Chapter Six

Gavin

Right as I'm about to call the tech person who works on Falkin's website, my phone dings. It's a text from Kate.

Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you.

I've been thinking about her all morning, wondering how to fix this. I'm not even sure what 'this' is. A fight? Disagreement? Whatever it is, I don't like it and I want it to end. This isn't us. We don't stop talking to each other when we disagree on something. We talk it out, come to an agreement, or just agree to disagree. But last night we stopped talking, and this morning I left while she was still asleep because I didn't want us to fight. I was avoiding her, which isn't good. I don't want us to become the couple that avoids each other or can't talk to each other. Those couples break up.

Just as I'm going to text her back, I get another text from her. I love you. I don't want to fight.

I quickly text back, I love you too. I don't want to fight either.

I want to make up. Can we make up? Soon?

Yes, but first we have to talk. We can't let our jobs or anything else come between us.

I agree. Completely.

And we can't stop talking. I don't want us to become the couple who can't talk to each other.

Me either. I'm so lucky to have you, Gavin. I love you so much.

The to-do list I just made for Falkin's website no longer seems important. The only thing that matters right now is Kate, and our relationship, which I almost ruined by keeping quiet last night when I know we needed to talk.

I'm the one who did this. I changed the rules. By working on this campaign, I did something I told Kate I would never do. So it was up to me to convince her that taking this job wouldn't change anything. It was up to me to listen to and address any concerns she had, but instead I got quiet and avoided what I knew needed to be done.

I call her phone and when she picks up I say, "I'm coming home."

"It's only two o'clock. Are you sick?"

"I'm not sick, but I'm done working for the day. Where are you right now? At the restaurant?"

"No, I'm at home. Megan and I had lunch. She just left. I'm going to the restaurant soon."

"Don't. Just stay there." I shut my laptop and grab my keys. "I'm leaving now. I'll be there soon."

"Why? What's going on?"

"I have to see you. We have to talk this out and then we have to make up."

"We can do that tonight. You don't have to leave work."

"It can't wait. I need to see you. I need to make this right. I need you to know how much you mean to me."

"Gavin, I already know that. I don't want you leaving early and getting in trouble."

"I don't care if I get in trouble. Work isn't important. What's important is you, and us. We can't fight like this, Kate. We can argue. We can disagree. But we can't stop talking. We can't shut each other out. Once that starts happening, it's the beginning of the end and I won't let that happen to us."

There's silence and then I hear her sniffling. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. I'll see you soon."

I end the call and race toward the lobby. "Tell Peter I'm going home," I say to the receptionist. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She says something as I leave, but I keep going, out the door to the crowded streets. I didn't check the schedule but I hope a train is leaving soon. When I reach the station, I'm there just in time. I hop on the train and check my phone. There's a text from Peter asking me to redo part of the proposal I was working on yesterday. I'll do it tomorrow. Work can wait. My relationship with Kate can't.

When I get home, I find her on the couch with her laptop. She sets it aside and runs over to me.

"I'm sorry," she says, hugging me.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I pull away so I can see her, keeping her in my arms. "It was my fault. I told you I was done working for politicians and then I changed the rules without even telling you. I know how you feel about this and I was thinking that maybe I just shouldn't do it. If Peter fires me, then I'll find another job. I can—"

"No. Gavin, don't. I don't want you getting fired. And like you said, you need the experience writing proposals so you can get a better job later on. As for the campaign work, I know you miss it and this way you'll get to do it without it being a full-time job."

"That's the thing. I don't know if it'll turn into that." I didn't want to tell her this but she needs to know.

"What do you mean? You think this could become a full-time job?"

"No, but it sounds like it'll be more than ten hours a week. How do you feel about that?"

"Gavin, you need to be the one to decide. If this is really what you want to do and you really think Falkin is a good guy, then I trust you to make this decision."

God, she's great. Other girls I've dated wouldn't even consider what I wanted. It was always about them.

"What do you want to do, Gavin? Do you want to work on the campaign or not?"

"I do want to work on it. But if I don't like it, or if I find out Falkin isn't who I thought he was, then I'll quit." I tuck some loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "What do you think?"

"I think I like that plan."

"So next time something like this comes up...something we don't agree on...we agree to talk about it, okay?"

"I agree."

"I don't want us to ever grow apart, Kate. We should be growing closer, not farther apart, but that'll only happen if we're honest with each other."

She nods. "I know."

"So tell me what you're thinking right now."

She smiles. "It's not really appropriate."

"Why not?" I ask, knowing she's already moved on to the making-up part of our fight.

"Because it involves you. Without clothes on."

"Why is that not appropriate?"

"Because we're in the middle of a serious discussion."

"The serious discussion is over." I start unbuttoning her shirt. "Now we're moving on to the fun part."

"I didn't say I'd be getting naked. Just you."

"What fun would that be?" I've got her shirt off and I reach around and flick open the clasp of her bra.

"Gavin!" She covers her breasts. "We're by the window."

"Four floors up. Nobody can see you." I unzip her shorts and yank them down. Then I stand back and look at her. "Damn, you're beautiful. I don't know how I'm able to get out of bed and leave you every morning to go to work."

"You're sweet." She kisses me. "Now hurry and get naked. I need you. Now!"

I smile as I quickly unbutton my dress shirt. "I love it when you tell me that."

She holds onto my shoulders and reaches up to whisper in my ear, "I need you."

I'm already hard, so hard it's straining my dress pants. I yank off my belt while Kate rubs her hand over my chest.

She slowly unzips my pants and whispers in my ear, "I want you inside me."

Shit, she turns me on. Her body. Her words. The fact that I love her more than anything.

Shoving my pants and boxers off, I walk toward her, forcing her to walk back.

"What are you doing?" she asks, glancing at the wall behind her.

"Giving you what you asked for." I yank her panties down then lift her up against the wall.

She smiles as she wraps her arms and legs around me. "You're not going back to work later, are you?"

"No." I push inside her. "I'm all yours."

Her head tips back against the wall. "So we can do this again?"

"As many times as you want." I pump into her, my eyes taking in her gorgeous body, those beautiful breasts.

"God, you feel good," she moans.

I slow my pace, giving her time to get there, but from the feel of her and the sounds she's making, I don't think she'll need that long. Her legs grip me tighter and I push deeper inside her and kiss her as she continues to moan.

I love the sounds she makes. I love how much she still gets into this. How she isn't tired of it and wants to do it as much as I do. We're so compatible this way. In every way. Which is why I can never let her go. Never let us grow apart.

"Don't stop," she says, her breaths heavy and ragged, sweat glistening on her chest.

I'm sweating, too, as my muscles flex to hold her up. A few more long, deep thrusts and she's there, her body trembling. The feel of her release causes my own release moments later, my arms shaking as I struggle to hold her.

I take her to the bedroom and slowly lower us to the bed, keeping our bodies connected. I don't want to let her go.

"That was..." She lets out a long breath and stretches her arms over her head. "...amazing." She smiles. "We should make up more often."

I capture her hands above her head and kiss her. "We're not done. The making-up process takes all night."

"It does?" She opens her eyes and looks at me.

"You didn't know that?"

"I guess I forgot. We haven't had a fight in a long time."

"Which is how it should be. But a fight now and then isn't so bad, as long as it leads to making up." I lower my mouth to her breast and suck on her nipple, using the exact amount of pressure I know she likes.

"Oh, God," she breaths, arching back. "I love when you do that."

And so I keep doing it. Then I do the same to her other breast while my hand travels down between her legs. I just want to keep pleasuring her, all night if she'll let me.

I'll probably get in trouble for leaving work but who the hell cares? This is worth it. And it needed to be done. I needed to make things right. And I did. By the time we finally go to sleep, I feel like we're back on track.

The next morning, Kate and I both get up at seven. I usually get up at five so I can catch the early train into New York but today I wanted to sleep in with Kate. She goes to make the coffee, then finds me in the shower and we do it again. Then we get dressed and have breakfast together.

"I wish every morning was like this," I tell her as we sit at the table.

"Me too." She sips her coffee.

"So what's going on at the restaurant today?"

"The window guys are coming to install the new front window. The floor guy's supposed to be there too but I haven't heard from him. I'm worried he won't show up. As for me, I'll be in the kitchen testing recipes all day. Now that all the new appliances are in, I can finally start trying them out."

"Sounds like fun."

"The cooking part, yeah. Supervising the work crew? Not so much."

"You want me to show up there and kick their asses?"

She laughs. "No. I think I can handle it."

My phone rings and I answer it. "Hey, Gramps. What are you doing up at this hour?"

Kate smiles. She loves my grandfather.

"Couldn't sleep," he says. "Damn neighbor decided to tear his garage down and build a new one and his crew gets there at five every morning."

"That sucks."

"Damn straight. I'm not getting my beauty sleep."

I laugh. "So what's up? Anything new?"

"Sandra left me."

"Who's Sandra? Is that the tap dancer?"

"No, that was Lila. I haven't dated her for months."

"Oh. Is Sandra the flight attendant?"

"That was Nancy. I dated her in July."

"I can't keep track of your women. Who's Sandra?"

"She's the cashier at the hardware store, which is a problem because I go there all the time. It's gonna be awkward now. This is why you never date a girl who works at a place you frequently go. Or your favorite bar. Remember Candy?"

"No."

"Her real name was Lucinda but everyone called her Candy. Anyway, she worked at Lucky Shooters, my all-time favorite bar, and after we broke up, the owner wouldn't let me go there anymore."

"Must've been a bad break-up."

"Not any worse than any other. I think he wanted to date her. That's why he didn't want me around. I was competition. I'm better looking and have all my hair. Anyway, lesson learned. Don't date a woman who works at your favorite bar. Or hardware store."

"Got it." I look at Kate. "Although I already have a girl so I don't really need dating advice anymore."

She smiles.

"How's Kate doing?"

"Good. She's busy. We both are."

"Would you mind if I came down for a visit? Like maybe today? I'm looking to get away from this racket next door. It's making me lose my damn mind."

"I'd love to see you but I don't get home until after six. And Kate will be at the restaurant."

"Would she care if I dropped by?"

"Let me ask."

She must've heard him because she takes the phone and says to him, "I'd love for you to stop by. And bring your tools. I might need to hire you." She laughs. He says something and her eyes light up. "Seriously? That'd be great!" She nods. "Okay. See you soon." She gives me the phone back.

"What just happened?" I ask.

"I told her I'd help with the renovations. I'll bring my tools and see what I can do."

"That'd be awesome. Thanks."

"I'm happy to help. Gives me something to do other than sit and listen to my neighbor put up that damn garage."

"Then I guess I'll see you tonight. If you're too tired to drive back later you could stay with us."

"We'll see how it goes. Tell Kate I'll be there by ten."

"Sounds good. Bye."

"Can you believe he's helping me?" Kate asks as she gets up from her chair.

"I'm not surprised. He loves you. You're like the granddaughter he never had."

"Still, he didn't have to do this."

"He wants to. He loves working with his hands. Fixing stuff. Give him a list and he'll get it done faster than anyone you could hire and he'll do a better job." I scoot my chair back. "I gotta get going. The train leaves in ten minutes."

Kate comes over and kisses me. "Thanks for having breakfast with me." She kisses me again. "And for last night."

"You don't have to thank me. You know I'll do that whenever you want. In fact, if you want to do it again right now I could take a later train."

She laughs. "I think we could wait until later."

"Then I'll see you tonight." I grab my keys and laptop bag and head for the door. "Don't worry about dinner. We'll go out. We'll take Gramps somewhere nice for helping you out."

"Okay. Bye. I love you."

"Love you too."

When I get to work, I head straight for my cubicle and get my computer set up.

Moments later, Peter appears. "What happened yesterday? You disappeared."

"Something came up and I had to leave. Sorry about that."

"Next time, I need you to come see me before you leave."

"Yeah. I will."

He doesn't seem mad but I can tell he's annoyed. I'm not worried about it. I know Peter likes me, and he liked my dad. I'd have to really screw up before he'd fire me.

"I'm heading out of town tomorrow with Jett. I want to go over your projects for the rest of the week before I leave."

"Sure. Should I come to your office?"

"We can do it here." He comes into my cubicle and sets a folder on the desk. "Before we get into that, I wanted to tell you that Jett was really impressed with you."

"He was?" I'm surprised because Jett didn't really ask me anything during our meeting. He just went over the type of work I'd be doing.

"He said he could tell you were a go-getter. A kid who has lots of energy. Lots of ideas. He asked if I could loan you to him part-time instead of just ten hours a week. I told him I would. I really believe in Jett and what he can do for the state of New York and specifically the initiatives we're trying to get passed. I know you'd be a valuable asset on his team so I'm going to have you work for me two days a week and the rest of the week you'll work for Jett."

"That's more than part-time."

He shrugs. "It could vary. Some weeks you may be here more than there. We'll figure it out. This is a big opportunity for you and I want to make sure you're given the chance to prove yourself to Jett. Winning him over could impact the rest of your career. He could do a lot for you, Gavin. And you could do a lot for him. We really need those younger voters and I know you can help get them for us, given the success you had with your father's campaign."

I feel my muscles tensing up as he talks. This isn't what I wanted. The campaign was only supposed to be a few hours a week and now it's a part-time job. Should I tell him no or just do it?

Kate told me she'd support my decision, but that was when she thought I'd be working for Jett only a few hours a week. Now it's a lot more than that.

Maybe I'll just try it. Like I told Kate, I can always quit. But I have a feeling I won't. Yesterday when I was coming up with recommendations for Falkin's website, I was already feeling that stir of excitement, the same feeling I had when I worked on my dad's website. And once I start seeing my ideas come to life and produce results, I'll want to do even more.

Knowing that, maybe I shouldn't go down this path. But I want to. I want to at least try it. If it gets out of hand, I can always quit. I just need to keep remembering that.