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“Emma, baby, it’s okay. What’s going on with your job?” He held me close.
I sniffled. His arms tightened. It made me feel safer, and I took a deep breath. “Justin offered me the regional manager position. It’s a huge promotion.”
“And?”
“And it’s based in Portland!” How did he not see what a big problem that was?
“And?”
Did I have to spell it out for him? “And I can’t do that to you. I can’t do what your ex did and leave you for my career. It’s not fair to you! But I can’t turn down a job I’ve worked so hard for. I don’t know what to do!”
Drew buried his face in my hair. “Oh, baby. It’s okay. We’re going to figure it out. I promise. It’ll be okay.”
I drew in a shuddering breath. “How can it be okay?”
Drew moved back and pulled on my shoulder to roll towards him. “Let’s talk, little one. You got offered a promotion? To regional manager?”
I sniffed, nodding.
“That’s amazing, baby! I’m so proud of you.” He gave me a squeeze. “And you’d have to move to Portland?”
I nodded again.
“Portland, Oregon or Portland, Maine?”
Now that he pointed it out, it could be worse. Maine was much farther away. “Oregon.”
“That’s an amazing city, baby. This is an amazing opportunity for you.”
I was supposed to be happy, wasn’t I? Drew was happy for me. But I felt the tears welling up again.
Drew’s eyebrows knit together in concern. “What’s wrong?”
I looked at him through my watery eyes. “You want me to leave?”
Drew laughed, pulling me even closer. “Oh, kitten, not at all. I want to be with you for a very long time, even when you’re a little crazy and don’t tell me things.”
My voice was muffled against his chest. “But how can we be together if you’re here and I’m in Portland? You told me your ex left for work and that’s why things ended.”
Drew pulled back. “Baby, she and I broke up for a lot of reasons. The job and the distance were only one piece. I could do long-distance for you. But I’m not going to.”
“You won’t?”
He shook his head, smiling. “I’m coming with you, baby. When are we looking at places in Portland?”
“But…your job. You live here.” I thought for a moment. “Isthis your only job? How does that work?”
Drew’s laugh vibrated through me. “Well, it turns out Seth wants the manager gig and the apartment here back. I figured I could move into one of the places I own. I have a bunch all around Denver that I rent out. I inherited some money from my grandfather when I was 25 and used it to buy up some real estate. The rental income is enough to live off. But if we’re moving to Portland, I won’t need to kick out a tenant.”
I stared at him. Was it really that easy? “You…what? Who will be the lead trainer?”
Drew lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Cody’s getting an audition tonight. I bet he’ll nail it. But a regional manager must travel, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, Justin said he travels like two weeks a month.”
“So, maybe some of those travels can bring us to Denver to visit Blackstone and our friends. Portland’s less than a three-hour flight away. I can work from anywhere since I have a company that manages everything else.”
My head was spinning. This was not at all how I’d seen this conversation playing out. It was better. “So…you’re not upset?”
