“Good morning, gorgeous.”
The purr sent shivers up and down my spine. Not only because it came from David, but because he was here, in my bed. Like he belonged there all along. That it wasn’t some weird or taboo thing he’d ended up there when he shouldn’t have been.
I melted into his touch, sinking further back into his embrace as we lay there under the covers. I wanted to live in this moment and treasure it.
“Morning,” I mumbled back. David’s arm around me tightened, and I wanted to just sink into the moment, but I also needed to know what time it was. It was a workday. Most days, I got away without an alarm of any kind, but there had been a lotof alcohol involved last night, and I wasn’t in the mood to take chances after finally impressing the boss.
When I opened my eyes, six thirty blinked at me on my alarm clock. At least my internal alarm worked even when I had been drinking too much. We still had an hour until I absolutely needed to get ready for work.
“What are your plans for the day?” I asked as I stretched. My head throbbed a little, but it wasn’t enough to make me miserable.
David held me a bit tighter. “I figured I would still join you at the office.”
I hummed at his words, debating how to respond to that. It wasn’t like he really needed to be there. We’d basically finalized everything yesterday, outside of a few odds and ends. Hell, there hadn’t even been a reason for him to relocate to Chicago for any amount of time outside of keeping an eye on things if it took me longer. Which it didn’t. Maybe that was one reason that Mr. Thomas had been so worried.
“You don’t need to.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, and I didn’t miss the way the man at my back completely tensed up at the statement.
“What if I just want to be there with you?”
I sighed. “I’d love that, but after such a big win yesterday, do we really want to give Mr. Thomas a reason to be more suspicious about what’s going on with you and me?”
It took a few seconds, but David finally relented. His hold on me relaxed as he then rolled away. “Maybe you’re right. But don’t get used to it. I sort of like being around you, and if that’s a problem, you might want to speak up now.”
I laughed at the statement before sitting up in bed and turning to face him. “It’s not a problem, but maybe while we’re trying to keep things on the down low, it might be a good idea to give each other a little space.”
God, David looked good first thing in the morning. His dirty-blond hair stuck up at odd angles, and while it might have appeared messy to most, I liked seeing that vulnerable side of him.
Chapter 32
David
Ifelt a little strange hanging out in Malcolm’s apartment while he was absent. It still hadn’t sat well with me when he’d asked me to stay behind, but I understood where he was coming from. Hell, I’d never been that clingy with anyone in my life, so to start doing that with him was unusual.
My phone went off with a text message. I’d left it charging in the bedroom, and I got up from my spot on the couch to go see who it was. My eyes rolled as my sister once again pestered me. I shouldn’t have been all that surprised. Since the day we’d left Malcolm’s parents’ house, I hadn’t bothered to message her.
Audrey: You’re still alive, right? Mom lost it when she finally realized you really weren’t coming home for the holiday, btw.
I laughed. It was funny to think that my mother was all that upset when she hadn’t bothered to reach out herself. Audrey had to sit through whatever tantrum she’d thrown, however. I felt bad about that.
Instead of answering through text, I did the unthinkable and pressed the call button. There were times when it was easier to talk things out than it was to type them.
“You called?” Audrey sounded annoyed as she answered.
“Aww, does my baby sister not want to hear the sound of my voice?”
She huffed out a laugh. “It’s not that. Who calls anymore? I mean, really, David.”
We were both laughing then, but I pressed forward. “She was actually upset?”
Audrey calmed down enough to answer the question. “Yes, surprisingly. Right after you texted that you’d spent Thanksgiving at his parents’ place, Mom sort of realized you weren’t there. God only knows why she didn’t notice how you were missing from the table the day before. Then again, you know her. She’d filled up on a little too much wine. The turkey was like leather again this year.”
I rubbed at my temples. It wasn’t surprising to hear that Mom had been too drunk to notice, and maybe that was why she hadn’t reached out herself. Year after year, it was the same thing. Maybe both Audrey and I needed to make a better effort to separate ourselves from the toxicity of it all. Just because your parents birthed you and raised you, didn’t mean you were obligated to be in their lives forever. Especially when they caused so much chaos.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there, Aud. You know that I would have—”
“Don’t you dare. I’m happy for you. I’ve been begging you for years to settle down, and sure, I tease you a lot, but I’m happy you finally found someone to put in an effort with. Is he finally coming around, by the way?”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I think so. We’ve had a great couple of days. He went to the office without metoday, and after spending so much time together, it sort of feels like part of me is missing.”
