Page 52

Parking my suitcase at the door, I return to the bed and lean down to kiss her one more time. Natalie’s eyes slowly open, and the heat from her hand warms the back of my neck. “Don’t leave me.”

Closing my eyes, I push down the will to stay, knowing I have to go. She pulls me close and kisses my head. When I don’t say anything . . . I can’t. She says, “I’ll see you soon. Whether on video or in person, we’ll be together.”

Three little words come to mind, though I know it’s too soon for that. I don’t even know why they’re coursing through me other than I wish I could lie down with her and stay. “Adulting sucks.”

She giggles while quietly rolling onto her back to look into my eyes. “It does, but being your girlfriend doesn’t.” She lifts up to steal a kiss. When she drops back down to the mattress, her hair splays over the pillow. I reach over to the nightstand and pick up the tiara she wore last night when we were out and during the second round of sex. I set it on her head, feeling like it fits her. She smiles, and my heart momentarily stops just looking at her. She’s a goddess, my muse, the prettiest girl I ever did see. She says, “I’m going to miss you.”

“I won’t allow enough time to pass to let you.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” This time, I kiss her and then push off the bed.

But she grabs my hand before I get out of her reach and pulls me back to her. She takes her phone from the nightstand, and says, “Come here.” I lean down and kiss her. She takes a photo, and then says, “Say fries.”

I laugh but do as I’m told. “Fries.”

Typing quickly, she then drops the phone to the bed. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and see the photo. She adds, “Now you have something to remember me by.”

I could stare at this photo all day, but when I’m with her, I’d rather look at her. Nodding, I stand, knowing I’ve run out of time. “See you around, New York.” Grabbing hold of my suitcase, I open the door and look back.

She rests up on her elbows. “See you soon, Mr. Smug and Sexy.”

The door closes behind me, and I walk down the hall with a stupid grin on my face.

* * *

“I have a girlfriend.”

My brother never looks up from the phone in his hands. “That’s great, but did you get the contracts?”

“Asshole.”

“What’s this about a girlfriend?” The sing-song voice has me turning on the barstool to find my mother smiling like a cat who ate the canary and can’t be bothered to hide the evidence. She rubs my shoulders and gives me a squeezing hug before moving to the other side of the island. “Tell me everything about New York and start with the girlfriend.”

“What?” Andrew asks, looking up from the screen. “You have a girlfriend?”

Rolling my eyes reminds me of Natalie and how cute she is when she does it. “You never listen, man.”

“I listen when it matters. Your extracurricular activities generally don’t interest me, but I have to admit that I’m surprised to hear this news, considering I didn’t think you were dating.”

My mom may not be saying anything, but she’s all ears with her expression leaning more toward all-knowing. “Which planet was in what house?”

She kicks her foot behind her and rests her elbows on the quartz countertop. Conspiratorially, she replies, “I didn’t want to say anything because, you know, changing fate can have a negative domino effect. But the new moon was in your fifth house and that means all kinds of good things are happening for you, Nicholas. It was the best time to take a trip. How did the meeting go?”

“I think we’re getting the deal.”

She smiles, her pride in me reflected in her eyes. “I knew you could do it. In business, the guides of the new moon work well for feedback. It was your time to shine.”

Andrew chuckles and goes around to the other side of the island. Wrapping his arm around her, he says, “I used to think you were weird.”

She asks, “And now?”

He kisses her head. “Now I know you are, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If some spiritual or astrological current is guiding us to closing this deal, then I’m all for it.”

Pushing him away playfully, she turns back to me. “Your brother is too far gone to save, so I’m going to focus on you.”

“Oh yay,” I tease.