11.Forever and Always
I left two days after Christian and I were officially a couple. Nobody was really surprised that we were together but I was too happy to be annoyed. I wasn’t really sure how we would work it all out but I wasn’t wasting my time by worrying about things I couldn’t control.
Christian drove me to the airport and walked me to the security checkpoint. When we had to part ways I kissed him like there was no tomorrow. He smiled down at me but I could tell that he didn’t want me to go. Hell, I didn’t even want to go but I had work to do before the New Year’s fashion show.
“Call me when you land. I love you, Buggy.”
I smiled; he’d said the L-word more times in two days than I think Jared and I said it throughout our whole relationship. “I will. Love you, too, Christy.”
I spent the flight flipping through the pages of my new photo album and by the time I arrived at LAX I felt like I could take on anything. I had my family back and I was finally dating the only guy that I’d ever truly been in love with. My apartment was going to feel so empty after being surrounded by the people I loved all week.
Crap, speaking of which…
I took a cab home and started getting a little nervous when I pushed the elevator button up to the penthouse. I wasn’t sure if Jared really was gone or if he’d left stuff or if he wasn’t going to actually leave. My name was on the lease so if he was a problem I could get the landlord involved but I really didn’t want to have a confrontation with him.
I turned the key and walked in and my place really did seem empty. A couple of the chairs were gone and the glass end table was nowhere to be seen. The blender in the kitchen was missing and so was half the wine. The biggest change was in the bedroom. All of Jared’s clothes were gone giving me tons of closet space and he’d taken his black bed set. There were no pictures of us or any of the expensive paintings he’d bought. It was weird to be alone but I didn’t mind much. We’d never loved each other and it hadn’t been a bad break up so I didn’t think things would be too awkward if our jobs took us down similar routes.
Of course, that theory was tested on New Year’s Day. My set had been built perfectly while I was gone and now I had to deal with models and designers. I was running around like a crazy person trying to make sure that everything was in order and that everyone knew what they were doing. I barked orders through my head set and the lighting and music people and tried to ease the designers’ worries while they tried to get their models ready. I went out onto the stage to make sure that chairs were placed properly when I ran into Jared.
“Uh, hi,” he said. He looked good, as always. His hair was messy and sexy and he had a blue button up with the sleeves rolled up and black pants. His camera was hanging around his neck and I remembered why I’d fallen for him.
“Hey. How’s it going?” My heart was beating nervously and I felt a little awkward talking to him. We’d been together for over a year but now we felt more like strangers than ever. I didn’t want him to hate me for everything that had happened.
“Just fine. Listen, Baylee, I think you should know that I’ve been keeping in touch with Chelsea since I got back.”
I nodded once. “Good for you. I’m dating Christian,” I admitted.
Jared let out a breath but didn’t seem pissed or anything. “I thought that would happen. You two definitely had some chemistry even if neither of us wanted to acknowledge it. I’m happy for you, Baylee. Really. I hope everything works out for you two.”
“Thanks. Same to you. Well, I should probably be going.”
He waved and went back to adjusting his lenses for the camera while I went to check on the control panel. Things were different in my life now but I was sure that they would work out. I wasn’t just the rancher from Wyoming or the fashionista from California. I was both and I was finally starting to find the balance between my two personalities and that gave me hope for my future.
I didn’t feel like going to any after parties when the show was over. I went home and collapsed on the couch and flipped on the TV before I pulled out my phone. It was super late but I really needed to talk to someone.
“Hey, beautiful,” Christian answered after five rings and I could hear the sleepiness in his voice.
“Hi. Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“It’s fine. What’s up?”
“I was just thinking about you. I saw Jared today and I told him about us. Talking to him made me realize how much I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. When are you coming back?”
“Dunno. When are you going to come visit me?”
“I’m working on it. Listen, my mom’s going back to the hospital in Cheyenne tomorrow but she’s been doing so much better since you came. I think she’s starting to get better and I might get to go out to California sooner than I thought.”
The idea of him living with me in Los Angeles sent excited shivers racing up my spine. “That’d me awesome. What would you do when you got here?”
“I’m not sure yet. Any ideas?”
“Horses,” I answered promptly. “I’ve been looking into it and there’s a horse farm for sale out in West Covina. What if we buy it?”
“Seriously?” I could hear the shock in his voice and he was now wide awake.
“Why not? That was always the general idea. I can still do my fashion thing and we can run a thoroughbred ranch. Are you in?”
“I love you, Baylee. You know that, don’t you?”
I grinned. “Of course you do. I’m just lovable like that. But I love you, too.”
I heard him yawn from his end of the phone. “Then let’s do it. I’ll call you when I’m not half asleep and hopefully this entire conversation won’t end up just being some dream. But in case it’s not, I want you to know that I’ll love you forever and always.”
“Forever and always,” I repeated.
Damn, I was such a sucker for that sappy cowboy and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Mistletoe Kiss Page 11