Page 125 of Every Broken Piece
It takes me a minute to realize what he’s saying, and yet I still can’t trust what I hear. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezes my leg. “Don’t ever be sorry. You can’t help the way you were raised, but I’m going to work real hard at making good memories to replace the bad.”
For the first time since I sat down, I relax as best I can. All the whirling thoughts settle as rational thoughts take over. Gabe wouldn’t have recommended Denver doctors if he was kicking me out. He wouldn’t have offered his car and driver if he didn’t want me around. This isn’t bad. Not everything has to be bad.
“I have to leave for New York tomorrow,” he says.
It wasn’t what I was expecting to hear. Then again, I was expecting an eviction notice so I’m not really comprehending what he’s saying.
“I don’t want to leave you, especially since you’re still settling in—”
“I never want to interfere in your life or your business.”
“It’s not interfering.” His tone turns frustrated. “You mean something to me, Tess. You’re an important part of my life. Of course I have to take your needs into consideration.”
“You don’t. I’ll be fine—”
He growls. “This is what it means to be in a relationship. It’s about being there when the other needs you. I feel like leaving you now isn’t the best thing for either of us.”
I lift my chin, aggravated at the insinuation that I don’t know how to be in a relationship. “Maybe I’ve never been in a serious relationship, and maybe I don’t know how all this works, but I do know that I won’t be a burden to you or anyone else.”
“You’re not a burden. You’ve never been a burden. I just...” He raises his hands then lets them fall. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I promise I’ll be fine. Pax and Jack are here to keep my company.”
His laugh his harsh. “That’s not reassuring. The last time I left you and Pax you got drunk off a kids’ card game.”
I bite back my grin. “We won’t do that again.”
His gaze flicks across my face, telegraphing all his worries. “You’ll be fine, right?”
“I’ll be fine.” Something tells me that this is more about his insecurities than about mine. Is he afraid I’ll disappear on him? I guess I can’t blame him considering my go-to response to just about anything is running away. This man. I love him. I want to tell him, but the words keep getting stuck in my throat.
“I’m hoping to be back by Wednesday. I don’t like missing Thursday dinners. They’re important to Pax.”
“And you.”
“And me.” He slides his hand up my outer thigh, to my hip. “I have something for you.” With his other hand he pulls a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket and hands it to me.
I stare at the paper dangling between us, unwilling to reach for it. I don’t know what this is but going by his expression it’s serious and I’m not sure I want to open it.
He nudges it closer to me. “It won’t bite.”
Reluctantly I take it and hold it for a few heartbeats before I slowly unfold it. The first thing I see is my signature at the bottom and I frown.
“It’s your non-compete from TaskGenius. It’s null and void.”
“Null and void?”
“It’s no longer valid.”
“I know what null and void means.” I just can’t process what this is and how Gabe came to be in possession of my non-compete with TaskGenius.
His fingers flex on my hip. “You don’t have to decide now. You can wait to see how your interview goes on Monday if you want, but this means you can have your clients back.”
“Why? And...how?”
“I purchased the company.”
