She nodded. Okay. One step at a time.
Maisie reached out and pressed her fingertips to the screen. “I miss you,” she whispered.
“I miss you too.”
They went through their schedules and Maisie’s worries were alleviated by him suggesting they create a joint calendar. It was a thrill to do something so couple-y and a reminder that she needed to chill out about him being away sometimes.
Email notifications pinged through the phone on his end. She thought he’d let her go but he started talking about finding a real estate agent in the Seattle area. He’d looked at houses!
“There’s a few by the water,” Nick told her.
“There are so many beautiful areas here.”
“But you want to live by the water, right?” he asked.
Flutters kicked up in her stomach. “Nick.”
Nick shook his head and leaned into the screen so his face was bigger. “I want to fall asleep beside you and wake up the same way. I want to come home to you, Maisie. I love you and I’m starting the next phase of my life and I want you there with me. I’m not a twenty-year-old kid who wants to spend the weekend at his girlfriend’s place. Your apartment is small and honestly, not in the greatest neighborhood.”
He listed everything like they were in a debate.
Never mind flutters, there were fireworks going off inside of her. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
Holy shit. She wanted to, obviously. But hearing him say it all, listening to him make it clear that they were a given, was a heady experience.
Putting his face so close to the screen so all she could see was his lips, he said, slowly, “Read my lips.”
Maisie laughed. All she could see was his kissable lips.
“I love you, Maisie Smart, and I want to live with you.”
When he pulled back, he was grinning. “We good?”
“Yes, dear,” she teased.
He nodded with smug satisfaction. “Perfect. I’ll send you some of the listings.”
They chatted for a few more minutes and she was proud of herself for resisting the urge to ask him to stay on the phone until she fell asleep.
She’d have the rest of forever to sleep beside him and that forever started in just a few days. She could wait that long.
Nick King was definitely worth the wait. Just a few extra days.
MAISIE WAS SURPRISEDWHENher sister asked to meet for lunch a couple of days later. Nat didn’t usually have a lot of time in her schedule during the week to meet up in the city. Hurrying into the small bistro, she saw her sister from the door. Waving as she walked, she’d shucked her damp coat by the time she reached the table. Stupid rain. Maybe she should suggest she and Nick live in California for part of the year.
“Hey,” Nat said as she stood, gave Maisie a hug. Her belly took up more space between them than just two weeks ago.
“Hey, yourself. How’s the baby?”
They both sat down and Nat picked up her water. “Active. Likes to do aerobics around three a.m. using my bladder as a springboard.”
Laughing, Maisie was about to comment when she saw her mother headed their way. Her gaze flew to her sister’s, who clearly also saw, because guilt was written all over her wry smile.
“Sorry,” she whispered right before Maisie stood to hug her mom.
“Mom. What are you doing here?”
Giving her other daughter a hug before removing her coat and sitting with them, Laura Smart waited until she was good and ready to respond.
