I did it to protect his. He liked her, he must’ve or he wouldn’t have looked so gutted when he found out she left. It was a personal moment, no matter who it was with. I couldn’t take it away from him.”
Her face falls as she realizes the fucked up situation I was in.
I did what I could to protect Ben, and to keep myself from losing him in the one way I could have him.
I take the postcard and head to my room.
Inside, I sit at my desk to study the glossy photo before reaching for a sheet of paper from my desk.
But instead of writing, my pen hovers just above the surface.
Normally, I have no trouble letting the words flow.
Sometimes, they're kind things. I miss you. It looks beautiful where you are.
Other days, they’re questions. Why did you leave? Why is it better there than here?
Today, they're a storm in my head.
You're halfway around the world, but you're still here in my life.
Still a pain in my ass.
Still making me question whether I'm enough.
I know Ben has feelings for me, and I can let go of the fact that he cared about my sister first. I have to if I want to be with him. And part of that is telling the truth.
"You write back, but you never send it."
I turn to see Lil sink onto my bed and squeeze a pillow to her chest.
"Maybe this time I will."
25
“Ben.”
I pull up on the sidewalk outside my office building at the sound of my name, turning to see a semi-familiar face.
“Yves,” the guy who’s my height and a few years older fills in. “I head up the healthcare company you were looking at.”
Holt's recommendation. The pieces click into place as I extend a hand he takes.
“It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out,” I tell him. “You know business.”
He nods, squinting into the sun. “I’d appreciate your feedback on why. Maybe we can retool.”
It didn’t work out because Holt brought you in.
A month ago, that would’ve been enough reason.
I reach into my pocket. My phone says I need to be in the office now, checking the tech news and my email and preparing for the day.
But I can’t resist offering him something first.
“The proposal focused on physiological conditions but didn’t talk about how you’ll integrate with the mental healthcare system. If you’re looking for widespread adoption, and even before that, funding, it’s something you need to figure out.”
I give him a few more notes.
“This is a lot to think about,” he says at last.
“I understand.” I reach into my pocket for a card. “If you’d like to talk more you can give me a call. We’ll get a drink.”
“Thank you,” he says. “I’d appreciate that.”
I head the rest of the way into the office, still impressed by his openness.
“You ready for the gala tonight?” one of our junior associates says from the doorway when I get into my office. “We’ll be cheering for you. Oh, and you have an emergency meeting in five minutes with the partners.”
“They’ll wait for me to grab a coffee first. It’ll work out better for everyone if I do,” I say dryly.
If I’m in a good mood, it’s because I’m still remembering the best weekend ever, and it hardly involved leaving my apartment at all.
Tonight I’ll show Xavier I’m in love and in control.
Only the in love part doesn’t sound so crazy after all.
Things with Daisy don’t feel complicated. They feel right.
We’ve barely seen one another in the days since she left my place Monday morning since we’ve both been slammed with work, but we’ve talked and texted.
Wednesday, I sent donuts to her office.
Yesterday, she video called me at lunch from the private bathroom at work and let me tell her exactly what to do to get her off while I stroked my cock until I came on the couch in my office, the door locked.
I don’t want this thing between us to end. I hate the thought of losing her—not only to another guy, but spending nights alone. Waking up without her next to me.
I don’t know how I did it for so long.
When I get to the meeting, coffee in hand, Holt and Xavier are lined up on the other side of the conference table.
“Is this a congratulatory meeting?” I joke. “Is there cake?”
Holt leans over the table, placing two fists on the surface. “I take it you haven’t read the news. The lawsuit against your little tech darling for stealing IP has been