a lot of time to get used to the idea.”
“I’ll be there for you every step of the way,” I said firmly. “In whatever capacity you need me.”
A twinkle came into her eyes when I said it, but before I could clarify—or ask her which capacity she’d prefer—Rick turned away from the conversation he’d been having with one of the guys I’d introduced him to yesterday.
So I had to put some proper space between us.
Again.
It had been less that forty-eight hours since Leah James had crashed back into my life, but I was already excited to get to spend more time with her. Alone. When we wouldn’t have to keep hiding the way we seemed to just get drawn closer to one another all the damn time.
Leah James. Fuck. I never would’ve seen this one coming.
Chapter 7
LEAH
The days between getting home from Austin and my flight to New York passed in a blur. True to his word, Dane sent the contract over on the same day I’d agreed to be the face of their new campaign.
Rick had arranged for his attorney to look it over first thing on Monday morning, and when the man had given it his stamp of approval, I’d signed it and sent it back. On the same day, my mom had come over to help me start packing.
She and my father had been as surprised by this development as I had been, but they remembered Dane well and had agreed with Rick that it was too good of an opportunity to have it pass me by. Since the apartment I rented belonged to my parents, they’d agreed to let me sublease it for the year I’d be gone.
I’d put out feelers on social media, and by the next morning, a girl who used to go to school with me had taken it. She was moving in this weekend. Everything was happening at warp speed, and before I knew it, it was the day before I was leaving.
Positively reeling, I frowned at Rick when I opened my door to find him standing outside it. “Have you got time for a farewell lunch? I know you’re still packing, but we can make it quick. I’ll even help you move that stuff that’s going to Mom and Dad’s over there later.”
“In that case, you’ve got yourself a deal,” I said, grabbing my wallet and keys and stuffing them in my pocket.
There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that I looked like someone who had been packing all morning. My hair was in a tangled bun on top of my head, my clothes were full of dust, and a layer of sweat covered my skin, but I didn’t have to be perfect today. Not yet. I only had to be me—until tomorrow.
Rick glanced at me when I climbed into his truck beside him. “You’re exceptionally quiet. Are you nervous?”
I blew out a breath, facing the window to watch the familiar scenery rolling by as we drove down the street I’d lived on since moving out of my parents’ house just a few blocks over.
“Nervous. Apprehensive.” I sighed, letting my head hit the backrest as I turned to face him. “I’m excited too, but it’s a really big day tomorrow. I’ve never even been to New York and now I’m moving there? You can’t tell me that it doesn’t sound insane.”
“All the best things are just a little bit insane, though. Aren’t they?” he said. “You’re going to be fine, Leah. Change is scary, but growth isn’t possible without it.”
“Did you swallow a couple of fortune cookie papers before you came to get me?” I asked. “You’re really philosophical today.”
“It’s called being supportive,” he said, flicking on his turn signal when we came to an intersection. “I know this came out of the blue, but it can be a really good thing for you. Plus, you won’t be out there alone. You’ll be with Dane. Most people who move don’t have the luxury of having known one of the senior managers in the company since he was a kid. He’ll take care of you.”
“You have a lot of faith in the guy for not having seen much of him for more than a decade,” I said. “I’d have thought the two of you would’ve tried to spend some time together when he was here last weekend.”
“We talked about it,” he said. “The timing just wasn’t right. They’re under a lot of pressure to get this campaign rolling and his boss