Page 59 of Je T'aime, Actually

“True. Will Kitty forgive me?”

“In time. Especially once she realises you live somewhere cool and can be visited.” She took Monroe’s hand. “Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best for you, and this feels like one of those times.”

forty-seven

Just seeing Chloé’s face as she walked through the doors was enough to lift Monroe from her exhaustion.

She’d been working extra hours during the week again, packing in as much as possible just so she could leave on a Friday and not return until late Sunday. Sometimes she didn’t sleep until after midnight. Once, she’d met the sunrise. It wasn’t something she was used to, or enjoyed, but it was necessary.

Chloé was working all hours too, so Monroe neither could nor would complain.

“Bébé,” Chloé said softly, closing the space between them. She took the small suitcase with one hand and pulled Monroe close with the other. “I have missed you.”

“God, me too,” Monroe said, her smile slow and soft. “You’re a sight for tired eyes.”

Chloé reached for her hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, then turned towards the car. “Then let’s get home, have some food, and then…bed.”

A small shiver danced down Monroe’s spine. “Bed sounds…delightful.”

“Good.”

They walked steadily to the car; each wrapped in their own thoughts. The need to constantly speak to fill the silence had faded weeks ago.

But as they both got into the car, Chloé’s expression shifted—serious now, guarded by something she didn’t want to admit.

“I hate that I have to say this,” she began, starting the engine, “but…tomorrow, I need to work. There is so much…so much going on. I can’t just skip out.”

Monroe leant across the console, cupping her cheek. “It’s fine. Actually…I was going to talk to you about this tomorrow, but since you’ll be busy, I’ll say it now.”

Chloé frowned. “Nothing is wrong?”

Shaking her head, Monroe smiled gently. “No, nothing like that. I just wanted to run something past you—something important. WithLa Fée du Livregoing through this huge restructure, and you needing to be more hands-on…and I’m working all hours just to make sure I can fly in on a Friday every week, and it’s costing us both a fortune…the flights alone are pricey, with baggage costs and taxi’s…it’s all just—”

“It’s not ideal. I’m sorry.”

Monroe let out a slow breath, her fingers moved to tighten just slightly around Chloé’s. “No, it’s not. And that’s why I was going to suggest…doing something else. Something different.”

Chloé’s eyes widened. She turned in her seat to face Monroe more fully, her voice already trembling, “So…you’re breaking up with me?”

“What? No. Chloé—no, absolutely not.” Monroe’s heart lurched. “God, no. That’s not what this is.”

Chloé blinked quickly, trying to rein in the flood rising behind her eyes. “Then…what else could it be?” she whispered.

“I’ll move here,” Monroe said, steady and sure now. “For a trial run. I’ll talk to my boss and get approval to work from home more permanently. I might need to fly back now and then for a meeting, but…I want to be here. With you.”

Chloé stared at her, lips parted slightly, as if trying to grasp the shape of this new possibility.

“You want to live here…with me?” she asked.

Monroe nodded. “If you want me to.”

Chloé didn’t answer right away, but the way she reached out, pulled Monroe into a tight, wordless hug, said everything.

“I do,” Chloé whispered into Monroe’s hair. “God, I do.”

“Really?” Monroe asked, breath catching.

Their lips met in a kiss that was anything but uncertain, full of need and urgency; a sudden heat between them neither had dared fully give voice to until now.