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Esme
“Earth to Ezzy.Are you even paying attention to what you’re doing?”
I blink, snapping my eyes up.Harriet and Marius sit on the other side of her kitchen island, where I’m currently making a sauce to accompany the duck I’d prepared for our monthly dinner party.
Although, it appears I’m actuallyburningthe sauce instead.
To say I’ve been distracted lately is putting it mildly.I thought I’d be happy now that Creed’s retirement is less than two weeks away.But lately, he’s been…aloof.Distant.
I know he’s had bigger issues to concern himself with, like the added publicity of my brother’s engagement, which has required Creed to not only provide Nora with her own protection team but to amp up Anderson’s detail.
Regardless, I can’t help but feel like something’s different.That he’s purposefully avoiding me.
“Shite,” I curse under my breath, taking the nearly scorched saucepan off the burner and dumping out the contents, hurriedly collecting the ingredients to make a new sauce.
“Someone’s distracted today,” Marius remarks.
“There’s just a lot going on,” I lie, taking a large sip from my glass, the red wine warming me as it travels to my stomach.“Between all the craziness with Anderson and the referendum, I have a lot on my mind.”
“And you’re sure that’s the only thing on your mind?”Harriet waggles her brows, pinching her lips into a knowing smirk.
“I… Well, of course.What else would I be thinking about?”
“I don’t know…” Marius leans back in his barstool, crossing a leg over his thigh.“Maybe a certain member of the royal guard’s upcoming retirement.”
“I guess.”I shrug.
Earlier in the summer, I would have been thrilled that Creed would be retiring in just a few more weeks.Now I’m no longer certain about him.
I’m no longer certain aboutus.
Marius straightens.“Youarestill planning to be together, right?”
I feverishly whisk the bubbling red wine in the saucepan, not wanting to burn it yet again.Once it’s reduced, I add in the broth and seasonings, then turn the heat down to a simmer.
“Ezzy?”Harriet presses when I don’t respond.
Placing the whisk on the resting spoon, I wipe my hands on a nearby dishtowel.“I think we are.”
“But you don’t know?”
“It’s just… He’s been distant lately.”I hold up a hand to cut them off, already sensing their argument.“I know he’s been busy.That he’s had double or triple the work to do with the announcement of Anderson’s engagement.”I take a long sip of my wine.“But it’s almost like he’s been avoiding me ever since…”
“Since what?”
I part my lips, unsure where to even begin.There’s so much I haven’t told them.Not because I don’t trust them.We just haven’t had time to catch up like we once did.
“Since we spent a week together in the Hamptons.”
Their eyes widen.“The Hamptons?”
“Anderson wanted to give Creed a retirement gift.”
“And that gift was you?”Marius remarks.
“It was.Although, I definitely benefited from it, too.”My cheeks heat from the memories of that week.Waking up in Creed’s arms.Making love first thing in the morning.
Being able to kiss him anytime I want.
