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“Do you think she would be interested in spending the New Year with us? At your place?” he asks.
“Oh, yes. She was excited when I asked,” I answer.
“I bet,” he says as he looks at me with a side-eye. “New Year’s Eve will be the perfect night to propose. That settles it. I’ll do it then.”
“Splendid. I’ll call the shops we decided on to finalize the arrangements. You’ll still be coming up before the twenty-fifth?” I ask.
“Of course, I think we will head up the Saturday before like usual.”
“If you have any special dietary requests, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll plan to have the place stocked before your arrival.”
“I’m home!” Finn yells from the entryway as we finish up the last of the dishes. “Hey pops, where have you been all night.”
Before I can answer, Oliver does, “He’s been with Lucy. Celebrating the movie deal.”
Finn walks over to me and places his hands on my shoulders, “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I turn back to the more subtle of my two sons. “I’m going to retire for the evening. Going to go over the script some more.” Walking out, I wish them goodnight.
“If you have any questions, you should call Lucy!” Finn yells behind me, but I don’t bother to acknowledge it.
Twenty-Three
LUCY
It’s beentwo weeks since Henry picked me up at the airport and made a romantic dinner for us.
Two weeks since he told me he got the director role for the upcomingPride and Prejudicerendition.
Two weeks since he gifted me the first edition ofPride and Prejudice.
Two weeks since we hugged…more than once. A memory that constantly repeats in my mind.
And two weeks since it felt like we were a real couple while we planned the next steps of our fake relationship.
Joining pre-production has kept Henry busy every day since. He’s even missed two of our Tuesday nights at the coffee shop. I’m always sure to sit at the end of the table, with an empty seat next to mine, just in case he shows up.
With my classes coming to an end for the semester, I find myself with extra time on my hands. Time I don’t want to spend thinking about the way Henry made me feel that night. How my heart swelled when I spotted himat the airport or the butterflies that fluttered when he said he found his Miss Bennett.
No, I must not spend another evening curled up in bed admiring my new books while thinking of how sexy he looked in my small kitchen or the way the muscles in his back moved as he prepared our dinner, and I certainly don’t need to think about how good it felt to be in his arms, even for the brief embrace, it was enough to do more damage than I care to admit.
So, in an attempt to silence those thoughts, I volunteer to take over Henry’s social media accounts while he is busy with the movie.
Even though his busy schedule has prevented us from seeing each other, Henry calls almost every night when he gets back from work. He lets me know what he did during his day and asks my opinion on decisions he needs to make. I’ve requested he send me some discreet photos of his day to use for the account now that the production company has officially announced his role. I’ve posted them mixed in with the throwback photos of him and Max, as well as staged romantic photos.
I message him with a question, one that he doesn’t seem to expect by the way he replies.
Lucy
What size shoes do you wear?
Henry is a tall man, I’d guess 6’5”, but I don’t want to miss the chance to make him laugh at the assumption, so I leave the text without any context.
Henry
Why?
Lucy
