Page 90 of The Me I Left Behind

“We’ll tackle the rest tomorrow.”

Sixteen

Her phone alarm sounded softly, nudging Lilly awake. She silenced it with a quick tap, then yawned and stretched. Waking slowly was her preferred way to start the day.

She rolled closer into Max’s side and nestled her chin on his bare chest. It was early still, the sun just rising across the bay—sending threads of sunbeams peeking through the mango trees off the deck. Everything was quiet, including the baby. A good time, perhaps, to bring up something that had been on her mind for a while.

“Max, are you awake?” she whispered.

He sniffed and rubbed his nose. “Barely. What is it, love?”

“Just thinking…” She let a few more quiet minutes drift by. This seemed as good a time as any, even though he was half asleep. He’d been gone so much lately and was so preoccupied in the evenings. “Your business is growing fast. Maybe it’s time to secure a lease on a downtown office? I saw a few nice ones listed this week, and I could check them out for you.”

“Hmm. I don’t know.” He yawned and ran a hand up her back.

“And if so,” she continued, “why not save some cash and let the downtown condo go? You could move in here. I have plentyof room. Most of your things are here, anyway. What do you think?”

She snuggled closer and planted a soft kiss on his collarbone. “Leo would love having you here all the time,” she added. “Me, too.”

He lay unresponsive for a moment, eyes closed. “Leo…” he began, “is only six months old. He doesn’t know yet what he loves and what he doesn’t.”

“Oh, I disagree.” She pushed up on one elbow. “Have you seen how his eyes light up when you come home?”

His lips curled up slightly at the corners. He had noticed.

“The condo lease was for two years. Not sure I can get out of it,” he said.

“I can help with that.” She skimmed her fingertips over his chest. “There are always ways.”

“Naw.” He rolled toward her abruptly and wrapped his arms around her. “I need the condo for client meetings, and…” His lips found hers and he nibbled. “You know there will be times you will want to get rid of me, so I’ll need a place to go to.”

She pulled back slightly, his tone and words setting off a minor alarm in her head. “What do you mean? I don’t want to get rid of you.”

Chuckling, he wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Easy, darling. All couples need time away from each other, you know. It makes things spicier when we get back together. We do fine with you having your space and me having mine.”

“But you travel so much, Max, and we havethattime alone.”And all too often lately, I might add.

“Youhave that time alone, sweetheart. I’m working then. I need a down time when I get back.”

Can’t down time happen with me?Though she supposed what he said was true. Not knowing exactly what “down time” meant to him was a problem.

At least for her.

She had to admit, shedidlike her privacy, her alone time, occasionally. But with Max gone so much the past few months, her alone time had recently felt…excessive.

“It’s just that you’re gone so much….”

He slid her a snarly look, his eyes piercing—like he was displeased with her but didn’t really want to say so. “And you knew that when we got together, love. I travel to make us money. It’s work. Little Leo also needs a college fund.”

That was also true. Max was a hard worker. And she’d be hard-pressed to call that a bad thing. “I just thought I’d mention it because you talked about leasing office space recently. I assumed you wouldn’t need the condo, then.”

“Not ready to let the condo go yet, Lil.” His words were stern. “Don’t assume.”

“Right-o.” She untangled herself from his arms and sat on the edge of the bed. To say she was slightly agitated, would be correct. “With all the new contracts you’ve signed recently, it just seemed like the timing was right. That’s all I’m saying. You talked about hiring staff, too.”

“Talked about it. Yes. But I need more contracts to feel comfortable making that change. I can work out of the condo for the time being.”

He rolled away from her, in the opposite direction, and stood. She watched him stroll across the room and look out over the bay, standing there fully naked and framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

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