn. “This is why I didn’t want to leave you. I want to be there for you when shit happens in your life.”
“These things… when these things happen, you learn who really cares.”
“I really care.”
“I know. But you also learn about yourself, about what’s really important to you.”
“Am I on that list?”
She drew in a breath, enjoying a few seconds of just breathing with him. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Button.”
“Did we take each other for granted?” No, that wasn’t the right question. “Did I take you for granted? I know I want to be with you, to be close to you, but is it damaging? Am I damaging to your life?”
“How would you get there? No, you’re not damaging.”
“I don’t want to slow you down. I want you to progress, to stay on your trajectory. Your work is so important.”
“You are so important,” he said. “You’re everything, Rainie. You are what’s important. I’m so pissed you went through losing your job and your apartment to—was Bryan there when you left? Did he hurt you?”
“No. He wasn’t there. Gwenie and I packed and left while he and Tia were out.”
“You should’ve used your credit card for security, for movers, for whatever you needed.”
“Trevor’s been kind. He and his people came over to watch our backs and help us out.” Her lips quirked. “And they may have been loitering in the background when we were in the landlord’s office. I’m not sure if Zairn made a call or if Trevor was enough.”
“Trevor is…”
“Roxie’s Chicago security,” she said. “Did you know Zairn bought the apartment next door to Roxie’s to act as a security base?”
“I might’ve, I don’t know. Sounds like him though. He’s protective of her. They’ve lived a lot of their relationship in the limelight.”
“People love Roxie and she’s so good with them. I know people say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but she lives up to the hype and then some.”
“If you need someone to make a call, ask your boyfriend, not hers.”
“I didn’t mean to step on your ego. I didn’t ask Zairn to make a call, he and Roxie talk a lot and—”
“It’s okay. You’re not stepping on my ego. I just wish I’d been there for you.”
“You’re here now,” she said, drawing up her knees toward her chest. “And you’re making me feel better. If only…”
“I was there with you. I know, Button. Me too.”
