The week flew by faster than Gabriella had expected, and before she knew it, Zay was packing his bags to leave for his business trip. Though she tried to stay positive, the thought of him being gone for weeks left her feeling uneasy. It wasn't just that she would miss him—it was the way he made her feel safe, loved, and important in a way no one ever had.
The morning of his departure, Zay woke her up with a kiss on the forehead. "Morning, sleepyhead," he said softly, brushing her hair back.
Gabriella groaned, snuggling deeper into the covers. "I hate that you're leaving," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Zay chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's not forever, Gabby. Just a few weeks. I'll be back before you know it."
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and looked at him. "Promise?"
"Promise," he said, cupping her face and planting a soft kiss on her lips. "And don't forget, you've got that driver to take you wherever you need to go. No walking, no buses. I mean it."
Gabriella rolled her eyes but smiled. "I'll be fine. You're the one running around opening stores. Don't overwork yourself."
He laughed, standing up and grabbing his suitcase. "Alright, babe. Gotta head out now before I'm late. I'll call you when I land."
Gabriella walked him to the door, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist in one last hug. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you more," Zay said, kissing her one more time before stepping out.
As soon as the door closed, the apartment felt emptier than it had in weeks. Gabriella sighed, forcing herself to get ready for work. She couldn't sit around missing him all day—she had responsibilities to handle and orders for her growing candle business to keep up with.
Later that week
Zay kept his promise and called Gabriella every evening. Sometimes they talked for hours; other nights, he barely had the energy to stay awake after long days at the new store. But no matter how tired he was, Zay always made time to check on her.
Gabriella's days stayed busy. Between work at the hotel and fulfilling candle orders in the evenings, she barely had time to dwell on Zay's absence. Still, there were moments—late at night, lying in his bed—when the loneliness crept in. She missed his laugh, his touch, the way he made her feel like she mattered.
One evening, as she sat at the kitchen table labeling candles, her phone buzzed. It was a FaceTime call from Zay. She quickly wiped her hands on a towel and answered.
"Hey, you," she said, smiling at the sight of his face.
"Hey, beautiful," Zay said, his grin lighting up the screen. "How's my girl?"
"Tired," she admitted. "These candle orders are no joke. But they're going out on time, so I'm happy."
"That's my baby," Zay said proudly. "I knew you'd handle business while I'm gone. What'd I tell you? Boss moves."
Gabriella laughed, shaking her head. "What about you? How's the store coming along?"
Zay rubbed the back of his neck. "It's good. Stressful, but good. Can't wait for everything to be done so I can get back home to you."
Her heart warmed at his words. "I can't wait either. It's weird without you here."
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'll be home soon, Gabby. And when I get back, I've got something planned for us."
"Oh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of plan?"
He smirked, clearly enjoying her curiosity. "You'll see. Just know it's gonna be special."
Gabriella smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. "You're really something else, Zay."
"And you love me for it," he teased.
"I do," she said softly, the sincerity in her voice making his smile widen.
As the days turned into weeks, Gabriella kept herself busy, counting down the days until Zay would be back. She had no idea what he had planned for their reunion, but she knew one thing for sure—being apart had only made her feelings for him grow stronger.
To Be Continued...
