He put the phone to his ear and walked into the other room. I wondered what he had just been about to say. He had seemed concerned. Nervous even. Which made me nervous. As if something he was about to tell me would make me unhappy.
Stop it! I shouted internally to myself. I was reading things into nothing again. I had to stop doing that.
A few minutes later Robert came back, tucking his phone into his trouser pocket. “I have to get into the office. It seems one of my clients, who I’m supposed to be going to court for a custody case today, was arrested for being drunk in public last night. Looks like it’s going to be a busy day.” He crossed the room to me and pulled me close, kissing me deeply. “Can I come back over tonight after work? I can bring food.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I really need to talk to you about some things.”
I felt myself go still at his words, but Robert had already released me, grabbing his car keys. He looked back at me and a strange look crossed his face. In a rush, he came to me again and kissed me. Hard and almost desperate. He cupped my face in his hands and looked at me with imploring eyes. “Skylar…” His voice broke, his eyes were bright. “I love you. I wanted you to hear it now. Because I needed you to know. I love you.” He kissed me again. “I never, ever want to imagine my life without you in it.”
I was taken aback. Not because I hadn’t suspected I’d hear those words from him, but because of the way he was saying them. As if he were terrified I’d leave him. As if he had to tell me or he’d never get the chance.
What was wrong with him?
Before I got the chance to reciprocate the statement, he kissed my forehead and was out the door. It was all a bit of a whirlwind and I felt as if I had been bowled over.
I went to the window and watched him head out to his car. I stood there staring outside for a long time after he left, still trying to process what had happened.
Robert had just told me he loved me. Why did it feel like he ran away afterward? It was kind of bizarre.
I checked the time and got myself in gear.
“Come on, boy,” I called out to my dog, who eagerly followed me back to my office where I tried to concentrate on work and not the fact that my boyfriend had just told me that he loved me with absolute fear on his face.
**
I had only just started checking my emails when I heard the doorbell ring.
“What now?” I sighed. Edgar lifted his head as if to ask if he should come. I laughed and scratched him behind the ear. “You stay here. Don’t want you to put yourself out.”
I headed down the hallway to the front door. I could see a shadow on the other side and the doorbell rang again. “Okay, okay, hold your horses,” I muttered. I wasn’t expecting a delivery and it was highly unusual for any of my friends to visit without calling first.
Maybe Robert had come back. The thought made me giddy and a little nervous, given how strange he acted before he left.
I opened the door and stood there blinking in surprise.
“Um, hello?”
Tiff stood on my porch with a hesitant smile on her face. “Hi, Skylar. I hope it’s okay that I popped over unannounced.”
A slither of disquiet crept through my body. I looked around but she was alone. Her swanky red sports car was parked in the driveway. “Um, how did you know where I lived?”
Tiff looked slightly embarrassed. “I did some Googling. Found the record of your house purchase.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, not liking this at all. “That’s a lot of work to go through to track someone down. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were stalking me or something.”
“I know how this must look. I’d be freaking out if I were you—”
“That’s one way of putting it,” I countered.
“Do you mind if I come in? I’ll only be a few minutes. I just really need to talk to you. To lay some things out on the table.” Tiff didn’t appear threatening. She seemed hesitant almost.
Against my better judgment, I held open the door. “Come on in.”
She brushed past me and I was overwhelmed by her obviously very expensive perfume. She seemed to douse herself in it. She stood awkwardly in my entryway so I beckoned for her to follow me into the living room.
I noticed her looking around, taking in everything. “Your house is lovely. I really like it.”