“I guess that’s the only thing that matters,” I mused before sipping my coffee. “I mean, if you don’t pack your toothbrush, you can buy another.”
“I wish I could pack you in my suitcase, Millie.”
I smiled, and closing the space between us, I let Caleb’s lips find mine and my free hand curl around the nape of his neck. It had been so easy with him over the last few days. As I tasted the lingering flavors of his morning toast and coffee, I longed for the assurance that Caleb and I could be like this forever, but I took his hand and got him out to the car first. He did have a plane to catch.
“For the record, I can drive,” Caleb insisted. “I just realized last year it wasn’t worth it keeping a car in the city. I walk most days to work, and the parking here is expensive.”
I had realized over the weekend how Caleb and I prioritized money in the same way. I knew he could afford something much larger than the one-bedroom he had but having a comfortable savings and extra funds to support his family had been far more valuable. He was fine making his own coffee if he could afford to buy himself a better-quality sweater. Caleb Harrow was a man who knew how to organize his priorities, even if one of them wasn’t cleaning his spaces.
“I know. This is my sister’s car,” I explained while turning out onto the main road. “I think she’s paying over a hundred bucks a month just to park it. I thought about buying one for myself, but it’s going to cost me over five-hundred bucks just to maintain it. I don’t know if it’s worth it.”
Caleb shook his head. “That’s so crazy.”
I swallowed back a rising feeling in my chest. Certain words were begging to come out of me.
“Caleb,” I began first, “you’ve enjoyed this weekend, right?”
“Of course, Millie.”
“And you know, we can always be like this. I know it’s a lot to process right now. I know you’ve got so much on your mind right now, but I didn’t want you to leave without being sure that you were okay with this. Vlad is willing to share me. I’m willing to split my time between you two, but are you okay with this arrangement, really and truly?”
“I am,” he answered plainly. “What about Warren, though?”
“What about Warren?”
Honestly, over the last few days, I hadn’t given him much thought. Hearing his name again was like a shock of cold water against my skin, yet I hadn’t forgotten how he set aside his own ego and desires when I called for help. Perhaps Warren Jones could get a little cocky, but there was a far better man hidden under that academic bravado. That couldn’t be ignored.
“We haven’t gotten there yet,” I answered Caleb, “but that doesn’t mean I’ve ruled anything with him out.”
“Cards on the table, Warren and I made a bargain about you once.”
I stopped at a red light and blinked in surprise. “Sorry?”
“We both were interested in you, and I think, based on some of the comments you made, we both knew you might not want to be forced into a decision between us. Warren and I agreed that we would be willing to share you, if that’s what you wanted. I don’t think that’s changed for him. If you want to maintain your relationship with Vlad, that’s fine by me, and if you want to see how you feel about Warren, I’m okay with that too.”
My whole body relaxed. As I drove closer to O’Hare, the assurance Caleb offered put a small smile on my face.
“I think I needed to hear that,” I told him.
From the passenger seat, Caleb turned to me, his blue eyes bright and almost hopeful again. The color had returned to his timeless face, and I could help feel a swell of affection. It was a shame I couldn’t let go of the wheel and reach for the smoothly shaved cheeks stretching wider with a smile.
“And I think I’m falling for you, Millie,” he professed without reservation. “I’m not dumb enough to let petty jealousy get in the way of all that we could have together.”
His arm reached across the hatchback’s console, running over my hair as if he knew. Of course, he did. Caleb and I had slowly but surely found our balance and connection. It was how we fit so well together at work, and it was why we could be so happy if we built this life together. As I found Caleb’s terminal and helped him pull his suitcase from the trunk, I knew that everything about this felt good and right.
“I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts,” I promised him. “If you ever need to talk, just call, okay?”
“I promise I’ll be back next Monday in the office,” he answered.
“It’s okay if you aren’t ready by then.”
Caleb shook his head, smiling as he looked down at me. His mouth twisted to one side. The beautiful imperfection broke my heart. In his university sweatshirt and jeans, he looked so young and alive. He shone like one of the stars he loved so much.
“No, Millie, I’ll be more than ready to spend my days with you again,” he promised me. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, so you better get yourself ready.”
Somehow, it didn’t totally feel like he was talking solely about work.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” I murmured back. “I’ll always be ready for you.”
The security attendant was giving us an evil eye, wanting me to get a move on, but that didn’t stop me from stealing one final kiss. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I met Caleb’s lips as his hands slipped into the back pockets of my jeans. It was his sneaky little way of letting him grip my ass in public, and I found it hard not to grin at the playful gesture.
“Safe travels, Caleb,” I told him as I pulled away.
I slowly walked around the car as I watched him roll his luggage through the glass doors. The guard was five seconds from coming over and sending me on my way, but I knew to go. Caleb’s tall, lean figure was gone, anyway. He was off to settle his family affairs before coming back to me.
I grinned as I considered it.
Caleb was coming back to me.