It’s torture, the goddamn sculpture. I need Mia in my life to make this piece of metal into something special. I see her in the lobby over the next few days, behind a desk, helping guests, and every time I catch her eye, she looks away.

Like she can’t fucking meet my gaze. Like she’s scared of what she might see.

I told her too much. I told her about Cedric and she pulled back.

She’s been through enough and my baggage is a weight she can’t carry right now.

But damn, I don’t need her to carry a thing. I just want her under me. On top of me.

I want to disappear into her.

Yes, I am the epitome of emotionally unavailable but is that such a bad thing? Is the idea of us making love until I have to go home the worst thing in the world? God knows she could use some more fun in her life.

And damn, the city is getting to me. Everywhere I turn, there are catcalls and demands. Women asking me out and not to mention the fucking parties I am obligated to attend as a guest of the mayor.

I pull on a suit coat and run a hand over my beard. When I look in the mirror, I hardly recognize myself. My chest aches for the clear skies and green trees of Colorado, but instead, I straighten my tie and head out of my hotel room to hail a cab.

“Wow,” Mia says as she catches sight of me in the hallway, where I’m dressed to the nines. She’s off the clock, in sweats and a messy ponytail, carrying a laundry basket. Seeing her slays me. I told her something I never tell anyone and she walked away.

Yet, all I want right now is to pull her close, take her here and now. It’s like she alone can take away my pain.

And she doesn’t seem to have a clue what she does to me.

“Where are you headed?” she asks.

“An art exhibition. In Soho.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen, and I see her swallow the lump in her throat. “Well, I won’t keep you.”

“I’m in no hurry.”

She bites her bottom lip and adjusts the oversized basket in her arms. “I should go put this up.”

“Right,” I smirk, offense rising in my chest. “Folding laundry seems pretty pressing.”

She shakes her head. “Whatever. I mean, you just... You look really nice, Ford.”

I lift an eyebrow. “You look pretty good yourself.”

She gives me a wary look. “I’m in pajamas.”

“Exactly. I’m picturing you in your bed, stretched out.”

She shakes her head, looking so damn tired. “There’s more to me than sex, you know.”

I shrug. Truth is, over the last month together, sex was the number one thing we shared. We joked, we laughed, we fucked. But we never got deep; got personal. I don’t fucking do personal.

Then I did. Once. And she pushed me away. Ended things then and there.

Maybe that’s what Mia needs, but it’s sure as hell not what I want.

“You could come, you know?” I lean in closer. “Be my date?”

“I’m halfway through a job application online. I have to finish it.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Sounds like I’m trying to be an adult.” She rolls her eyes. “Remember? Paying bills. Working nine to five. Taking care of two kids--”

“Hey, I get it,” I say.

“Yeah, right.” Then she must remember what I told her, about losing my son. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that. It wasn’t fair to say.”

“It’s fine,” I tell her, walking away from the only thing in this city that reminded me of home.

* * *

After days of fighting to break new ground with the piece in the park, I know I need to clear my head. Once again, I’m stalled. My muse walked out on me and this sculpture ground to a fucking halt.

“I’m headed out of town,” I tell the crew who has been with me every day, bringing me tools and assisting me as I solder pieces of sheet metal together. The sculpture is taking form, but only because Mia opened my heart over the last month.

But now she’s walked away and I’m not sure I have the will to finish the goddamn thing.

“For how long?” the foreman of the crew asks.

“Three, four days tops.”

“Where you headed?”

“Home.”

* * *

Mr. Roller and Mia are in a heated conversation when I enter the lobby of the Mid-Manhattan Hotel. I want to let them know I’ll be gone for a bit, but I don’t want to interrupt.

Mr. Roller, though, notices me and calls me over. “Son, maybe you can talk some sense into Mia, here.”

“Oh?”

“No, it’s not necessary,” Mia says, her eyes meeting mine and giving me the slightest shake of her head. “I’m fine.”

“No, Mia. You aren’t. You need to use your vacation leave before the hotel... well, before... you need to use the time you have saved.”

“I need to work,” she insists, focusing on the pad of Post-it notes in her hand.

“It’s paid time off,” Mr. Roller says, raising his hands as if it’s a no-brainer.

“Why aren’t you working right now?” Mia asks me.

“I see what you’re doing,” I say, with a smile. “Changing the subject and getting the attention off yourself.”

She crosses her arms. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

Not wanting to give her a hard time, I tell her the truth. “I’m headed out of town for the long weekend. Going to Colorado.”

Just then, Tallie walks into the lobby with a grin. “Awesome news!” she shrieks.

“What’s that?” Mia asks, apprehension covering her face.

“Well, after I dropped Matty off at the YMCA camp, Karis called and her parents invited Jaimie and me to come with them this weekend to Martha’s Vineyard. They rented a house, last minute. We’re talking beachside, poolside, perfection!”

“Wow.” Mia frowns, her face anything but excited. “So, you’ll be gone?”

“Yeah, is it okay?” Tallie reaches over the desk and squeezes her big sister’s hand. “I mean, I know you’ll be all alone, with Matty gone too, but maybe it’s a good thing? A little time off?”

Mr. Roller beams. “Perfect timing,” he says. “I was just telling your sister she needs to take the next few days off, so she doesn’t waste her paid leave.” Mr. Roller pats Mia’s shoulder before walking away. “Glad we sorted that out.”

“Right,” Mia says, giving Tallie and me the fakest, saddest smile I’ve ever seen. “I’ll just catch up on the things I’ve been dying to do. Shave my legs or read a book. It’ll be super fun.”

“Or,” I say, lifting my eyebrows, “you could come with me. My treat.”

“Where?” Tallie asks.

“He’s going to Colorado. So, obviously that’s a no,” Mia says, looking pointedly at me.

“Why?” Tallie asks. “Aren’t you like, bed buddies or something?”

“Tallie!” Mia screeches at her sister. “That’s so not appropriate.”

Tallie snorts. “Okay. Gosh!” She raises her hands in defeat. “But um, a free trip to the mountains? You could seriously use a relaxing weekend.”

“No way. I should be--”

Tallie cuts her off. “You should what? Be stressing out? Giving yourself an ulcer?”

“Point taken,” Mia says softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Hey,” I say, the idea sounding better and better as I think about it. Mia is my muse and a weekend with her seems like the breath of fresh air I need and she needs it too. Probably more than me. “Let’s do this, Mia. What do we have to lose?”

She looks at her sister and me. “Am I going to regret this?”

I clap my hands, grinning. “No way. A weekend alone in the woods with me? What could go wrong? Pack your hiking boots and let’s go.”

“Hiking boots?” She laughs. “You do realize I’ve lived my entire life in Manhattan?”

“Then it’s time this city girl tasted the great outdoors.”