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Narrowing her eyes at me, she tilted her head back. “Three.”
“Four. Give me four months, Phe, and then I’ll be in New York with you.”
She heaved a sigh. “You’ll come for the opening of the store?”
“I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”
She smiled, brightening up the room more than the sun.I love this woman.
“Okay, deal. November trip and four months. I’ll even buy a new coffee maker because mine is dreadful.”
I raised my hand and cradled her cheek. “November, four months, and a new coffee maker. Deal.”
We sealed the deal with a kiss.November, four months, coffee maker. . . Ophelia. . .
Chapter Forty-Two
-Ophelia-
All day, Clay and I laid in bed, getting up only to let Niko out and feed ourselves. The promise of having him in my near future made leaving somewhat easier, but it didn’t help in the long run. I hated it when he left the bed to grab us a drink, or when I left to simply shower and use the bathroom. I wanted to be wrapped in him forever. Monday came too soon.
Clay insisted he drive me to the airport, saying, “Over my dead body is Ophelia Fuller taking an Uber. She needs a limo, but since I can’t get a limo, Madeline’s Toyota will have to do.”
I kissed him for that—a sweet lingering kiss, getting a satisfied smile in return from him.
He climbed out of the car and got my bag from the trunk, wrapping his arms around my waist, lifting me slightly off the ground, giving me our last kiss until November. I closed my eyes and focused on him and only him. The weight of his arms around me, his chest pressed against mine, the way his lips felt as he kissed me. His taste. His scent.
He let go a sweet “I love you” in my ear, asking me to call him the moment I landed and then stood and watched as I turned and walked into the airport.
From there, it was a haze. I checked in and found my gate; I read as I waited to board the plane. I asked for water and a bag of peanuts. I tried my hardest to relax. The five-hour flight seemed to last forever, and when the New York skyline came into view, I felt empty and lost.
I turned my phone on the second we could and pulled up Clay’s text thread. He had sent me a few texts as I was in the air. A few photos, ones that were supposed to make me smile. Him and Niko on a walk and the bed, still unmade from our night together. I so badly wanted to be back in that bed with him.
I left the plane.
I walked out onto the street, and I hailed a cab.
When I opened the door, my heart stopped.
What the hell was I doing?
As much as I loved this city, it didn't have that same feeling. The feeling I left back in Portland was stronger than what I felt here on the sidewalk.
Could I really do this without him for four months?
Chapter Forty-Three
-Clay-
Niko bounced up as soon as I got back from dropping Ophelia off. I smiled at him and scratched behind his ear, but the house felt empty. Sure, it wasn’tourhouse, but the last couple nights it sure felt like it. A glimpse as to what was coming.
I leashed him up on his harness and took him for a long walk around the neighborhood, snapping a photo to send to Ophelia. She would get it when she landed, and hopefully, it would bring a smile to her face.
I opened my laptop and sent an email to Regina, going over the terms of a contract, and that I would be working from New York as soon as I possibly could. Her return email was instant. She was excited to start and would be setting up a meeting with her lawyer and partner to get the contract finalized, and then I would have her as an official client.
Elliot was just as easy to handle. His contract was simple and straightforward. We were already set up, and he was ready to pay in advance for the year, which I wouldn’t let him. As eager as he was to be my first client in the new adventure, as he called it, we had to follow steps.
I left the house to meet with the bank, a small business loan in the clear, and then applied for a business license.Nolan Accountingwas coming to life. Slow and steady wins the race. I had time to grow, but I was eager to see where it was going to take me.
