Page 35

Goodbyes

Declan

Everything was different in the morning.

There was an awareness between us of something more.

And I couldn’t gauge how she felt about it.

She was quick with the sarcasm and teasing, which was her way, but it felt like she was trying to avoid anything that could potentially become a serious conversation. Her gaze darted all over the place instead of just settling into normal eye contact.

Evasive.

I would’ve addressed it straight-out, because I didn’t enjoy games, but there was a slight chance that she was completely normal and I was overthinking like a fucking teenager because I was way too into her, so I held off.

I had zero perspective when it came to us anymore.

So I was going to focus on the friendship. Until she brought it up, we were just pals with zero romantic interest. Because the longer I could keep her feeling relaxed by my side, the more time I had to show her she could trust me.

That what we had was genuine.

And worth exploring.

I couldn’t take her to the airport because I had a meeting I couldn’t reschedule, but it almost felt like she was relieved by that. She gave me a big friendly hug as she stood beside the car, and I didn’t like the way it felt.

“Thanks for coming, Mariano,” I said into her hair, wishing I could read her mind. “I had the best day with you, too.”

A tiny crinkle formed between her eyebrows as she nodded and said, “Same, Powell.”

And as she climbed inside the car and shut the door, I said, “Text me when you land.”

“I will.”

I didn’t like watching the car disappear out of sight, and I didn’t like the way I instantly felt emptier without her there.

As if watching from a window and knowing what was going on in my life, my phone rang. It was Roman. I answered, “Hey, what’s up?”

“I was just curious how this morning went,” he said.

When I’d told him Abi was coming, he said he was equal parts glad because he liked her and thought she was good for me, and nervous because he thought it was way too soon for us to be flying to see each other.

He was right on both counts.

And last night, when I couldn’t sleep so I spent a good hour going over potential investments with him on the phone, I let him believe that we were only interested in friendship. What was the point in talking through possibilities with anyone other than Abi?

If things changed between us, I’d let him know then.

For now, it was none of his business.

“Good,” I said, going back into the building and getting into the elevator. “She’s headed home, and I’m heading into the office. Things are back to normal.”

But as I stepped off the elevator and caught a whiff of something Abi-scented—her lotion, maybe—I hoped that wasn’t the case.