Toughest Story Yet

Chapter 3

I had just opened the door to an empty apartment. Surprise. After lunch with Rachel, I realized how lousy I really did feel. Of course, the four mojitos before 1 o'clock probably didn't help anything. I had thanked Rachel for her advice and squeeze hugged her before telling her I needed to get home. On the walk over, I had a little spring in my step, thinking I could have finally had that talk with Holden with a little liquid courage running through my veins.

Call me I texted Holden before tossing my phone on the couch.

I went to the kitchen and checked the calendar hanging over the kitchen sink. Holden had just written "Work 8-??," in block letters. I sighed and pulled a pint of chocolate ice cream out of the freezer. I had already blown through my allotted calories for the day with lunch, so I wasn't about to slow down. I had been hitting the gym a lot lately to release some of my pent up energy. No matter how long I ran on the treadmill or how many pounds I lifted, it just never seemed to be quite enough. I plopped down on the couch and turned the TV on to some trashy reality show. I didn't pay any attention to it as I shoveled in the creamy goodness. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a little red wine stain on the area rug and I let my mind replay what had happened.

Holden had just landed another high paying gig with an art gallery and my publisher had just sent me the first advance for my next book. We decided to celebrate that night with an expensive bottle of wine, a charcuterie board, and each other.

That night, we talked and laughed more than we had in the last several months. The memory made my chest ache with an insurmountable grief. I felt the empty loneliness where I once felt love and adoration.

"I'm so proud of you," Holden had said, his voice so sincere and tender.

I looked at him, the sparkle in his eye lighting a fire in me that spread quickly all the way to my fingertips. I smiled and fed him a grape, which he slowly chewed. "Everything is so wonderful right now," I breathed, "with my book and finally finding a place for us and- you..." I looked up at him through my eyelashes, my cheeks flushing a bit at the thoughts I was having.

He beamed back at me- the pride and happiness coming off of him in waves. He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, our gazes into each other's eyes intensifying. "You're so beautiful," his voice was barely above a whisper, as though if he was any louder, the moment between us would be over.

"I love you," I breathed, "I love you so, so much Holden Jacob Andrews." My words seemed so ridiculously obvious. I was a best selling romance author, but I couldn't think of anything else to say in that moment. It wasn't the first time that I had said it to him, but it was the first time my heart swelled up with so much happiness that it felt like it would burst at any moment. Every part of me tingled and felt light as a feather.

We each leaned in slowly for a kiss. My mind ran wild with the possibilities stretching out in front of us. The phone ringing made both of us jump- Holden sloshing some of his wine out of his glass. He immediately looked apologetic, words already trying to form on his lips.

"Leave it," I said, my voice husky with desire.

He blinked up at me, looking over at the phone.

"Leave. It." I said again, slower and more demanding that time.

We fell into each other, not able to make it to the bedroom. Not that it was our first time somewhere else, but it somehow made it even more passionate.

His hands left trails of fire everywhere he touched, which burned with so much need I could barely stand it. I had spent hours prepping for tonight and I looked damn good. I had went to the salon to get a blow out, so my brown hair was shiny and full around me. I had gotten my nails done in a fiery red- to match how I was feeling in that precise moment. My round face was concealed, highlighted, and contoured. I didn't usually put that much effort into one of our nights together, but I knew tonight would be special.