Page 25 of So Wrong, It's Wright
“I wish I was there to rub your shoulders for you and make it all better. Maybe bring a picnic dinner and you could have your dessert on that workbench right there.” She looks over my shoulder as her mouth curves into a sultry grin. I groan.
“God, you have no idea how much I want that right now. But even if you were here, I’d be lucky to see you more than five minutes a day. This deadline is brutal.”
“I could handle five minutes if it meant I got to see you in person.”
I lean forward and run my hand back and forth through my hair, releasing a frustrated sigh. “The moment I can get away, I’m jumping on a plane straight to you. I promise.”
“OK. That sounds perfect,” she says. “I miss having you in my bed.”
“I miss being there.”
She bites her lip. “Is anyone around?”
“No. The place is empty.”
“Good. Because I want to show you what I’d like to do to you…”
* * *
With a furious colleaguelamenting the fact she’s missing Sunday breakfast while she fills in for me back at the lab, I step out of the cab and make my way to the airport check in with a ticket to New York on my cell. Janeece may be cursing my name right now, but since I’ve spent years building up my karma points where she and time with her kid is concerned, I don’t feel terribly guilty. She went to his little league game yesterday while I was crunching numbers and making program alterations. So as far as I’m concerned, missing breakfast is a small sacrifice to thank me for all the extra hours I’ve pulled so shecouldbe a present parentandnot lose her job for failing to complete a project on time. Hell, I’m practically a saint here. And I don’t think a single day off is too much to ask.
However, since I only have a single day, it means I have exactly twenty-four hours to commute between Atlanta and New York, get my fill of Tahlia and maybe eat something and sleep a little before I need to rush back and show up for work on Monday so we can finally put this project to bed in the coming weeks. This has been a solid year in development, but now that we’re in the final phases of testing, we’re finding there’s a massive issue with the arch flexing system calibrating with the toes on uneven surfaces. The whole point of this prosthetic is to simulate natural movement so wearers have less of the joint and mobility problems traditional prosthetics can cause long term. So, if we can’t figure that out, this entire project will be a bust. And one of my most hated things to do is hand in a failed project. Not only does it affect future project allocations, it also affects my performance and pay scale review. And while I may not have wanted to throw my brains and ambition into the family company working for Wright Media, I do still have an intense desire to succeed. Probably the one thing my father gave me that’s been useful to me.
When I move through the line and get my boarding pass, I head over to the security checkpoint and line up there, checking my watch regularly as we slowly meander through screening. The moment I’m on the other side, I pull out my cell to text Tahlia. After talking to—andwatching—her on Friday night, I knew I had to make a trip to New York, and fast. There’s only so much time you can let lapse between asking a girl to be your girlfriend and seeing her again, and it was getting clear from the desperate need that seemed to coat our every conversation that I’d already far exceeded that time. So I made a snap decision to book a flight, insisted Janeece take the Sunday at the lab then set out to surprise my girl with exactly what she’s been missing. Me in her bed.
Me:Morning precious, I’ve got a morning full of closed-door testing. I’ll call you as soon as I’m free. Enjoy your Sunday and take photos if you find yourself thinking of me. :inserts devil emoji:
I smile to myself as I hit ‘send’ then wait for it to say ‘delivered’ before I pocket my phone and head toward my gate. If all goes well, I should be knocking on her door in a few hours with croissants and coffee in hand. I’m getting hard just thinking about that tiny little body of hers wrapping around mine again. I can’t fucking wait.
TAHLIA
The devil emoji makes me smile, and if I wasn’t in public, I’d send him a sexy photo to use as ‘inspiration’ when the time is right. But he’ll just have to wait to see the real thing in person since I’m on my way to see him right now.
This closed-door testing is actually pretty perfect. It means I don’t have to make up an excuse as to whyI’llbe out of contact for the next three hours or more. And then when he’s finished work and weary after another long day, he’ll have me there to perk him up again. It’s going to be brilliant, and I can’t wait to see the expression on his face when I surprise him.
“Boarding pass, please.” The flight attendant smiles and holds out his hand when I’ve reached the top of the stairs and step inside the plane. I hand the ticket over and he directs me to my seat. “Have a nice flight.”
“I’m going to Atlanta to surprise my boyfriend,” I say, unable to keep my excitement inside me anymore. It's been almost impossible for me not to blurt it ever since Darren bought me this ticket as my early birthday present. I think I spent two hours talking nonstop about it with Ruby yesterday, and when I was talking to Ash last night, I almost let it slip. But thankfully some alarm on the equipment in his lab went off and cut our conversation short. Any other time I would have been very put out by the interruption, but for once it was welcome. My surprise visit was kept secret and I'm practically bouncing on my toes with excitement to see him.
“Lucky boyfriend,” the attendant says with an even bigger smile as he hands me back my ticket.
“I’m nervous,” I say, noting the disgruntled sigh of the passenger behind me.
The attendant purses his lips. “I’ll bet you are.”
“Not because I don’t think he’ll be happy to see me. Just because I’ve never been to his place before.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” the person behind me mutters, and I glance back and frown.
The flight attendant pats my hand. “Don’t worry, girlfriend. I’ll bring you something to calm those nerves when we serve refreshments after takeoff. You just find your seat and I’ll take care of everything else. Promise.”
His words help to settle me immediately. “Thank you,” I say, glancing at my boarding pass again and finding my way to my seat. Happy in the knowledge that soon, I’ll be right where I want to be—in Ash’s arms and hopefully his bed.
* * *
With my carry-onluggage trailing behind me, I pull out my cell and power it up grinning when it lights up with a call the moment I do. Ash’s sexy face fills my screen and I swipe my finger across it so his deep, rumbly voice fills my ear. I'm already majorly turned on, and I'm not even at his place yet.
“I was just thinking about you,” I say with a smile.
