Page 120 of Tell Me Something

“Yeah, I think so. You want more than just an extension of our time together.”

I sighed in relief that maybe he did get it. “And I fully understand that you aren’t in a place where you can do that. I’ve never tried to change you. I respect the fact that we both want different things long term.”

He simply looked at me as I rushed on.

“And I really would like to enjoy our last month together. We have the hotel grand opening in Cancun to look forward to in a couple of weeks. Maybe we could get some personal time there as well?” A last few precious days with him would give me a chance to gather as many memories as possible.

“Yeah, I’d like that.” He looked torn as the phone rang.

I picked up the call, gave a greeting, and then put it on hold. “It’s Mark for you.”

“Okay. I’ll, um, see you later tonight, all right?”

I nodded, feeling relief that we were back to the original plan. Emotionally, I could prepare for the end if I knew when that would be.

ON A FRIDAY afternoon a week after giving notice, I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers in the office. Josh was in a meeting across town, and Nigel had the day off. Smiling, I read the card and felt my heart flutter.

“Please join me this evening for the opera. I will pick you up at your place at 7pm. –J”

He was asking me out on an actual date. I hugged the card to me and took a deep breath. The last week had been a little awkward, but he’d still climbed in bed with me each evening. We were enjoying the time we had left, and this was an indication he wanted to make the best of it. I might not believe in long term happiness, but I loved the moments in time where it was easy to forget that.

I dressed in my black Givenchy gown. It was made for a night at the opera. After touching up my makeup and hair, I was ready by seven o’clock. My pulse leaped with the sound of the knock.

I opened my door to see Josh standing there in a full tuxedo. The effect was panty-dropping for sure. “You look really good.”

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, I could see the flash of desire. “That damn fuck-me look you have, Haylee, will be the death of me.”

I couldn’t help grinning. “It’s really your fault for filling out a tux the way you do.”

“Well, you are ravishing, and I’m really glad you wore that dress. I especially like the slit.” He bent down and parted it to reveal my full leg and garters and then hissed through his teeth. “I knew doing that would be a mistake. Come on. Let’s go before I blow this date before it gets started.”

I grabbed my clutch and took his offered arm down to the waiting car. Instead of grabbing my pinky in the back seat, he moved me close and put his arm around me.

As far as dates went, I was already sure this was the best one I’d ever been on.

The opera was beautiful, and Josh’s seats, of course, were the best in the house. Afterwards, the car took us a few blocks away to a restaurant, a swanky place that was humming on a Friday night. It was evident he was pulling out all of the stops when we were escorted to a private table in the back.

Once we were seated, he took my hand over the small intimate table for two. “I’m not hiding you. I just wanted privacy for us,” he explained.

“I understand either way.”

He frowned and appeared to want to say more, but we were interrupted by the waitress.

She took our orders and poured the bottle of wine.

He toasted and looked at me thoughtfully. “To new beginnings.”

I smiled, clinking my glass with his. “New beginnings.”

“I should’ve done this with you sooner.”

Biting my lip, I searched for the right words. “I think it means more anyhow, that you would do this for me before I leave. Thank you.”

His eyes flashed something, and then it was gone. We enjoyed a lovely meal and some more wine before making our way back to the apartment.

“I’d like to take that dress off of you myself, if you don’t mind,” he said quietly.

We’d just come off the elevator to our floor. I had thought I’d go change before going over to his place.