Page 27

“Hey.”

My head snaps up from the papers I’ve been grading when I hear Heath’s voice as he enters my room. I’ve been living in my condo for one month yesterday. In that time I’ve been writing like crazy, spending time by myself and actually enjoying it. The kids have settled in nicely, and they’ve adjusted well. The time with Heath has dwindled into seeing him in passing as we drop the kids off. He’s told me work has been crazy, but I wonder if this is him being him.

“Hey. Why are you here?” I push back from the desk, but I wince when a pain shoots up my shin.

“What’s wrong?” He scurries over, bending down in front of me. “Is it your hip?” He knows that I get a pain in my hip from time to time.

“No,” I grit, bringing my leg up to rest on my thigh. “I’ve picked up running, and I’ve gotten shin splints,” I say as I rub the pain away.

“Here.” He takes my foot in his hand, pulling off my shoes before running his fingers from the arch of my foot, up the back of my calf. My head falls back against my chair. “Do both legs hurt?”

The massage feels so good, I can’t seem to open my eyes. “Yeah.”

“Why are you running? You’ve never been a runner before.”

“I know that. But I thought I’d try it. It shouldn’t be too bad. Besides,” I peel one eye open. “I heard it relieves built-up frustrations or something like that.”

He places one leg on the ground before starting on the other one. “There are other ways of relieving frustrations, you know. You don’t need to kill yourself by running.”

“Yeah, well the only other stress and frustration relief I’m familiar with calls for a little bit more than I’m willing to bite off these days.”

“I’d be willing to make that sacrifice to help you out, you know?” He wriggles his brows at me.

“Come on, Heath. That’s not the way this is supposed to go.”

He gives my foot one last squeeze before gingerly setting it down. “I know. I apologize.” He stands before he leans against my desk.

I only then realize that he’s dressed up in dark denim jeans and a freshly pressed dress shirt. “So what’s up?” I ask.

“I was hoping to take you out to an early dinner and a movie.”

Of course, now that he has the time, I’m too busy. I sigh. “I can’t. I have these papers to grade and that stack over there,” I lift my hand to point to the essays my class turned in last week, “should have been graded at the end of last week. I need to get those into the system before I have parents calling me threatening my life.”

He looks around my desk for a moment. “Well, I guess I’ll just order pizza and keep you company.”

I straighten in my chair. “You don’t have to do that, Heath. This stuff is boring.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to spend some time with you. I’ll be here, in case you need some help with the grades.” He gives me a wink and pulls out his phone. “Shit,” he curses almost under his breath.

My body tenses at his tone. “What? What’s wrong?”

His lips thin while his nostrils flare. When he takes his eyes from his phone to gaze at me, I know what’s coming next. “Whit–”

I throw up my hand, stopping him before the excuses roll off his tongue. “Work?” I ask already knowing the answer. “Just go, Heath. It’s fine.”

His shoulders fall as his head drops. When he looks up, I can see disappointment swirling so prominently in his eyes. “I’m sorry, babe. I really am. I’m trying. Believe me that I’ve been working my ass off trying to get this aligned at work. I don’t want to cut down on my projects. I don’t want to turn customers away, and as much as it’s a headache, I’m enjoying watching the company grow. I may have bitched and complained about not needing the acknowledgment in the industry, but I was wrong. I just need help, and I swear to Christ I’ve been looking for the right guy for the past two weeks. I’ve been interviewing guys—.”

“It’s okay–”

“No, it’s not. I want to be here with you. I want to watch you grade papers.”

I laugh. “Now you’re lying.”

“Maybe about the papers, but not about you.” I hear the buzz of his phone. He looks so torn, and that’s not what I was trying for.

“It’s all right. Some other time. I’ve got a lot of work here to do before I head out. Don’t worry about it.”

He nods and takes a step towards to door, but stops. When I realize he’s changed his course and headed towards me, I grip the armrests of my chair. He leans over, placing his hands over mine as he leans his forehead. “Please believe that I’m trying. Even though I’ve been scarce, I’m still trying. Don’t forget that.”

I swallow. “I know.”

“Good. I’ll make it up to you. Promise,” he tells me before he places a kiss on my forehead, making my eyes close.

Damn, I miss this man.