little better the betrayal she felt all those years ago. I started the car and jumped when Nora knocked on my window. She had her phone to her ear. I heard her side of the conversation through the window.
“Hey, Alima. Yeah. I’m good...the estate sale was a bust...Yeah, it was a bunch of junk...How are you? How’s work?” Nora laughed. “He’s always been a dick...Sophie?”
I met Nora’s gaze. “She’s good. A few times, yeah...that’s what I’m calling about...I wanted to do this in person...Yes, it’s a Dear John call...I know...you might be right...I’m willing to take that risk...” I turned the car off. “She’s my soul mate, Alima. I can’t change that. I don’t want to.” Nora turned away and dropped her voice. “I know, and I love you, too. I always will. You’ve given me so much, three wonderful years. You’ll find someone else...What?...You’re kidding...” Nora turned toward me again, brows furrowed now. “You never told him why you were leaving. Wow, well, hedging bets seems to be going around...I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Probably next week sometime. I’ll bring the ring...Right. Okay. Take care.”
Nora opened my car door and stepped into the gap. “You were really going to let me go.”
“Here I thought you were letting me go.”
“Not on your fucking life. You’re who’s best for me, Sophia Elizabeth.”
“I have a lot of baggage.”
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Probably not.”
“Well, surprise. I have a lot of baggage, too.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“Call the office and tell them you have a migraine.”
“Sheila will think I’ve started drinking again.” Nora leaned across me and unbuckled my seat belt.
“Tell her you’re about to have mind-blowing makeup sex with your girlfriend.” She took my hand and helped me out of the car.
“That wasn’t a fight.”
“I know. See all of the progress we’re making? Get in.” She nodded toward the bed of the truck.
“So we can have fake makeup sex?”
“No, so I can make you forget everything and everyone but me and you for the next hour.”
“An hour? That sounds promising. I suppose I do need to text Sheila.” I did and tossed my phone in the cab of the truck.
She was very bossy, telling me where to lie down before she straddled my lap and took my face in her hands. Her thumbs traced my bottom lip. Her voice was intimate. “Sophie, I meant what I said. You’re my soul mate. You have no reason to be worried about me going back to DC, or to be jealous of any woman or man. I plan on coming back at least once a month, for long weekends. To be with you, and to help out with Emmadean.”
“Once a month?”
“If not more. And you can visit me in DC, too. I have lots of time accrued, and I’ve never asked off. It won’t be a problem.”
“Unless there’s a terrorist attack.”
“That’s what I work to stop. That’s why I can’t quit.”
“Christ, I guess I can’t compete with the safety of our nation.”
“Sophie...”
“No, I get it now. I can’t expect you to give that up. It would have been nice for you to tell me sooner, so I don’t sound like such a belligerent, selfish bitch.”
“You’re not belligerent.” She tried to hide her smile.
I pinched her side. “Hey. Watch it.”
We kissed again, long and slow.
“All that’s important right now is figuring out how we can spend every waking moment together,” I said. “The thought of going back to work, of being away from you, fills me with dread.” I kissed her left breast. “The thought of having to sit across from Charlie and eat the dinner you bought for us makes me want to vomit.” I kissed her right breast. “When I’m not with you, I’m miserable. Almost as miserable as I was for eighteen years without you.”
She grasped my face gently and raised it, so our eyes met. “I hate the thought of being so far away from you, too,” Nora said. “You’re doing what’s right for Logan, and I respect that. Me going back and forth isn’t the best solution, and if you’ve got a better one that solves our problems, I’m all ears.”
The thing was, I didn’t. Having Nora home once a month was probably the best I would get for the next year.
“Hey. A year isn’t so long, and think of the reward at the end. Us. Together. Forever. That’s what this is about, right? Because that’s what I’m planning. If you’re not, you better say so