Page 61 of Unconventionally, Elle
Now
A few days later, I woke up at eight a.m. and discovered a text from Rachel on our group chat. She'd quit her job, "pulled an Elle," and they were packing their bags to move to New York. Barrett was snoring--or maybe it was Louie or both? I sent a heart to the chat and cuddled up with my boys under our fluffy duvet.
Louie licked my face as Barrett's alarm went off again. I thought I'd heard something ringing, but I also thought I was still dreaming. Barrett stretched and gave me a quick kiss before going straight to the shower. He had to be at the office for a ten a.m. meeting with his dad and the owner of the Miami property. Once he got dressed, he met me in the kitchen, where I was pouring coffee.
"How much writing do you plan on doing today?" Barrett asked as he rushed to get his briefcase ready for the day.
"At least three thousand words." I sipped my coffee. "I can't believe your dad is back at the office today." I trod lightly on the topic. "It was less than a week ago."
I glanced over the rim of my coffee cup to see Barrett shaking his head. "From your mouth to God's ears."
"Mm," I mumbled.
"He won't stop. I talked to Mom--believe it or not, she called me--and he's acting like nothing happened." Barrett shrugged as he put more papers into his briefcase.
"Wow, seriously?" My forehead crinkled as my eyebrows lifted. "How is Em doing since the scare?"
"Emma was always dad's favorite. She's taking it hard and is at the house with him more now." His tone became clipped.
"Oh," I said and then brought my coffee back to my lips.
"Yeah, don't worry. I've had plenty of years to get over it. Em and I are close, but she's Dad's shining star, you know? The baby girl of the family."
"I can see that," I said.
Frustrated his briefcase wouldn't zip up, he tossed it onto the coffee table and sat on the couch next to me to breathe. "Fuck, today feels crazy. When we were growing up, Harold took care of Em and me."
"Right, right, I remember you mentioned that in Nantucket."
"Yeah, so Dad always made time for Emma's things. If Emma had a dance recital, he was there. When Emma graduated Yale, he was there." Barrett stretched his arms overhead and put his hands behind his head, elbows wide.
"You graduated Yale too." I smiled at him.
He gave me a bittersweet grin. "Dad was in London."
"Wow," was all I managed to mutter.
"Don't worry about it, babe." He stood up from the couch, walked closer to me, and leaned over. His arms boxed me in, and his fresh scent made my heart constrict.
"Oh, don't forget, we have our early Christmas with the boys later."
"No problem, I'll be home in time. Good luck on your book today--I can't wait to read it." His lips drew closer to mine. One soft kiss and he was gone.
We parked in front of Finn and Jackson's apartment about thirty minutes late. First I couldn't find my phone, then Barrett forgot to feed Louie, then I forgot my white elephant gift. Needless to say, we finally made it.
"You know Louie loves me more, right?" I teased as we started to walk to the boys' front door.
"It's not a proven fact, Ellz. I refuse to believe it," Barrett said. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his pocket flashing.
"Barrett, is that your phone?" I pointed and his eyes followed my finger.
"Shit, you're right. Hang on a sec." He stopped and pulled his phone out.
At that moment, Finn opened his front door.
"Ellie, Elle, Elle! Barrett! You're here!" His voice carried through the dark snowy evening.
Barrett's face was blank, his lips were pressed together, and I could feel the tension rolling off of him.
