Page 56 of Stay With Me

He wasn’t necessarily worried about her.He could see on social media every time she checked in to her Pilates class so he knew she was fine. He was more worried about them.Because by the day that had been set apart as their anniversary, he was convinced he’d lost her forever.

It was the last straw and he knew it. For far too many months, he’d put her on the back burner while he dealt with his new project. So many missed dates, so many times he’d forgotten his obligations and promises. He’d taken her for granted, thinking he’d get back on track as soon as he took care of one last thing.But one last thing always became two things, then three things, so on and so forth.

Nevertheless, after he’d slipped on his jacket and straightened his tie, all he could think about was how he should have been donning hiking gear and taking the weekend off to celebrate their love and the gift of life he believed she’d given him three hundred sixty-five days before.

And even though he knew she wouldn’t answer, he called her again.

“Hey, Sammie,” he said to her voice-mail. “I just wanted to say happy anniversary. I’m sorry I screwed up and made it so we couldn’t celebrate today. I swear I’ll make it up to you. Please call me or something. Or text me. Anyway, I’m thinking about you. I haven’t stopped. I miss you like crazy.”

He paused briefly, realizing he must have started to sound like a broken record.

“I love you so much, Sammie. I’ll call you tomorrow before I have to go in. Have a good night.”

When he arrived at the reception, things were already in full swing.

The waitstaff, dressed in tuxedo shirts and black slacks, glided from group to group, carrying trays of bite-sized hors d’oeuvres and colorful cocktails. The space was a large oval, with tall windows that stretched across every wall, showcasing a lit-up downtown Austin on one side and the river on the other, which sparkled under the light of the moon and streetlamps from the bridges. The center housed the kitchen, the bar, the elevator, as well as a small platform where a cellist and female soloist were set up, crooning swanky arrangements of songs by legendary Austin musicians. The lighting was low and the atmosphere was sultry. Everything he’d wanted it to be.

“Hey, Andee,” he greeted the hostess on his way in. “How’s everything going so far?”

She grinned at him from behind a stand where she furiously scrawled notes on the guest list. “Like a well-oiled machine. It’s a hit. Congratulations, Nick.”

He scanned the room again. “Thanks. I’m going to go make the rounds. Text me if anything comes up.”

“You got it.”

He started to head toward the bar when Andee hollered at him. “Oh, Nick?”

He spun back around. “Yeah.”

“Your girlfriend’s here. She’s by the couches on the bridge side.”

He managed to keep his jaw from falling open. “Thanks, Andee.”

He also managed to not tear off running through the restaurant.

Instead, he smoothed his tie and adjusted his jacket as he casually waltzed his way around the room, and found Sammie, clad in a baby blue cocktail dress, legs crossed, seated in a large leather chair, staring out the window. She must have seen his reflection in the glass because as soon as he stopped behind her, preparing the right words, she glanced over her shoulder and gave him a pleasant look.

“Spectacular view.”

“One of my favorites.”

After holding his gaze for a moment, she lifted out of the chair and stood in front of him to futz with his tie.

“You look handsome,” she said quietly, and then met his gaze as she smiled. “Happy opening weekend.”

“Sammie, I’m so sorry I—”

“I know you are. I listened to all your messages.”

“I’ll make it up to—”

“Nick,” she scolded him teasingly. “It’s okay. I forgive you. You’re busy. You’re type A and ambitious and you have a time-consuming career. I know this is going to happen sometimes. We can have our hiking trip another weekend. The date isn’t important. What it represents is important. Our relationship is important and I know you know that. This is just a bump in the road, and I’m sorry I ignored you for two weeks. That was a childish response and I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Sammie, you don’t need to apolog—”

“But I did need to apologize,” she insisted. “We’re in this thing together and I need you to know I’m in it for the long haul, no matter what.”

His face seemed to melt right along with his heart and he couldn’t think of anything else to do besides kiss her and squeeze his arms around her as tight as he could without crushing her. Eventually, he managed to pull away and smile at her.