Page 84 of Almost Home
I swallowed, nodding to show I’d heard her. I couldn’t explain everything behind my walking away from teaching right now, but I appreciated her getting that it might not be right for me anymore. “Thank you.”
“Thank me by texting your badass boyfriend and kissing him into oblivion tonight.” She winked again and turned with a wave, glancing both ways before she stepped into the street.
“We’re talking about your love life next time,” I warned as I watched her go.
“Ha! Just make sure you book me for the wedding. Friends and family discount!”
With that, she was off, slipping inside Bloom and leaving me to the mix of warmth from her reassurances and dread of dealing with my confused little brain.
I wouldn’t let myself call Wilder and tell him how much I wanted to see him and touch him and dump all my doubts in his lap and pray he wasn’t repelled by them. No.
I did tap out a quick message to him, though.“Can we plan to talk after work tomorrow?”
A minute or so later, he responded.“Yes. Looking forward to it.”
Bolstered by his positive response, I firmed my determination for the next eighteen hours. I’d put myself to bed at a normal time like a grown up, and I’d get up and do an excellent job at work with our meeting with Madeline Reynolds. I’d be professional with him while at work, and I’d make sure we sat down tomorrow night and get it all out. No more keeping this nonsense to myself. No more putting off saying what I wanted or what I worried about.
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
Sarah
Nervous energy coursed through me all morning. Wilder had been here before I’d arrived, talking on the phone for long enough I realized it had to be someone he knew pretty well. He’d then conducted two phone interviews back-to-back. My friend at the school texted to give me a heads up about the job the principal had mentioned the night before and that sent me into an introspective little spiral that had me feeling all kinds of stupid for not jumping at the opportunity.
Wilder wandered up around eleven, eyes dark and expression shrouded in mystery—seriously, I couldn’t read him. I could only feel my heart pick up at his approach and every molecule in me lean toward him.
“Still on to talk after work?”
No inflection or body language gave anything away. Was he dreading it? Excited? Ready to dump me at the door or happy to see me? No idea.
“Yes, if it still works for you. If not, we could—”
“It works.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he scowled. “I’ve gotta take this, and probably need to head to my appointment anyway. I’ll be back after lunch.”
“Anthony confirmed they’re coming around twelve thirty.”
He nodded. “Anthony has confirmed as much with me three times already.”
His expression held just enough chagrin, a laugh slipped through. “I told him we were ready.”
His brow furrowed more significantly. “He’s anxious. I get it.”
That tone sobered me. “Do you think there’s really a threat? I mean, obviously there has been, but here?”
His eyes flicked to his watch. “I hope not. But we’re ready if there is.” He set a hand on the desk next to me and lowered his voice, as though someone might overhear him. “Can I kiss you goodbye?”
A thrill raced through me. No games. No pretending we weren’t… whatever we were. Just Wilder’s brand of directness and sweetness. “Yes, please.”
Needing no more permission, he leaned down and tilted his head. His warm lips pressed against mine and lit fires with the contact. Before it could escalate, he pulled back.
“See you soon.”
* * *
Anthony burst in the door fifteen minutes early, his anxiety so palpable, like a cloud so thick hung around him, I was surprised he could breathe.
“Everything okay? Come in. Wilder isn’t back just yet but should be any minute. Is Ms. Reynolds—”
