Piece of My Heart (Fostering Love 4)

“Insanely good,” I whispered, excited to tell someone about it. “I’ve never been with someone that did everything right the first time, you know?” She nodded in understanding. “I mean, usually it takes time to figure out what the other person likes.”

“Hell, there’s a lot of guys that never get it right.” She rolled her eyes. “If you catch my meaning.”

“He definitely gets it right,” I murmured in satisfaction, remembering how hard I’d come both last night and again this morning. “Usually twice.”

Elise laughed. “Well, I’m glad,” she said. “You’ve always been so serious and focused around here. It’s been nice to see you happy for a change.”

“I’ve always been happy,” I replied, surprised at her comment.

“Giddy, then,” she corrected. “Cheerful. Acting your age.”

“Distracted, you mean,” I said, grimacing.

“More like…floating around like forest animals dress you in the mornings,” she replied.

“He makes me feel beautiful,” I said seriously, shrugging.

“That’s the kind of guy you hold on to,” she replied, pointing at me as she stood up. “I better get back to work.”

* * *

Time flew by in a blur of Alex, school, and work. I’d never been so busy in my entire life, and surprisingly, I didn’t mind. Alex just seemed to make everything better. We’d gone from struggling to find time for each other to making time for each other, and it was easier than I could’ve imagined. Alex’s name was written in every page of my planner.

I could feel my priorities shifting, and I started considering staying in Missouri after graduation. If I was being honest with myself, I’d never seriously planned to go home to New York, but I’d never had a reason to stay in Missouri, either. I’d just assumed that I would send my résumé out all over the country and see where I got a bite. I couldn’t imagine that now, though, not if it meant leaving Alex behind. Instead, I started researching job opportunities near the university. Maybe I’d get lucky and I wouldn’t have to go anywhere.

The Wednesday we’d planned to leave seemed to last a million years. Every phone call I fielded and paper I filed was just another thing holding me back from where I wanted to be. Alex had driven me to work so he could pick me up afterward. Our bags were packed and stuffed in his truck, and unbeknownst to him, I had about five magazines in my purse for the flight.

By the time I shut down my computer and gathered up my things, I was practically tapping my foot with impatience.

“I’m out of here for the weekend,” I called out, though there was barely anyone left in the office to hear me. Most of the accountants had already left for the day, anxious to start their holiday weekend.

I was walking out the door to wait for Alex when my phone rang. I answered it without checking who it was.

“I’m waiting out front,” I said cheerfully.

“Why are you flying to Oregon? You get a few days off and you didn’t think we’d like to see you? If you have the money to fly to Oregon, why wouldn’t you come home? We miss you. I tell Isaac every day how much I wish you’d come to see us. Then when you get the time, you—”

“Auntie.” I cut her off midsentence. She hadn’t taken even a single breath during her rant. “I see you got my email.”

“Of course we got your email. You think your uncle doesn’t check his email? He uses that for work, Sarai. He opens it every day.”

“I wanted him to see it,” I replied, rolling my eyes. I’d wanted him to see it because I wanted them to know where I was if, God forbid, something happened and they had to reach me, but I’d kind of been hoping he’d keep the information to himself.

I’d told my aunt and uncle all about Alex. He wasn’t some kind of secret. Besides, he’d been taking up what free time I had lately, and I wanted them to know what I was up to. I’d never hidden things from them—not big things. Maybe if we’d lived closer, I would have been more circumspect, but the only things they knew about my life were the things I told them, and I never wanted to get to the point where we felt like strangers because I’d stopped letting them know about my life.

“Alex is paying for our trip,” I told her as I searched the street for Alex’s truck.

“Well.” She paused for a minute, humming. “Of course he is, since he’s going to see his family.”

I laughed a little under my breath.

“I’m still going to try to come home in the spring,” I told her as I spotted Alex pulling up to the curb.

My uncle and aunt weren’t exactly well off. Even though I knew they’d buy a ticket for me to come home, I refused to let them pay for my flights. I was an adult, and I had a full-time job. Plus, I was stubborn. I paid my own way. Eventually, I’d find a way to pay Alex back for the tickets he’d insisted on paying for.