Employee of the Month

It was a stupid suggestion and we both knew that well enough. Still, it didn’t make it any easier knowing I’d have to let him go for the time being.

“After putting so much effort the last few years, do you really want to throw away all that progress?”

I shook my head sadly. I wanted to stay with him forever. How was I supposed to go a whole year without having him at my side? Sure, I could visit during my few breaks, but that wouldn’t make things any easier.

He then picked up my brush and stuck it into my hand. Knowing how happy painting made me, I knew he didn’t want me to feel upset for any longer.

Gripping the brush, I considered painting my feelings. If he saw my creation, he’d understand. Painting a picture could take days, weeks even. I didn’t have that long, time was not on my side.

Turning toward him, I felt my cheeks growing warmer by the second. Against my tongue, I felt the words rest. An unspoken confession. A realization that hit me only today. Dropping the brush, I moved to grip his hands. Giving his hands a squeeze, I fought against the growing embarrassment.

“You make me happy, Carter.” Biting the corner of my lip, I ignored the wetness growing in the corners of my eyes. I usually held myself together pretty well, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do that today. Carter made it hard from the way he looked at me.

It was crazy. He’d think I was crazy. But over the short few months, I’d fallen completely head over heels for him.

“I love you.”

His eyes widened for a moment before he let out a sigh. Grabbing my wrists and giving me a tug, he pulled my body toward his. Once I ended up in his lap, he held me close. With his arms interlocked around me, I didn’t think he planned on letting me go.

“How am I supposed to let you paint now after saying something like that?” he asked as he tucked his face into the crock of my neck. “Now I just want to pull you away and not let you work.”

For the first time since I woke up wrapped in his arms, I smiled naturally. I loved it when Carter acted greedily.

“What’s stopping you?” I returned with a cheeky question of my own.

He lifted me up with hardly any effort, and without another word, we were on the move. Already heading in the direction of his bedroom, I knew well enough that I wouldn’t be getting any more work done.

I was alright with leaving that canvas blank for now.

In a matter of minutes, Carter managed to reassure me that everything would be alright. He’d wait for me if it meant we could be happy in the end.

I just hoped I’d be able to survive through the time keeping us apart until we would finally be able to live happily ever after.