Page 95 of Infatuated as They Come
“Can I see the thing?” I pulled away from him slightly so I could look up at him.
“Not yet, baby.”
“You must be working on a really big project. Do you have any photos?”
“No photos. You’ll see it soon, though, and I really hope you love it.”
“I’m sure it looks so beautiful.”
He looked at me for a long moment before speaking up. “I hope so. I know I’ve barely been around this past month. It probably feels like before…”
My eyes shut tightly for a moment. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been down at the studio. I hope you’re having lots of fun working on… whatever you’re working on.”
“You’re feeling lonely again,” he said with a frown.
“I haven’t felt lonely,” I said. “I’m so happy you’re focusing on your art, that you’re doing something you love. You deserve this.”
“After today, I won’t be there as much or as long,” he said, giving the top of my head another kiss.
My head shook. “No, you can’t stop going.”
“I won’t stop, I just won’t be there as often. I’ll be around more. I’ll get to see you more. I’m so lucky I get to see you at all. That I get to come home to you. I want to show you how lucky I feel, how lucky I know I am.”
“I’m lucky too,” I whispered. “So lucky I have you.”
He hummed, his lips pressed to my head. “My sweet girl. Why don’t we get some sleep? Long drive tomorrow, huh?”
Too many thoughts whirled around in my head as he pulled me closer, letting me rest there against his chest.I miss you, I love you, I hate never seeing your face, I miss your touch, I miss kissing you, I miss so much about you and us, and God, I even miss the way we used to argue because at least we talked then. But there he was, getting lost in his art and following his dreams, doing exactly what he should have been doing since we moved here. How could Iget in the way of that?
* * *
We were officially back in Dallas and I had missed it more than I realized.
I thought about what Sawyer had said at the end of summer, when he had taken me out for my birthday and said how when he drove past certain places, he thought of me. My heart fluttered as that same feeling overtook me. We drove by the empty field where our date to the summer fair had been and the cinema we went to a bunch of times and the restaurants where we had lovely dinners. It was nice to see those spots again.
Soon we were back in Highland Park, pulling up in front of my place. I could already see some Christmas decorations out the front: the lush wreath on the double doors and the dozens and dozens of strings of lights across the roof and windows.
We both hopped out of the car and Sawyer grabbed the pile of bags with ease. I had put a pause on all of those lonely feelings brimming around inside of me, leaving them far behind in New York. For a little while, the city would be long gone, and we’d have Christmas to look forward to. It’d be nothing but warm moments and making memories and us just being together.
“You think he still hates me?” Sawyer asked next to me as we walked up the stairs.
“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable while you stay here. Like you don’t belong. You do, and don’t let him convince you otherwise.” I turned to face him when we got to the top of the stairs. “If it’s weird for you to be here…”
“I was just joking.” He smiled at me. “It’s okay. We’ll stay.”
“If he says anything to you, I’m gonna—”
The sound of the front doors swinging open cut me off, and I turned to see my wide-eyed mother there in the doorway. She looked as elegant as ever in her white sweater, her black pants contrasting against the soft looking material. I was hit with the gentle smell of jasmine and rose, herfamiliar Chanel perfume so comforting.
“I thought I heard noise!” She threw her arms around me, bringing me in close. “I missed you so much. Come inside, come inside. Oh, Sawyer, look at you. You look even taller than the last time I saw you. Come here! It’s so nice to see you.” Her arms were thrown around him next as she stood on the tips of her toes, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
Sawyer’s eyes found mine, a little smile on his face as he raised his eyebrows up at me. He dropped the bags to the ground, moving his own arms around Mom. “It’s good to see you too.”
“Is that Holly?” I heard my father’s voice call out.
I turned again and watched my dad approach the doorway, his steps fast and his smile big as he hugged me to him.
“I missed you,” he said with a sigh. “It’s like you’ve been gone for a decade.”
