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“Hey there,” I said when I came through the door. Oscar bounded toward me, followed by Lachlan, who pulled me into a hug. And there it was, the smell I’d missed that was more potent than the hoodie I’d slept in. Earthy, like fresh rain on the sidewalk.
Oscar shoved his nose in the middle of our embrace and whined.
I laughed as I drew back and crouched down to properly greet him. “I missed you. Both of you.”
“We missed you too,” Lachlan replied, and heat filled my stomach.
I stood and reached for my luggage. “Let me put my things away.”
“You hungry? Didn’t know if you ate before your flight.”
“I’m starving. Should we go get something?”
“You want to go out? You haven’t used up your spoons this weekend?”
I felt a stitch in my chest that he remembered the correct phrasing. “I have, definitely. But I also want some fresh air and to stretch my legs after being cramped in that plane.”
I rolled my suitcase to my room, and noting he’d made up the bed, I had the sudden urge to cocoon myself in those sheets. But I pushed on, freshening up in the bathroom. When I came out, he was standing by the door with his sneakers on. I smiled at how bright white they looked. All those little things that made Lachlan him.
Unable to resist, I pulled him into a hug and buried my face in his neck.
“Hey, you all right?” His arms encircled me. “We don’t have to go out. I can make something here.”
“No, I want to. Just needed to be close to you and breathe in your scent.” I drew back, pecked his lips, and noticed the wonder in his eyes. Likely, he was feeling the same way—was this real? “I also want to hear all about your second interview.”
We talked on the way to get food, and it felt good to inhale fresh air. I told him about my boring conference, and he recounted his job interview at the barbershop.
“Carlos made me feel comfortable,” he said, flushing, and I could tell he was more interested in this job than he was in the other. I hoped he got what he wanted, even if it meant him moving on.
The idea still sank like a lead balloon in my stomach. I pushed through the feeling. “Did he ask about the time gap in your résumé?”
“He did, and I…told him the truth.” He worried his lip between his teeth as if second-guessing that decision. “But it seemed like he totally got it—got me.”
“I’m glad.” I thumped his shoulder. “I can tell you really want it.”
“Well, yeah. But if not, I’m grateful he gave me the space to be myself. I think I might be honest in interviews from now on.”
I kissed his cheek. “Sounds like a good plan no matter what.”
I pulled open the door to the sandwich shop, and we found a window seat, ordered food, and continued listing the pros and cons of each interview and how he felt about the manager of the Rocky River salon knowing his ex-friend.
“Just shows what a small world it can be sometimes…” I mused. “Do you think she’ll contact her?”
“Definitely. No way I’ll be offered that job.”
“I don’t get it.” I picked at my straw. “How could Marcie really know you and doubt what’s truly in your heart?”
He hitched a shoulder. “She was Clint’s friend first, and like I said, he could be pretty charming and convincing. I mean, I certainly was hoodwinked.”
I frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“Is what it is.” He cleared his throat as if to force the raw emotion away. “Now tell me more about your weekend.”
So I did while we finished our meals. It always amazed me how natural it felt with him. How we could be doing literally anything or nothing at all and still talk and laugh and be comfortable.
When he saw a man rooting through the garbage can outside, he grew quiet. He didn’t mention it and neither did I, but it was as if he had reminders all around him of how hard life could be.
By the time we got back home, I was beat, but I didn’t regret my decision to go out. I retreated to the couch with Oscar, and we did our own thing in comfortable silence, Lachlan reading in the chair and me watching mindless television because reading words on a page seemed like a feat right then.
Eventually he joined us, encouraging me to rest my head on his lap while he brushed his fingers through my hair. God, I could’ve stayed like that forever.
When I looked up at him, his eyes softened, and I remembered that quote again about looking up at the stars, which made me feel strangely emotional.
“Hey, what is it?” I said when I spotted wariness in his gaze.
