Simon

I arrived at my flat in New York a little after seven o’clock Monday evening. My meeting with Phillip was set for the next morning. During it, I intended to inform him of my plan to stay in Dallas. At least temporarily. For enough time to see if Peyton and I could make a real go of it. With my accumulated wealth, it wasn’t like I needed to work if I didn’t want to. But I couldn’t see myself idle, either. I thought I might explore some real estate aspirations if Phillip wasn’t supportive and I needed to quit. I hadn’t asked much of my boss over the years and had made him millions. The least he could do now was accommodate my request to lessen my travel. Perhaps I could train someone else to be on-site for the longer projects.

I’d never felt this way before. Never been ready to prioritize something else above my job. But I was in love with Peyton. Of that I was sure. She’d forced me to look at some hard truths in my life, though. I now understood that before I could prove my love, I needed to earn her trust. She’d understood I wouldn’t tell Phillip no to London, and her look of betrayal at the time still haunted me. I needed to ensure going forward I didn’t risk her disappointment at every turn. In the future, when I made promises, I fully intended to keep them.

I’d always put the job first. In my defense, work had been my escape from a painful childhood. My job had been my route to self-worth for so many years now that I simply didn’t know any other way to go about it. But now that I did, I was grabbing onto it with both hands.

The knock on my front door surprised me. It was after ten o’clock in the evening, and I hadn’t ordered any food for delivery. After looking out the peephole, I sighed. It was Emma. No doubt she’d come to try talking me into giving in to Phillip tomorrow. I was aware my decision to slow down my travel affected others beside myself. Emma had been with me for a long time, and I hoped she’d continue to work with me even if I did change my home base to Dallas and wasn’t on the road as much.

I opened the door, startled to find she wasn’t alone. Someone was beside her, curled up on a luggage cart where she slept like a child.

Peyton.

“What the hell?”

Emma seemed out of breath, tired, and also a bit guilty. “It was the only way I could get here short of carrying her. She kind of passed out at take-off and hasn’t quite been upright since. Thankfully, I had a wheelchair meet us at the plane. Then the driver helped get her into and out of the car. And they had this cart in the lobby for me to get her up here.”

My eyes grew big with absolute astonishment. “She flew? On an airplane?”

“Yes. For you. Grand gesture and all that love stuff. I don’t think this is what she had in mind with the surprise part, but we’ve had to adapt. So, can you please help me get your girlfriend inside to sleep this off?”

Right. I was so stunned it took me a moment to put the wheels in motion. I moved quickly to pick her up and take her inside. While doing so, I couldn’t help pausing to enjoy the feel of her warm body in my arms.

“Is she drunk? Is that how you got her on the plane?”

Emma blushed slightly. “I got her onto the plane with a Xanax. At her request. But she kept herself there with a few too many mini bottles of whiskey.”

“Christ. I’m reasonably sure you shouldn’t mix the two.”

“I informed her of that very thing, but she was quite insistent. And frankly, scared shitless. It was either I allow her to drink or let her freak the hell out. Good thing in first class they kept the drinks coming. And even better that she didn’t puke or become a loud drunk. She just sort of went to sleep, thank God.”

“What made her come?”

Emma avoided my eyes.

“What did you do?”

She raided my refrigerator, taking out a water and chugging it while I put Peyton on my couch. “Nothing. This was her idea. I merely facilitated.”

“You didn’t tell her anything to persuade her?”

“She came by the office to see you and was upset to hear you’d already left. I suppose she thought maybe you’d given up on things. So I told her you were here to talk to Phillip. That you were trying to figure out this life/work balance thing and wanted this to work.”

She paused and then huffed as I waited her out.

“Look, I defend the people I care about. And since you’re the only person who bears that title in my life, there you have it. Although I have to say Peyton may have put herself in that circle now, too. Anyway, I told her how hard you’re trying and that you could use a little leeway because it’s new for you. I wanted to do what I could. So be mad about my overstepping. Yell at me or whatever. But understand I’d do it a thousand times over it if means you get to be happy.”

I walked over and hugged her. The gesture was so unexpected for both of us, she nearly dropped her water.

“Jesus, warn a girl when you’re going to be all weird with hugging.”

I grinned at her attempt to pretend she didn’t care.

“I’m in love with her,” I admitted, stepping away.

She flashed me a smile. “I know. And judging by her getting on a plane, it should be obvious she feels the same. Now, then, since I’ve already overstepped, I figure I might as well ask what you’re planning to tell Phillip tomorrow morning?”

“I’m hoping to shift my home base to Dallas for a while. Perhaps I can train someone else to put on site for the long-term projects. If that doesn’t work out, or even if it does, I’d like to pursue my own real estate investments. For all of this, I still need you.” She might not show it, but I knew she was probably worried about the future.

“Of course you will. We’ll have to talk about me moving to Texas. Not sure I can do the country life long-term. Speaking of which, you’re on your own for getting her back there.”

I chuckled. “Deal.”

Her gaze went behind me to the sofa.

Peyton was now sitting up. “Am I still flying?”

Her eyes were unfocused and expression confused. Her hair was a mess, her makeup gone, and I’d never seen her look more beautiful.

Emma answered, “No, love, you’re here with Simon. I’m leaving the two of you now.” She then turned to me. “Call me if you need anything. Good luck.”

With that, she was out my front door.

“How do you feel?” I noted Peyton was now staring at her hand in front of her face as if trying to gauge where it came from.

“I feel weird. I need to see Simon.”

I smiled and went over to kneel in front of her. Although she might be out of it, having her here with me was the best high in the world. “I’m right here.”

Her gaze settled on me. “Am I in New York?”

“Yes. At my flat.”

“I did it. I flew.” She was in obvious awe of her feat.

For my part, I was so proud of how she’d overcome her fears. “You did. I can’t believe you’d do so, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“I was worried you left for good.”

“No. I planned to come back as soon as I spoke with Phillip.”

“I need to find Emma. She’s gonna help me find Simon.”

Oh, boy. We might be at this for a while. Deciding to play along, I swept her hair out of her face. “Why do you need to find him?”

“To tell him I love him.”

I hoped it wasn’t the drugs and liquor talking. “He loves you, too.”

 “I should’ve given us more time to see if we could work out the conflicts involving our jobs and travel. I wasn’t completely fair because of my dad and how he was. I’m sorry.” She expelled a long breath, lay back down on the couch, and promptly fell asleep.

Hearing her declaration brought a lump of emotion to my throat. I slipped off her shoes before carrying her into my bedroom. As I undressed her carefully to make her more comfortable, all I could think about was that I could spend the rest of my life taking care of this woman. Not that she’d let me entirely, but perhaps that was the key. I wanted to take care of her, but I certainly didn’t need to.

After undressing myself, I slipped into the bed beside her.

Holding her tight, I whispered in the dark, “I shouldn’t have made promises I couldn’t keep, especially knowing how your father sacrificed his family for work. I’m sorry.”

Those two words felt foreign on my lips as they passed in my whisper. And yet I meant them. She’d battled her demons to come see me. The least I could do was give her a long overdue apology.

Now if only I could do it while she was awake.