The alarm is going off way too early. I’m ready to complain until I remember why: Mike has to head over to help Aaron mend a fence today. I debate on sleeping in but decide against it. I’m excited to spend some one-on-one time with Whitney.
Rolling over, I snuggle into Mike and soak up his warmth.
“Mornin,’ beautiful,” he mumbles.
“Morning. I guess I need to get moving.”
“You can sleep in.”
“Nah, I want to go see Whit.”
“All right, babe. You shower first. I’ll start on breakfast.”
“You should shower with me,” I suggest.
He chuckles. “Baby, I’ll never leave this house if we start the day that way. I only have a few days left with you, and if Aaron weren’t one of my best friends, I wouldn’t be leaving at all.” He kisses my hair and climbs out of bed. “Bacon and eggs okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll be quick.” Well, after I watch his naked ass pull on some gym shorts. No point in missing the show.
Once he disappears out the bedroom door, I jump into action and head to the shower, rushing through so I’m not holding him up. I opt for a pair of gym shorts and a tank, blow-drying my hair and then pulling it up in a knot on top of my head. I forgo makeup and head toward the kitchen.
“Just in time.” He sets two plates with bacon, eggs, and toast on the island. We each inhale our food; we must have worked up an appetite last night. I can’t hide my grin at the thought.
“What are you grinning about over there?” he inquires.
“Last night.”
He shakes his head and rises from the chair, placing his plate in the sink. Okay, so he inhaled a little faster than I did. He rounds the island and places his hands on my shoulders, his lips next to my ear. “Best night of my life. I’ll be quick.” He kisses just below my ear and then he’s gone.
I place one hand over my racing heart and the other on my flaming cheeks. No one has ever been able to make me feel such a wide range emotions at one time. Just Mike, the man I’m in love with and who loves me back. The man who lives states away.
What am I going to do?
When we pull into Whit’s, she and Aaron are sitting on the front porch drinking coffee.
“Hey! I didn’t think you’d be out of bed and moving this early,” Whitney calls out to me.
“If you can’t beat them, join them,” I say, stepping onto the porch, Mike right behind me with his hand on the small of my back.
“So you couldn’t convince him to stay home in bed, huh?” she laughs.
“Nope.” No point in denying it.
Aaron chuckles. “I’ll get him back to you soon, I promise. Thanks for the help, man.”
“Don’t mention it,” Mike replies.
“Hope to be done by lunch, Whit. I’ll text you when we’re on our way back,” Aaron tells her, giving her a quick kiss goodbye.
“That works. I’ll have lunch ready when you get here.” One more kiss and he pulls away from her.
“Have a good day, baby,” Mike whispers in my ear.
I turn to face him. “You too.” I stand on my tiptoes and press a quick kiss to his lips. His beaming smile rewards me. With a squeeze of my hand, he and Aaron are off to mend fences.
“He’s got it bad,” Whit says as we watch our men walk away.
“He’s not the only one,” I tell her.
“Come on, let’s go inside. Have you had breakfast?”
“Yeah, Mike made bacon and eggs.”
“That’s what Aaron made,” she laughs.
“So what do we need to do for the wedding? Mike mentioned last-minute details of the rehearsal dinner.”
“Nothing except for I have three outfits and I can’t choose which one to wear. I keep going back and forth. I need your opinion.”
“Lead the way.” I follow her upstairs to their bedroom.
“Okay, I love all three of them and I just can’t decide. I want everything to be perfect, you know?” She disappears into her closet and is back seconds later carrying three garment bags. I help her lay them out on the bed and take the outfits out. “Can I try them on for you?”
“Duh, how else am I going to make an informed decision?”
She laughs and wraps me in a hug. “I’ve missed you so much, Jamie. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too, Whit. Now go change.”
She models each outfit and I give my honest opinion about each. Truthfully they’re all gorgeous and she looks good in all of them, but the pale pink is my favorite.
I’m helping Whit hang the outfits back up when my cell rings. “It’s a Chicago number,” I tell her. What if it’s my parents? “Hello?” I say hesitantly.
“Jamie Turner?”
“Yes.”
“This is Tom Farris from Farris and Associates. Is this a bad time?”
I relax. I told Mr. Warren they could call me if they had any questions. “Not at all, Mr. Farris, what can I do for you?”
“I’ve been looking through the files from Warren and I’m impressed. I called to tell him just that and he gave me your number.”
“Thank you,” I say, not sure where he’s going with this.
“Listen, I’ve been thinking of restructuring my paralegal department. Each is assigned to an attorney, but everyone does things differently. I would like the documentation process more streamlined, and I want you to be the one to implement it.”
“Are you… are you offering me a job?” I ask, shocked.
He laughs. “I am. I’m impressed with your work, and when I talked to Warren, he had nothing but high praise for you. If you accept, I’d like you to start right away with the understanding that if your drug screen and background check come back with findings that we will sever the relationship. Although I’m positive that’s not going to be the case.”
“No, sir,” I reply.
“So what do you say, Jamie? I’m willing to match your salary with quarterly profit bonuses. Four weeks paid vacation and your own office, of course.”
“I’m… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
“Yes.” This is the job I’ve always dreamed of.
“Excellent. When can you start?”
“I’m out of town right now. My best friend is getting married.” I look at Whit wide-eyed.
“Monday, then?”
“Yes, Monday.”
“See you then, Jamie,” he says, and the line goes dead.
“Holy shit,” I whisper, pulling the phone from my ear.
“What was that about?” Whit asks.
“That was Mr. Farris from Farris and Associates. He took over the rest of Mr. Warren’s cases. He just offered me a job running his paralegal department.”
“Jamie! That’s awesome.” She wraps me in a hug.
“He said he was impressed with my work and wants me to implement my style to his team.”
“So when do you start?” she asks.
“Monday. He’s eager to get the changes in place.”
“This is your dream job,” she cheers.
“Yeah,” I say, unable to find the excitement. I think I’m still in shock. That and it means I’m really leaving him. I was hoping we could work this out between us, but I’ve just accepted this new position. I’m not going to be taking a lot of time off work in the beginning.
“What’s wrong?” Whit asks.
I have to fight back the tears. “I have to leave him.”
“You were leaving anyway, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s real now. And with the new job, I won’t have the opportunities for long weekends, at least not for a while. Whit, I love him. What am I going to do?”
“Oh, sweetie, he loves you too. You guys will figure it out.”
I shake my head. “No, we won’t. There is no easy solution to this. We’re both losing this one, and it fucking sucks.”
Her phone alerts her to a text. “That’s Aaron. They’re on the way back.”
“What am I going to do?” I cry harder.
“You are going to get yourself together, and the four of us are going to have lunch. Then when you get home, you’re going to sit him down and tell him about the job. Don’t wait. Not telling him will only make it worse.”
I nod. I’m not sure if it’s the best plan, but it’s the only one I have. My heart is actually breaking if the ache in my chest is any indication.
Taking a few minutes, I get my emotions under control and go downstairs to help Whit with lunch. “Keep me busy, conversation, whatever you have to do. I don’t want to tell him here.”
She gives me a hug, “I got you, Jamie. Everything will work out.”
We carry the food out to the back deck and have it all set up.
“Ladies,” Aaron greets us.
Looking up, I find Mike standing shirtless in ripped jeans and a baseball hat sporting the bar’s logo. I fight back another round of tears just at the sight of him. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to leave him this time.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing,” Whit says, wiping under her eyes and sniffing. “We’re just having a moment. You know, getting married and all that.” She waves her hand in the air as if our overemotional behavior is just that.
“You okay, Whit?” Aaron takes a seat next to her.
“Fine,” she laughs. “Just missing my best friend. We had a good day.”
Mike takes a seat next to me and places his hand on my knee. “You okay, James?”
I look over at him and fight back the tears. “Yeah, I just miss her, you know?”
“I know, baby.” Leaning in, he kisses my cheek and I hold in my tears while we eat.
As promised, Whit chatters at lunch, asking the guys about the fence and what’s next with the farm. Mike and I are mostly quiet unless spoken to.
“Thanks for your help today, Mike,” Aaron says as we stand to leave. Whit and I cleaned up from lunch, and now it’s time to head to Mike’s. Time for me to break both of our hearts.
“We’ll see you all if not later this week, Friday at the rehearsal,” Whit says, giving us both a hug. “Call me,” she whispers just for me.
I nod and wave goodbye to Aaron, then follow Mike to the truck. The drive back to his place is quiet.
Please don’t let him hate me.