Thomas & January (Sleepless 2)

I gazed at all the office doors on that floor and noted they were all a serious frosted glass and ten feet high. “What exactly is my new salary?” I asked Jason, staring at the names on the plates beside each door.

We stopped at the last one on the floor and it read Thomas Eriksson. I almost burst out laughing.

“I had Suzanne rush that for you.”

“Who the hell is Suzanne?”

“Your secretary. It’s six figures.”

“Huh?” I asked, inspecting my nameplate.

“Your salary? It’s six figures.”

“Shut the eff up,” I told him as he swung the door to my office open.

“Surprise!” I heard in chorus.

Inside my barren office was my entire family. My mom, dad, sister, Cherry and Charlie, Callum and Harper, and all the rest of the gang, including Kelly and Carter. My eyes began to sting with how happy I was to see them all in one place and I shook it away, clearing my throat. Harper was closest and threw her arms over my neck.

“Tom, congratulations!” She told me, tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you,” I choked back. “Thank you, everyone.”

I noticed my mom in the corner and pushed my way to her. “Mom,” I said, hugging her tightly.

I felt like a little kid. I needed my mom so badly in that moment. I needed her to tell me it was all going to be okay.

“Congratulations, my darling boy,” she said, and I could feel her tears fall on my shoulder.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too.”

“Dad,” I said, moving to him and hugging him fiercely. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Congrats, son.”

I looked around and swallowed the faces surrounding me. The love and admiration from each of them was so incredibly humbling. Everyone I loved was in that room. Every single one save for the one I loved the most.

Knock. Knock.

We all froze where we stood, unsure what to do.

“Answer it, you dolt!” Cherry playfully jeered, making everyone laugh.

I opened the door and was stunned silent.

“Uh, hi,” January MacLochlainn told me.

She was just as stunning as I’d memorized her to be, if not more so. She’d trimmed her hair since last I saw her and her skin was a bit less tan. She wasn’t any better put together or anything but she obviously wasn’t being forced to improvise on the road. She had access to a permanent wardrobe.

She was unbelievably beautiful. I’d wondered what she’d been doing since I last saw her. I wanted to throw her into my arms and kiss her senseless but I didn’t. I couldn’t. She wasn’t mine to throw.

“Hi,” I stupidly replied after too long a silence. Things were awkward.

“I-I just wanted to stop by and congratulate you. Everyone’s really excited to have you back,” she said, then cleared her throat. “Anyway, I see you’re busy,” she said, popping her head in the room and smiling at everyone. “I won’t bother you anymore. It was nice to see you again.” She waved to everyone in the room then left.

I closed the door behind her, dumbstruck. No, struck mute, like a complete idiot. She’d left me tongue-tied. I knew if I had opened my mouth I would have just spouted nonsense or worse, proclaim that I loved her again but at the top of my lungs and in front of my entire family.