I laughed. “Next time.”
Surprise flashed across his face before he schooled it into a simple grin. “Next time.”
“I made coffee.”
“What else did you do this morning?”
“Work. I’m figuring out my article about the wedding. I am exposing Natalie as the woman in that picture from two years ago with Omar.”
“Wait, what? Why are you doing that?”
“Natalie told me to. My editor wants dirt, and Natalie said I should write about it. They explained what happened and how that night started their relationship. We thought it would be a good bookend to their story. The ugly beginning and the beautiful end of their romance.”
“That’s poetic.”
I laughed. “Yeah. I thought the same thing. I need to turn it in tomorrow, but I have to get Mikayla sometime this morning, so I was getting stuff done while you were sleeping.”
“What time do you need me to take you home?”
I shrugged, not wanting to go but knowing I needed to. “Probably soon. If that’s okay.”
“Of course. Whatever works for you. I’ll get a cup of coffee and get dressed.”
“You could hold off on that second part for a little longer.” I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Why, Ms. White, are you propositioning me?”
“Only if you say yes.”
“Always, Casey. I’m always going to say yes to you.”
I grinned, then whooped when he scooped me up and carried me to his bed.
Everything else could wait.
I submitted my article as soon as Mikayla was on the bus Monday morning. When I arrived for the morning meeting, Gretchen said she’d received it and would be in touch after she read it.
I was not looking forward to her feedback. I was proud of the article. It was good. It told Natalie and Omar’s whole story and wrapped up their wedding series. I sent a copy to Natalie, but I hoped she was enjoying her honeymoon too much to read it. For my own peace of mind, I also sent it to Amelia and Daisy, knowing Natalie’s boss and best friend would be looking out for Natalie’s best interests while she was enjoying her new married life.
The meeting wasn’t long, but I had a house to clean afterward and no time to see Landon for lunch. With Mikayla’s musical rehearsal, I picked up a second house for the day, making my day even tighter.
When I was finished with both, I had less than thirty minutes before I needed to pick Mikayla up. I debated going to see Landon or stopping at the grocery store, but I had no groceries in my house, so that option won out even though I really wanted to see Landon.
I grabbed a small cart and made my way through the aisles, looking for quick options since our evenings were busier as the musical drew closer. Rehearsals were going to be longer, and Mikayla would be starving. I picked out a few extra school-approved, allergy-friendly snacks she could pack to take with her, and a few easy dinner options I could make ahead of time and we could have for a few days.
I was almost to the end of my trip when I spotted the one woman I did not want to run into. Ever.
Reegan.
“Hi Casey. How are you?” she asked with a tentative smile.
Freshly fucked and feeling fantastic thanks to your ex. And by the way, why in the hell were you crazy enough to let him go? Thanks, but what were you thinking?
“I’m… I’m good, Reegan. How are you?”
“Good. I, um, it looked like you and Landon were having fun at the wedding.”
Shit. My stomach knotted again. It was supposed to be casual. We were flirting, not falling in love. I couldn’t help how I felt, but it was wrong of me to stand in the way of two people who were supposed to be together.
