“Just being you.” I take a deep breath. “I want to use that music again and change the feel of it. It was so somber the first time. I feel differently about the music now. It’s more triumphant to me than it used to be. The tears that would come would be of joy not sadness. Jill asked to see what I had. Eli, she worked me so hard. I felt like I was in her company. We traded choreo ideas. She would yell at me, clap her hands for the beat, and even show me things I hadn’t tried.”
My mouth finally stops moving and I turn my head toward my husband’s. He’s simply listening and smiling. “What?”
“You. Just you. Would you like to finish your overpacked day in a hot bath, then I could bring you soup and a recovery shake to bed while I rub your feet?”
“Those are some sexy words. I’ll say yes to all the things. If I get a second wind too, it’s all yours.”
Hayley
Wes is talking to his boss after dinner for the third time this week. I can tell he’s on edge. The draft isn’t too far away and from what I can tell, there are a couple of his deals that are on the ropes.
There are printouts of contracts layered all over the dining table with his personal laptop and his work laptop going. Every once in a while, he’ll get up from the table and do a lap around the room. I try to get him to put it away for dinner but with the coastal time differences, it is just too hard.
It sounds like he might be getting in trouble or at least being talked to harshly. I know when Wes hardly gets a word in it’s either that or he’s not listening at all. His hands in his hair tell me all I need to know. While he’s sitting still, I try to massage the tension away from his neck. He’ll let me for a minute or two before it’s the yes…no…I understand, and the return to pacing the room.
I feel like I’m bothering him. Maybe tonight is just one of those nights where I go stay at my parents’ house. I leave him to his call and start packing an overnight bag. I have my first solo meeting with a client we’ve onboarded tomorrow too. This could be a good way for me to get focused on what I need to do for that.
While I’m winding up my electronics cords in my backpack, Wes comes in the room and startles me. “What are you doing?”
I jump a bit. I can feel my heart racing in my neck. “I thought I’d let you do you with all the work stuff going on. It sounds like it’s going to be a rough night.”
“What do you mean? My call with Sully? Nah. He’s a lot of bark and huff and puff. He wasn’t telling me anything I wasn’t already aware of or working on. He’s one of those who doesn’t buy people are working hard if he can’t see it.”
“I just thought it might make things easier for you if I went to Mom and Dad’s. Then you can focus better.”
“I am focused. Please don’t go. I’m sorry this night didn’t go as planned. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“I’m not complaining. I just want what’s best for you.”
Wes settles his glasses in the neck of his T-shirt as he walks over to stop my hands from moving. “What’s best for me is you. The negotiations are ongoing. Nothing is going to finalize tonight. It’s down to the wire, but I’ve got it.”
“Are you able to put it away for a little while?”
“Of course. Did you want to binge something? Watch a movie?”
“Honestly, I would like to curl up with you without any electronics. I’m a little anxious about tomorrow.”
“Wait. Did I miss something? What’s tomorrow?”
“I was going to mention it over dinner. I have my first solo meeting with a client tomorrow.”
“Shit. Hayley. That’s a big deal. All right, phones away. You have my full attention.” He kisses my forehead and sets my backpack on the floor. With a gentle tug, Wes leads me back to the living room and our couch. He shuts off the sports network and my anxiety level drops about four notches. Just the silence and the touch of his hand does so much. “Tell me about this client.”
He sits down on the couch, pushing his left leg all the way to the back and motioning for me to sit between them. I slide in and with one motion his arms and a thin blanket are wrapped over me. “It’s kind of a big deal, I guess. There is a professor at NYU that Will led to us. Well, he’s starting a foundation in memory of his sibling to raise money for cancer research. He wants help getting all his branding right. I think I might get some social media questions too. I think because it’s my first one, and it’s a friend of Will’s, the stakes are high. You know?”
“Of course. I wish I’d known sooner. If Will sent him over, he’s not going to be a dick. He’ll have high expectations, but not a dick.”
“Sometimes if I think someone is a dick, it’s easier. High expectations can lead to letdowns. I’m so green. It’s just scary.”
“Hayley Sawyer. Do you think your boss, at Eli’s and your father’s direction, would ever set you up to fail?”
“Well, no.” I continue to pick at the corner of the blanket around us.”
“Then stop worrying. You are badass. Your ideas are badass. Have you told anyone you revamped my website?”
“No.”
“Babe, you need to start believing in yourself as much as I do. You’re so fierce everywhere else in your life. Don’t let work be any different.”
“Maybe I just need you with me tomorrow.”
“You only need you. I love that you’ll be able to come home tomorrow and tell me all about it. Tell you what, I will cook dinner tomorrow night. I will make you whatever you want. It could be pancakes. Which now that I said it sounds pretty fucking good.”
“You’re right.” I rest my head on his shoulder. Our arms blend together as his fingers massage over my skin. “It does sound really good.”
“Then problem solved. Breakfast for dinner it is.”
“Do you need to go back to work tonight?”
“I have a call late with one of my West Coasters, but I’m all yours until then.”
“You’re mine anyway.”
“Possession is nine tenths of the law. I like how that sounds.” He starts to sink our bodies lower and lower until we’re lying down. I end up rolling over so we can be face-to-face and I can have my ear over one of the most calming things I know, his heart.
Chapter 3
Elijah
The last week has been filled with all things work. I’m grateful we can come together as a big family to celebrate Gran and Pops. Mom kept telling us it was going to be somewhat of a surprise. I could tell by Pops’s reaction he knew all along. Gran did too by how she was dressed.
My mother is in her usual hostess mode when we arrive with my Gran’s favorite wine in tow. I keep thinking I should hear Hayley and Wes, but the house is eerily quiet. “Mom, did Hayley call?”
“Yes, dear. Wes got hung up on a phone call. They should only be a few minutes behind.”