Somewhere behind me a camera flashed.
Olivia glanced beyond my shoulder, then her gaze drifted back to me. “Good luck on the announcement. Keep me posted.”
I leaned in and kissed her, hating that we didn’t have time to have our big state-of-the matrimonial-union talk right then. “I’ll text you every hour.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She laughed against my lips, giving me a small measure of relief.
“Fine.” I pressed my mouth to her cheek. “Every fifteen minutes, but any more than that, and I run out of quality content.”
“Go, Lachlan. Catch your plane.” Olivia gave me one last hug. “I’ll see you soon.”
“You know you’re going to miss me,” I said as I began to inch toward the check-in kiosk.
“I’ll cry in my pillow every night.”
“You can dry your tears on that bedspread you call a nightgown.”
She gave a small wave. “Goodbye, Mr. Hayes.”
“Goodbye, Mrs. Hayes.”
I made quick work of the check-in kiosk and thought I might find Olivia still standing in the lobby, waiting for one last goodbye before I took the escalator upstairs.
But when I turned around, I realized there wouldn’t be one more kiss or another chance to hug my wife.
Olivia was already gone.
ChapterForty-Five
OLIVIA
Olivia
I’m going to have to break up with you.
Lachlan
Oh, really? Why is that?
Olivia
I now have a crush on the most famous tech entrepreneur in the world.
Lachlan
Anyone I know?
Olivia
The CEO of Star Gazer Corp. just announced a new sound card that blew the industry away. The internet is aflutter, positively fanning itself and suffering hot flashes.
Lachlan
Saw that did you?
Olivia
Watched it on the TechieCon live stream. Lachlan, I’m so happy for you. You’ve worked hard for this moment.
