Page 55 of When Annika Met Thom

“I like enjoying right here and right now.”

“But? Did I hear a qualifier there?”

“But I think that two people might manage to build a permanent relationship together, so long as neither of them took it for granted or assumed that kismet would do all the work. As long as they weren’t more worried about goals, like starting a family, instead of concentrating on the relationship. It takes time though to be sure.”

“Aha!” Annika said and he smiled. “How much time?”

“Ten years,” he said without hesitation. “Anything less and it could be infatuation or convenience or habit. At least once every ten years, something will hit the fan in anyone’s life. The kind of relationship I want, if I have one at all, won’t just survive that, but be strengthened by it.”

“Ten years?” Annika repeated, shaking her head. “And a major life crisis. You don’t ask too much, do you?”

He turned on her, eyes blazing. “Why compromise on something so important?”

Annika hadn’t expected a heated reaction. This was important to him and she was intrigued. “You’d rather be alone than have a less-than-fabulous partnership?

“Wouldn’t you?” He flung out a hand. “How many big weddings have you attended that the so-called happy couple were split up within the year?”

“Too many,” she admitted, realizing that her marriage to Leo could have been another one.

“That’s not for me. If I’m in, I’m in, but that means I need to be sure. Both people need to be sure.”

“Still, that’s a long test.”

“What’s ten years when you’re talking about forever?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just picked up the leash. Cerberus was on her feet immediately, her approval of the idea of a walk more than clear. “Thanks for dinner. We’ll be gone a while.”

Long enough for her to fall asleep on the couch. Annika understood. She went to the window with her tea to watch Thom and the big dog lope into the park. He didn’t look up at the apartment, much less wave, and she was disappointed.

Why? He’d told her what to expect. He hadn’t made any promises he hadn’t kept. But even that just made Annika yearn for something she apparently wasn’t destined to have—even for two weeks.

She felt the lack of closure with Leo. It wasn’t that she wanted him, but she hated having things between them just fade to nothing. Hadn’t their relationship meant anything to him? Didn’t twenty years at least deserve a good-bye?

Apparently not in Leo’s view.

And that made her mad.

Worse, she and Margritte had been at odds ever since that argument over Leo. Annika pulled out her phone, determined to make one thing right.

She owed her sister an apology. Margritte wouldn’t gloat, though, when she heard why Annika believed her now. No, her big sister was the most understanding person in the world and one of the best listeners.

Maybe Margritte would have some advice.

She’d probably have a bullet list of why it hadn’t worked and what Annika should look for in future.

Her sister certainly wouldn’t be sorry to hear the news.

* * *

It was happening.

As much as Thom was determined to fight it, Annika was building emotional bonds and connections between them. He’d confided in her more in two days than he ever had in Rhea—and he’d lived with Rhea for the better part of a year.

There were only eleven days remaining in her visit. The smartest choice would be to minimize their contact. That would save Thom from himself.

He sat in the park and made some calls, swapping shifts and taking on some extra ones. A little extra money wouldn’t be all bad either, especially since he was going to need to move.

He managed to sort it out that he’d be home in the daytime and out at night, every night except Thursday. Surely he could manage one more night in Annika’s company without doing something they’d both regret?

* * *

---