I shrug making it seem like I haven’t thought about it. “Tomorrow.”
“Seriously?”
My head moves up and down in rapid motion. “I don’t want to wait.”
“What about work?”
“It all lives on my trusty laptop. I’ll have to adjust my hours slightly, but I’ll be okay. Just think of the morning loving I can give you.”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Only when it comes to you. So, what do you think?”
“I think you should get on the plane. I have Friday off this weekend and can make some modifications to my appointments so we can spend more time together.”
“You sure?”
Her lips purse. “Kellan, if you’re not in my apartment tomorrow when I get home from work, naked, with a rose stem in your mouth, I will think you’re not serious about me.”
Oh, hell no, we can’t have those thoughts running through her pretty little head. “I’ll take the first flight out and be there as fast as American Airlines can get me there.”
“Perfect. Now, I have to get dressed and go to work. Talk tonight.”
“Yeah, lassie. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Me neither. I love you, Kellan.”
Hearing her say that never gets old. If she only knew how much I really loved her. “I love you too,” I say. She blows me a kiss before disconnecting our call. I remember the day I told her those words for the first time. It was two weeks after the wedding and since I had a free weekend, I flew out to see her. We were sitting out on her apartment balcony, enjoying the cool, breezy night when the words slipped from my mouth. I thought for sure she’d say “thank you” or some shit like that, but instead, she kissed me and said the words back. I knew then and there that it was going to work.
I sit back and smile until my cheeks fucking hurt. Hell yes, I’m going to see my girl tomorrow. However, in order to make this happen I have a shit ton of work to do. First things first, book my flight. I’ll let the rest fall into place.
When the plane lands in Phoenix, the flight attendant tells everyone to lower their shades and to stay in their seats until it is time to get up because it’s hot outside and they don’t want us overheating. I sort of scoff because I’ve heard this before, and I’m at the front of the plane, I’ll be off as soon as the doors open.
As soon as I step off the plane and inhale, I take back everything I said and thought in the minutes prior to this point in my life. It’s hotter than a witch’s tit leaning over a cauldron. What the ever-loving fuck is this shit and why didn’t Hope warn me about it?
By the time I make it out of the airport, I’m sweating. No wonder Hope said I needed to be naked on her couch when she came home from work—she doesn’t want to see what a sweaty mess I am, and frankly neither do I.
I give the driver Hope’s address and ask him to crank up the air conditioner. He glances over his shoulder at me. “Sir, it’s only eighty.”
“Bullshit, it has to be a hundred plus out there.” I tug at the collar of my shirt and let my tongue hang out the side of my mouth.
“Where are you from?”
“New York City.”
“And it’s what, like thirty out?” he asks.
“More like fifty.”
The driver laughs. “You’re in the desert now, everything will seem hotter. It’ll cool down tonight to about sixty. But if you think it’s hot here now, don’t come back in the summer.”
“How hot?”
He shrugs. “Easily over a hundred, every day.”
This gives me pause. This is where Hope lives. I have to come back if I want to see her, but I’ve never felt like my body was on fire before until now.
The drive takes longer than I anticipated. I didn’t expect there to be so much traffic. I suppose Phoenix is like any other big city, especially one that is growing. When the cab driver pulls into Hope’s apartment complex, I’m relieved. I pay, grab my suitcase, and head up toward her place. I wasn’t keen on the idea of her leaving her house key under the doormat, but she promised me everything was safe.
With the key in my hand, I slide it into the lock and let myself in. It’s painted in muted purples, greens and grays with pops of color everywhere. It’s clean, smells like her and the most comfortable feeling place I’ve ever been.
How is this possible?
Because you’re already in love, idiot.
After I reacquaint myself, get something to drink and send Hope a text with me lying on her bed, I open my laptop and do some work. I have a timer set for when she’s supposed to be home because I want to give her my undivided attention.