Landon

Over the next few days, I chose to work from the hotel’s executive lounge. Going into the office would have meant spending half my time fielding questions from the employees about the future of the company, the security of their jobs. Word about the potential buyout had spread like wildfire.

On Thursday, I descended to the hotel’s restaurant, and over breakfast mentally brainstormed the best way to handle this.

Scrolling through my e-mails, I noticed that each board member had sent me an e-mail, stating their case—meaning, why selling was the better option. Regardless of my current beef with them, I had chosen them based on their intelligence and business acumen, so I decided I’d assess their cases fairly, then build my argument.

Grudgingly, I started reading through my board members’ correspondence, jotting down notes. It was clear by the repetitiveness of their wording that they’d discussed this at length. After plowing through them, I took one of the hotel’s notepads and a pen. I always worked better with a pen and paper in hand.

The board was right in one aspect: I had envisioned letting go of DBC Payment Solutions when I drew up the original business plan, but work had been my refuge for the past years. Had I clung to it for all the wrong reasons? Was it time to let it go? I spent the entire day making notes.

On Friday, I began to build a compelling presentation. Aside from the geographical expansion, the company could also grow by moving vertically into other close industries. Both options were equally complex. Expansion was work so grueling that I still had scars from the years when we were just starting out in Europe.

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair, looking at the ten pages of notes and the presentation slides. It was dark outside already. Between six coffees and zero food, the day had gone by. For the past four years, I’d relished challenges, and the chance to have even more work to throw myself in. But now my heart wasn’t in it anymore.

Hell, I didn’t want to continue living the way I had. Holed up in my office, working every waking moment. There was more to life than that. The time I spent in LA with my family and Maddie had made me realize what I was missing out on.

God, I missed Maddie. Bits and moments of our time together flashed in my mind. There was no way I had imagined our connection. She’d trusted me more every day, given more of herself to me every day. What Maddie and I had was beautiful and real. She meant everything to me. But why had she acted that way before I left?

Sure, my news had caught her by surprise. I replayed our conversation in my mind. I had spoken in detail about the problem here, but not about us. I’d been expecting a signal from her before approaching the subject, but what if she’d been waiting for one from me too? Was I overanalyzing this?

I had no idea, but I did know one thing. If there was a chance that Maddie wanted a future for us, I was going to grab it with both hands. Was I grasping at straws? Maybe, but the ache in my chest eased at the mere possibility that I could still keep Maddie in my life.

My phone buzzed, and I kept my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t be Adam. I had no answers for him. It was Will. I looked around the business lounge before answering. I was alone.

“Hey! How is it going?” he asked.

“Not good.”

I heard the chatter in his background and realized it was the first Friday dinner I wasn’t attending in almost two months. I’d seen everyone at Maddie’s birthday party, but my gut still twisted.

“We’re having beef stroganoff. Adam told Val you’re working from home, so she ordered the same for you from some restaurant near you. But the delivery guy just called her to say you’re not home. Where are you?”

I smiled. Of course Val would try to dote on me even from a distance. I imagined Adam’s chagrin at being questioned by Val about my whereabouts.

“I booked into a hotel. I can concentrate better.”

“That makes no sense,” Val said, which clued me in that Will had me on loudspeaker.

Hailey chimed in next. “By the way, my pep talk about not letting Maddie go was worth jack shit, huh?”

I cleared my throat. “Lori, this would be a good time for you to note all this language is bad for Milo.”

“No, Milo is watching his favorite show on the iPad. With earbuds, so we don’t have to censor the conversation,” Lori said.

The clan was as thorough as always.

“So?” Hailey pressed.

“What makes you say that?” I countered.

One of my sisters sighed dramatically. I thought it sounded like Lori.

“She came to bring by some flowers for my porch just now, and she looked like she couldn’t wait to grab hold of sweatpants and ice cream,” Val continued.

“Sweatpants and ice cream?” I repeated, more confused than before.

“Girl code for nursing a heartbreak,” Lori explained.

Fuck! I’d hurt her? That was the last thing I’d wanted.

“That’s a giant leap of judgment,” Jace said, speaking for the first time.

“No it’s not,” Lori said.

“She looked like she hadn’t slept much,” Val continued.

“I swear she seemed thinner too,” Lori added. “Or maybe that’s just because she was pale.”

“Those are signs she’s missing you. You two are so good for each other, Landon,” Hailey said. “You belong together.”

“I know. You’re right,” I agreed.

“Yes!” Hailey exclaimed. “Can you please say the words ‘you’re right’ loud and clear? Just this once. They’re music to my ears.”

“You’ve just given them ammunition to hold over our heads for years,” Will informed me.

“A lifetime,” Hailey corrected. “And you’re wearing a badass badge, Will. How can you be afraid of us?”

“Simple. Badge doesn’t work on you,” Will replied.

“Landon, do you want me to send the delivery guy to the hotel with the stroganoff?” Val asked.

“Yeah, do that. I’m texting you the address right now.”

After I finished typing and sending, I brought the phone to my ear again. “Listen, everyone. Thanks for calling me, but I have to—”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re letting you go back in your cave and brood,” Lori said. “But your brooding period has an expiration date, just so you know.”

After I clicked off the phone, I tried scribbling on my notebook again, but ended up pushing it away and shutting off my laptop. I knew I had to schedule that board meeting soon, but I wouldn’t be reaching any conclusions tonight, that much was clear. Energy rushed through me as I contemplated my future with Maddie instead. I didn’t have all the answers to how I could make things work, but I loved her. I loved her, and I wanted to fight for our future.

***

Maddie

I was exhausted when I got home. I’d given out close to one hundred business cards and brochures, and fifteen of the receivers seemed serious about redoing their gardens.

I was happy that I was finally home, even though my house was full of memories. I saw Landon everywhere: in my kitchen, my living room, my bedroom. But I still had some wound licking to do, and my home was the place for that. All that ass kicking had taken a toll on me, sapping all my energy. And dropping off the potted flowers at Val’s had been a sad affair. I was ready to try out a new nail polish.

I’d promised Grace I’d wait for her before I tested a new color, so I decided to take a bath first. I lay in the tub, covered in bubbles, and massaged my feet, which were protesting after a day of wearing heels. I even lit up a few candles and set them on the edge of the tub. Plugging in my earbuds, I carefully set my phone on the tiled floor next to the tub and sat back to relax.

Midway through my bathtub extravaganza, I thought I heard my doorbell ring but decided I must have imagined it. Grace had a key. Only when the water cooled did I leave the tub. Since my sister hadn’t arrived yet, I decided to hunt down some goodies at the store and make us dinner.

When I opened my front door, I nearly knocked over the beautiful flower arrangement. My heart stilled. I bent at the waist, picking it up. There was no card, but I only knew one person who could have sent this.

Days of silence and now he was sending me flowers? What did this mean? I set the arrangement on the coffee table in my living room, trying to calm my racing pulse. I lost that battle when a text message popped up on my phone.

Landon: I miss your voice. I miss you like crazy. Is this a good time to talk?

There was a real risk that I’d start rambling again if I heard his voice. Sure, he wasn’t in front of me to distract me with those sinful eyes or lips of his, but even so, who knew what I might spew out. But I’d missed his voice too. I missed all the ways in which he made my life better. I missed making him happy, and I wanted to hear what he had to say, so I typed back Yes.

My screen flashed right away with an incoming call from him. I plopped my ass on the floor, crossed my legs in front of me, and took the call.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hi, Landon. I got your flowers. You did send them, right?”

“I don’t know. You think anyone else is missing you like crazy?”

“I have to check my long list of suitors,” I said dryly. “How are things with the takeover?”

“I’m making plans now. They’ll be on the right track soon.”

“That’s great.”

“How are you, Maddie? I’ve been hearing some worrying reports.”

I gulped. “What?”

“Val called me after you dropped by her house. She insists you look as if you don’t sleep much. Lori swears you’re thinner. Hailey insists those are signs you miss me.”

I loved that the Connor sisters were worrying for me, but I was still going to murder them for breaking girl code and telling him. Then again, what did I expect? He was their brother, and the Connor clan was tight. If this had been about Grace, I’d spy for her like it was my job.

“Maddie, I don’t like how I handled things when I left. I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“You did,” I said quietly. “But I didn’t do any better either. I was so awkward.... I didn’t know what to say.”

“What we have is real and beautiful, and I feel so connected to you that I can’t stop thinking about you every moment. About us. You’re part of me.”

“Really?” I whispered.

“Yes, really.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said the first thing that popped into my mind. “I miss you so much that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“I’m coming to LA next week,” he announced, and I swear my entire body responded to his statement. Energy coiled through me. I felt like a live wire.

“For how long?”

“I’m thinking Thursday to Sunday. Do you have time for dinner on Thursday?”

“Sure. I can do dinner.”

“It’s a date.”

My heart tripled in size. I was so thrilled that I’d be seeing him, and so hopeful that it didn’t even occur to me to ask what the dinner was about. Only after hanging up the phone did I wonder if it was about our future or getting closure. I wasn’t sure my poor heart could handle the latter.

I admired the flowers on my coffee table some more. He wouldn’t have sent flowers if he wanted closure, or called and said all those sweet things. I smiled, deciding to allow myself to feel hopeful.