“Yeah,” I began, my voice a sob. “I’m really cold.” And sad.
Silence greeted me on the other line for a long moment. “I’ll make us some hot chocolate. Come over.”
I smiled to myself before hailing a cab. “Thanks. Be there soon.”
Chapter 8
“Thank you, Adam. It’s a great present,” I forced out while staring at the gigantic telescope he gifted me. I had no idea where I was going to put this thing in my eight hundred square foot apartment. I mean seriously, I had no desire to look at the stars, but maybe I could spy on the hot guy that lived in the building across the street from me.
“I knew you’d like it!” he said excitedly while looking through the textbooks I’d gotten him. There was no guesswork when it came to getting Adam gifts. Every year on November first, he sent me an itemized wish list organized by priority, need, cost, and availability. This year he wanted textbooks. Yep, textbooks. I also got him a few new comic book shirts, but he wasn’t as interested in that.
“I also got Vaughn a gift. I assumed he was coming by?” Adam asked, his tone pressing.
“I don’t think Vaughn will be joining us today,” I answered. I ended up turning off my phone last night to avoid chatting with him. I knew that I was running away from my problems, and if given half a chance, Vaughn would probably reassure me that it was me he wanted, but that wasn’t really the problem.
The problem was, I hated feeling like the girl that wasn’t good enough for him. My issues were mine. I didn’t feel secure enough to tell his mother to suck some ass. I let her words burrow under my skin and become my reality, and that was a problem. How could I start a relationship with Vaughn—a meaningful relationship—if I was still so uncertain? After seven years of pining after him, a week of doubting him, and one night of losing him, I realized that I couldn’t be with anyone until I had a little more faith and confidence in myself. This was the grit of why I was considering the San Francisco job. I needed to commit to a choice. I needed to feel confident in myself and truly dive into a decision.
“Oh? He texted me earlier and asked for my address. He should be here any minute,” Adam replied while flipping the page of his textbook.
“What?” I squeaked.
Adam was about to reply when a knock on the door echoed throughout his apartment. “Would you mind getting that? I just got to a really interesting chapter,” Adam said with a wave of his hand. I pressed my lips together into a thin line and stood up.
“You’re seriously the worst,” I growled before marching down the hallway and to the front door.
The second I turned the knob and saw Vaughn, my heart felt like it fell out of my ass. He had dark circles under his eyes. His hair was a mess, and his clothes were wrinkled. “Merry Christmas,” I said while crossing my arms over my chest and hugging myself, my shoulders slumped.
Vaughn had the coat I left behind last night folded over his arm. “You left this,” he said softly before handing it to me. I nervously took it. “What happened last night, Sena?” Vaughn asked. “You just left?”
I licked my lips and looked down at my feet. “You introduced me to your mom as a coworker, then walked off with a woman that looks like a Victoria’s Secret model, and then your mother basically told me I was trash and suggested I leave.”
“Fuck,” Vaughn cursed before pushing me aside and walking inside Adam’s apartment. “First of all, the only reason I introduced you as a coworker is because I was terrified that if I told my mother you were the woman I want to be with that you’d run for the fucking hills. I’m trying to keep you here, not send you to San Francisco.”
He had a point, but I hated admitting it. “Fair enough. But it still set a precedent for how the rest of the evening went.”
“I didn’t want to go off with whatever her name is. I was gone maybe two minutes to appease my mother, and by the time I got back, you were already gone. I was going to set the record straight with my mom, but you didn’t give me the chance.”
“I shouldn’t have left last night. And I should have answered your calls—”
“You think?” Vaughn growled. I flinched.
“Look, I’m doing a lot of soul searching. I’m really insecure. Part of the reason I never told you that I liked you was because I was scared that I wasn’t good enough.”
“I love you, Sena,” Vaughn said while cupping my cheeks. He pressed his forehead to mine, and I inhaled. “You’re more than good enough. You’re perfect. I’m so sorry it took me so long, but you’re it for me.”
“What about what your mom said?” I croaked.
“Part of the reason I wanted to leave the business is because it’s a world I want nothing to do with. My parents care about their image and the money. I just want to chase a good story. And, Sena, you’re the greatest story of my life. I don’t care if you’re in San Francisco, if you’re here, if you’re baking cookies with Adam, or anywhere else. I’m going to be by your side. Okay? Nothing will change that. This is new. This is scary for you. But this is so fucking real.”
Tears streamed down my face, and Vaughn wrapped me up in a bone-crushing hug. “I’m not going to San Francisco,” I whispered into his ear.
In the other room, Adam cheered. How did he even hear me from across the apartment?
“You’re not?” Vaughn asked.
“I’m not,” I replied. “But I’m not going to work for your mom’s company either. It doesn’t feel right anymore.”
Vaughn nodded his head. “Okay. So what do you want to do?”
“I want to finish opening these presents!” Adam yelled.
Vaughn grinned and kissed me on the cheek. “We have time to figure it out.”
“I’m waiting!” Adam called out once more.
“I love you,” I said while looking him in the eye. His brows lifted.
“I love you too.”
Lifting up on my toes, I passionately pressed my mouth to his. It felt like home. It felt like Christmas morning and magic.
I loved this man, and I was done lying to myself about it.
By the time we made it back to Adam, he was standing with a pile of presents in his arms. He looked down at Vaughn’s feet. “You’re a size thirteen, right?”
Vaughn coughed. “Yeah, man. How did you know?”
Adam scoffed. “It’s all mathematics. You’re symmetrical and proportionate. With a simple equation, I could probably tell you how long your di—”
“No,” I interrupted. “Not going there, Adam.”
“It’s for science, Sena,” Adam argued.
Vaughn clapped his hands together. “Let’s open presents, shall we?”
Chapter 9
ONE YEAR LATER
“When are you coming home?” Adam asked.
“Three days. We got everything we need for the story and are ready to publish the exclusive,” I replied as Vaughn got off the highway.
“I have an itinerary for Christmas already planned out, and we are a day behind schedule for baking cookies. I mean, I compiled the recipes, but we always shop together.”