I can finally go home.
Which means I have to tell Lucky I’m going home. And suddenly, despite everything that is very, verywrong with the world right now, that’s the most terrifying thing imaginable.
The bedroom is empty, and I can hear the shower running, so I take advantage of the brief privacy to make a phone call to a local cab company. Only five minutes later, I’ve made arrangements with an extremely friendly middle-age-sounding man to drive me back to Austin on Friday.
That’s in only two days. And I’m sick with nerves.
Zoey and I almost never actually call each other, but I need to talk to her right now, and I need to do it in privacy.
Lucky’s still in the en suite, but he’s since shut off the shower. From the open door, the spicy scent of his cologne fills my lungs. I slip out of bed, still wearing his large, white undershirt, which I put on to sleep in last night. Crossing the room, I stand just inside the doorway to peer into the large bathroom and see him standing in front of the mirror while he buttons the navy, pinstripe vest and tucks his royal purple tie into it. He’s clean shaven with his hair meticulously combed back and styled, and a fantasy of a different life flashes in my mind’s eye.
What if this was our life?
What if I really lived here, and this was just our commonplace, everyday morning?
I can see myself fixing a coffee for him and delivering it while he dresses, him taking it from me, leaning down to steal a kiss before I get in the shower, and we just go about our day, knowing we’ll end up right back here in the evening.
I suddenly want to cry.
I’ve never seen myself in a life with anyone before, and here I am, picturing it with someone who is an impossibility.
As if perceiving my internal thoughts, Lucky catches my gaze in the reflection and smiles warmly. “Morning, sweetheart.”
It takes everything in me to not dramatically pout. I force a convincing smile instead as he steps away from the mirror to kiss my forehead. “Good morning.”
He dips his face to press a minty kiss to my mouth. “You get some coffee yet?”
I shake my head. “Just woke up.” I indulge my secret fantasy—as well as my aching heart—and wrap my arms around his waist to hug him tightly, resting my cheek against his chest.
He strokes his hands down my loose hair and presses a couple of firm kisses to the top of my head. “Everything okay? You sound funny.”
I turn my face up to look at him, thanking the good lord that my ridiculous emotions didn’t surface on the rims of my eyes. “I think I just really need that coffee.”
Lucky presses another long kiss to my mouth. “I’ll bring you some.” He strokes my hair one more time before releasing me and stepping back to the counter. He picks up one of his sterling silver cufflinks and fastens his sleeve. “You gonna shower?”
I nod and slip out of the bathroom to retrieve my phone. “I need to call Zoey really quick first.”
He grabs the other cufflink, deftly fastening it before slipping his suit jacket off a hanger. “I’ll let you get to it, and I’ll leave the coffee on the bathroom counter to wait for you.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
He slips on the jacket and drops one more kiss to the top of my head before heading toward the bedroom door. Casting one last glance at me, he winks and pulls the door closed behind him.
Once alone again, I step out onto the terrace and dial Zoey’s phone.
“Ugh,” she answers. “Why are you calling me so early?”
I squint at the sunny horizon beyond the flat-roofed buildings of the French Quarter. St. Louis Cathedral is only a handful of blocks away, and its bells are chiming the top of the hour. “It’s ten. That’s not exactly early.”
“Itisearly when we’re on quarantine time.” She yawns loudly. “What’s up?”
“I just saw that Louisiana reopened to fifty percent today. So, I called a cab company. I’m coming back on Friday.”
“Well, it’s about damn time.” She heaves a sleepy laugh. “I honestly thought you were going to stay there forever.”
I glance behind me through the glass doors to make sure the bedroom is still empty. “I’m kind of freaking out.”
She scoffs. “Why?”
