“I got a call back!” I yell excitedly into the phone.

“What?” Black says, clearly startled.

“Amour Fou,” called! The guy they hired didn’t work out. They want me to come in and cook tomorrow! Isn’t that great?”

“Yeah, it’s good, sweetheart.”

“Well don’t sound so excited,” I complain.

“I am… it’s just…”

“Black?” I ask, hearing something in his voice that makes me nervous.

“We haven’t really discussed it, Addie.”

“Discussed what?”

“I should have realized that it’s what you wanted. For some reason I just didn’t,” he says and I’m more confused than ever.

“Maybe you could explain to me what I want? Because, sweetheart you have me confused as heck.”

“To leave Mason and move back to the city,” he says and I get this funny feeling in my stomach.

It sounds silly, but I haven’t really thought of it in those terms before. I’ve grown to love Mason. Heck, now that Black is there I even love living in the apartment. I love being close to his family and my dad. It feels like home and I haven’t had a home in a long time. Still, I want to be a chef. I love being in a kitchen and feeling the accomplishment of giving people food they might not have tried before. I don’t want to give that up. I have a dream that someday I will own a restaurant. I don’t want to let go of that dream.

“Addie? Are you there, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, I’m just thinking. I guess we have a lot to talk over.”

“Probably.”

“Black? Is it a deal breaker if I do?”

“Deal breaker?”

“I mean, you’re happy in Mason and your family is here. You have a job you love. I would understand—”

“Addie I’m not going anywhere,” he says quietly.

“But—”

“I love you, Addie. I’m in this for the long haul, not for a month or two. If you get a job you love in the city, then we’ll adapt.”

“You mean commute?”

“Maybe at first, at least until I can find a job and move there to be with you.”

“I don’t want to be apart from you,” I tell him. Even the thought of that idea makes me hurt.

“I don’t want that either, Princess. At all.”

“Damn,” I whisper, because I’m completely at a loss.

“We don’t have to decide all this at once, Addie. We have time. As long as we’re together in our decisions, it will be okay,” he says, making me smile.

“You’re a smart man.”

“I’m getting there,” he cracks. “It’s taken a while. We have dinner with your dad tomorrow night. We’ll turn it into a celebration. I’m proud of you, Addie.”

“You’re starting to sound like my dad,” I grin.

“He’s growing on me. I’m still not happy with the way Tina was treated, but knowing your father was on the board and voted against the foreclosure helps a little. I thought he called the shots back then.”

“Good. Now for the reason I called,” I tell him, almost forgetting with everything else we’ve been talking about. “I’ve got to run by Petal’s and then I’ll meet you back home. I just didn’t want you to get worried when I wasn’t there.”

“Why are you going by Petal’s? You know I don’t like you going places alone,” Black grumbles.

“Listen, I doubt very seriously it’s Linda causing all these problems, but if it is I can take care of myself you know. I lived overseas on my own without a problem.”

“Addie, Linda can be psychotic. She’s toxic. Don’t underestimate her. What if I take off work early and drive you to Petal’s?”

“What if you relax, a little. Petal told me to come over around six. She’s closing up around four to have dinner with her family, but she’s going to meet me there and she’s going to color my hair and give me a fresh cut to doll me up for when I go to Amour Fou next week.”

“Addie—”

“Will you relax? I’ll be fine.”

“You better check in and doors locked on the shop and your car.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And park in front of the shop where you guys can see your car at all times.”

“Oh Lord.”

“I’ll talk to Luka about having a squad car patrol through there after six too.”

“Black—”

“Got to go, Addie. I’m going to call and arrange that now. Be safe, I love you,” he says and before I can even respond he hangs up.

I stare at the phone for a minute, but I do it smiling. He can be annoying, but it feels good knowing he cares about me and worries.

Now, if I just knew how to stay in Mason and still keep the job of my dreams.