Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“I’m tired from the flight,” I tell her. “But it was so good to see you. I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Dad.”
We hug at the door, Faye lingering in the background.
She’s twisting her hair around her finger, repeatedly making me want to stalk over to her. I’d grab her hands, tell her to stop fidgeting, and focus on the kiss, our hands moving all over each other and the heat burning endlessly between us.
“See you later,” I say, turning away quickly.
I walk out of the apartment, my heart beating heavily, a deep drumbeat.
I rush out of the building and down the stairs, almost running across the street.
“It’s okay,” I mutter, my chest rising and falling quickly.
But there’s no way I can convince myself there’s anything remotely okay about this. My entire being feels twisted up, as though I walked into that apartment as one man and left another.
Leaning back, I forcibly slow my breathing.
Surely there’s a way for me to fight this…even if fighting it, even if the idea of not pursuing her makes me feel sick—physically sick in my belly, like it’s wrong to even try.
If I don’t claim her, somebody else might.
I don’t know what I’d do then. Probably lose my cool in a way I never do, in a way most people probably think my grumpy cold ass is incapable of.
My phone buzzes from my pocket. It’s Lola.
Hey Dad. Here’s Faye’s number so you can arrange the work stuff xxx
I clench my jaw as I stare at her phone number, knowing the temptation just got far more difficult to resist. But maybe this could be a good thing. I could fire her over the phone before she starts work, letting her down gently and saying there’s been a change of plan.
Maybe I should leave the city again, get away from her, try to get her out of my head.
My insides twist up even more at that thought as if snapping at me that I can’t even think about that, can’t entertain it even for a second.
I can’t leave my woman.
Thanks, I text Lola. I’ll be in touch with her soon. Love you xxx
CHAPTER FIVE
Faye
I return to the apartment at 7:00 P.M., my legs sore from walking all over the city. It’s been three days since the dinner with Felix.
I know Lola has seen him, visiting his apartment, but he hasn’t reached out to me about the job.
As I climb up the steps, my remaining resumés in my hand, I tell myself this is a good thing.
So what if I got my hopes up a little, dreaming of working with Felix Fallon?
The truth is it could easily mean the end of my friendship with Lola. I might slip up, let him see how badly I want him, let him glimpse the burning crush that feels like it’s holding me prisoner.
I’ve been able to hide my crush because I rarely see Felix, but working side by side with him…I try to tell myself it’s a good thing. But I can’t stop thinking about why.
He said he was going to give me a chance, and I made it clear I didn’t want any special favors. Maybe he hasn’t started work on this project yet.
I check my phone again. I’m not sure how many times that is today, but I’d guess somewhere between fifty and five freaking hundred.
Lola’s sitting on the couch, her laptop on her knees and her big chunky over-ear headphones on. I can hear orchestral music playing loudly, her fingers zipping across the keyboard.
We share a brief smile, and then I sit on the other chair, leaning back and letting out a yawn as I wait for her to finish.
Sleep has been difficult ever since the meal.
Whenever I close my eyes, I see him, which is fine.
Normal. I’m used to it.
But I feel him too. I remember how it felt when I gave him my phone, and our hands brushed. In the deepest parts of the night, the shivering sensation threatens to overwhelm me. It travels to other parts of me.
Last night, I was tossing and turning for hours, thoughts of Felix impossible to dislodge.
And then, if I did manage to settle down, I missed him…missed obsessing, remembering, wanting.
It’s like this gap opened inside of me, a Felix-shaped hole that makes me feel empty.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Lola says, taking off her headphones and gesturing to my resumés on the coffee table.
“I’m not living here for free,” I tell her.
“I know you don’t want that,” she replies. “But you’ve got a job with Dad.”
I smile tightly, hoping she can’t see past my exterior to the hungry-as-heck-for-Felix interior. “No offense, but I can’t wait around for him forever.”
Lola sighs. “I know you hate doing nothing. But Dad’s…I don’t know. He’s sort of flighty sometimes, I guess. He’s probably dreamed up some new project, and he’s busy obsessing about that. I bet he’ll contact you soon.”