Miles Apart

by A. L. Brooks

  “Faster,” Alex groaned, and Justine obliged happily, plunging harder and deeper and overcome with emotion as Alex came beneath her, clutching at Justine’s shoulders, fingers digging so deep, Justine was sure they would leave bruises. She didn’t care; carrying the marks of Alex’s passion would be an honour.

  Slowly, she pulled out of Alex and rearranged herself on top of her, kissing her neck, her face, her lips.

  No, she didn’t want to lose this now, and if Alex didn’t get that job, then they needed an alternative plan to give them a chance at this.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything,” Alex murmured, leaning up to kiss Justine.

  “So don’t be offended by this, but how likely is it that you’d get this job?”

  Alex smiled. “Not offended. That’s a perfectly reasonable question.” She sighed and clasped her arms tighter around Justine’s body. “There’s only one other senior person who would apply, I believe. She’s based here and came in from that other company we took over last year. So she knows Canadian regional law and processes, but she doesn’t really know RCS. Whereas I know RCS like the back of my hand but less than she does about Canadian employment law or culture. I know a fair amount, though, because I had to learn it to help with the acquisitions.” She shrugged. “I’d like to think I’d be the frontrunner, because of my longevity in my current post. But it isn’t a walk-in. I have to be honest about that.”

  Justine nodded, trying not to worry too much about how fragile their situation still was. “So what will we do if you don’t get it?”

  Alex looked haunted, just for a moment, and Justine almost regretted asking. But they needed to be honest—that was what they’d agreed, and that meant asking awkward questions and not hiding from the answers.

  “I don’t know. It’s all so new I haven’t really got my head around it.” Alex wore a sad smile. “So maybe we should work on that, throw some ideas around, think about what each of us wants and how it might fit together.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Justine smiled, relieved Alex wasn’t trying to sweep it under the carpet. “But maybe not right now,” she said, winking. Not now, not when they were warm, naked, and had so little time together before Alex flew back tomorrow.

  Alex giggled. “Hm, agreed. I think,” she said, rolling Justine onto her back and sliding herself seductively on top of her, “we should save that for another day, don’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah. Definitely,” Justine whispered, then she moaned as Alex’s teeth pulled at one of her nipples.

  It was hours later. The sheets were a tangled mess over their half-exposed bodies, but Alex wasn’t cold. The heat of the passion between them had left their skin burning, a sheen of perspiration coating them. Alex had come more times than she thought possible in one night. She gazed down at Justine dozing in her arms, and her heart swelled with the love that sight sent coursing through her. It was just under the surface, but it wouldn’t take much more for it to break free and be verbalised. And something told her it would be reciprocated, whenever she did say it.

  She leaned down and placed a tender kiss on Justine’s forehead. She was sated and simply content to hold this incredible woman in her arms until sleep claimed her. Given the energy she’d expended in the last few hours, she was surprised it hadn’t yet. She glanced at the clock. Two a.m. Oh well. Her flight was at nine in the evening, so she only had to get back to the hotel to pack and check out, then she could stay here until it was time to leave. Justine had already mentioned taking her somewhere amazing for lunch, but as she gazed down at the beauty in her arms, she wondered if they’d even leave the apartment once she got back from the hotel.

  Sunday, she’d be back in London, with no idea when they could be together again. It hurt, pulled at her heart with a low ache she couldn’t shake, no matter how tightly she held Justine or how many times they made love.

  She frowned. Now that they’d finally found each other, the need to ensure they’d didn’t lose each other was consuming her. She needed to get working on her job application. It would probably be a given for her to get an interview, but she’d have to impress some fairly senior people for them to want to offer her the role. The easiest option for them would be the woman already based in Montreal. Alex would need to work hard to convince them that easiest wasn’t necessarily best.

  And the sooner this could happen, the better, she thought as she looked down at Justine again. Time and distance were everything now, and both needed to diminish.

  Fast.

  Chapter 31

  Interview is Thursday at 2! xx

  Alex hit Send on the message; knowing Justine would see it the moment she woke gave her a much-needed tingle of joy.

  The last seven weeks had been so hard. They’d thought saying goodbye at the airport that Saturday evening had been tough, both clinging to each other until the very last moment before Alex had to get to her gate, but it hadn’t prepared them for the reality of being apart. As Alex had suspected, the application process had been straightforward, once the job had actually been advertised—but that had taken considerably longer than she’d anticipated. Justine had tried to mask her disappointment at each delay, and Alex had done her best to soothe her, but they’d both struggled.

  The intimacy they’d shared on her last trip had left them both desperate for more. They’d tried phone sex, and Skype sex, but neither had really satisfied. They both craved the physical touches that were impossible down a phone line. Which had led them into many convoluted discussions about what their alternative plans could be if Alex didn’t get the job in Montreal. Justine was checking with her family as to their ancestry, to see if she had any chance of getting UK residency status. Alex had spoken to Richard to see if there were any other opportunities in Montreal, or even New York, as that was at least only a ninety-minute flight away from Justine. Richard had smiled and told her to bide her time. Thankfully, he hadn’t pried into her reasons for suddenly wanting so badly to move across the Atlantic.

  Now, finally, she had her shot at the Montreal job. The interview would be a combination of face to face and video—Richard and she in a conference room here in London with a video link to two executives in Montreal. She had been told that, as expected, the woman in Montreal had also applied, so both of them were being interviewed this week, and if neither of them were deemed suitable, the job would be advertised externally in Canada.

  Alex wasn’t letting herself think of that, though. Every evening this week she had plans for preparing for her interview, probably the most important interview of her career so far. She had spent hours already researching and reading up on Canadian employment law and culture, finding online seminars that discussed various aspects of both, and surfed through web pages of TED talks to find anything relevant. Yes, she really wanted this job on its merits alone—it would shift her career up another level, and after two years in this role, she would be in a strong position to take on something at Richard’s level, if it came up, either at RCS or elsewhere. It was definitely the best career move she could make right now. But she had to be honest with herself—knowing how she felt about Justine, and how much Justine felt for her, it was the best move she could make for her, not just her career. It was a chance to have everything, and she was going for it with everything she had.

  Two hours later, after she had immersed herself in the preliminary work for next year’s budget—a task that always took her by surprise in the middle of August—she smiled as her phone beeped with a message from Justine.

  Yes! At last! Oh God, such good news. Call me later? Xx

  She glanced at the time and grinned. Six a.m. in Montreal, so Justine had indeed seen the message as soon as she woke. Alex hoped it had put a smile on her face.

  With a warm glow in her chest, she returned to her budget papers, grinning as she allowed herself to wonder if she would be
looking at a different set of budget papers this time next year.

  “Well?” Justine didn’t even bother with hello as the Skype call connected, and Alex smiled.

  “It was good, I think.” She exhaled slowly. “I really felt like I’d shown them how much I can offer, and how much I know already, as well as demonstrating that I’m willing to learn more. I think they were impressed.”

  “Yes!” Justine fist-pumped and did a happy dance in her seat, which had Alex guffawing.

  “Honey, calm down, please,” she said, waiting for Justine to catch her eye. “Please, don’t get carried away. I don’t want you—”

  “Hey, I know. Don’t worry. I know it’s not a given.” Justine smiled wanly. “But I’m still going to hope with every little cell in my body, okay?”

  Alex grinned and her heart beat a tad faster at how adorable her girlfriend was being right now. “Okay, I can understand that. Me too.”

  “So.” Justine huffed out a breath. “What now? How long until a decision?”

  “Well, the other applicant’s interview is tomorrow. I imagine they’ll all take the weekend to think about it, probably have a meeting early next week to discuss both of us. I guess, maybe, a decision around the middle of next week?”

  Justine groaned. “I don’t know if I can stand the wait.”

  “I know, I know. God, I miss you, Justine.” The words had emerged without thought; she did miss her, physically and mentally. Talking like this just wasn’t enough. They needed to be together.

  “Oh, I miss you too.” Justine slumped back on her sofa, her face crestfallen. “Can I suggest something?”

  “What?”

  Justine sat forward again, her face looming large in the screen in front of Alex. “If, God forbid, you don’t get the job—” Alex shuddered at the thought “—can we at least then book a trip? One of us come to the other, or we meet somewhere like New York? Have you got enough holiday to do that?”

  Alex was nodding before Justine had even finished asking. “I do, and yes, I think that’s a great idea. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  The days crawled by. Alex did all she could to keep herself busy, to keep her mind off the situation. She and Justine spoke nearly every night, but somehow these calls were even harder now. With the decision about the job hanging over them unresolved, their conversation was sporadic and full of silences where they simply stared longingly at each other. Alex ached to be with Justine; she wished they were waiting this out together, where they could hold and comfort each other. The distance was agonising.

  On Wednesday Alex was a little late into the office after some problems on the Tube and rushed to get her laptop booted up and her working day started. She was engrossed in playing catch-up when the sound of someone clearing his throat caused her to look up from her screen.

  Richard was leaning against the door to her office.

  “Hi,” she said, her heart pounding. Was this—

  Richard, his voice serious, his face expressionless, said, “Do you have a minute? My office?”

  Chapter 32

  Justine was way too early, but that couldn’t be helped. She’d been twitchy all day, which was understandable, but it was driving her nuts. So, at five, she’d given up trying to find things to keep her occupied and jumped in her car. It was a new purchase, one bought with the future in mind, and the thought made her smile as she headed out of the city. The roads were surprisingly clear, given the snow that had fallen in the last few days.

  Traffic was lighter than she’d anticipated; she was still getting used to Montreal’s patterns of ebb and flow, and Saturday at five was clearly an ebb.

  By the time she’d parked up and made her way into the building, it was only just past six. Crazy—she had, in all likelihood, ninety minutes to kill. But at least here there was plenty to distract her. She took her time getting a coffee and sipping it slowly, people-watching as she did. Then she wandered past the cheesy tourist shop and, on impulse, bought a cute Mountie bear and an “I love Montreal” key chain. She even got the cashier to gift-wrap them, because why not?

  She meandered through the small shopping area, taking nothing in as her mind was focused elsewhere. She reached the end of the arrivals hall and checked the time: nearly seven. Then she glanced up at the board and her heart leapt.

  BA95 London Heathrow: Landed

  She made her way back to the barriers that separated the greeters from the travellers arriving. It was packed with people along its full length, but she knew she had time to wait it out and find her spot at the front as people came and went.

  Thirty minutes later and she was there. Front and centre. She had a perfect view of one set of doors and an oblique view of the other set. Of course, the universe would probably choose the other set of doors, but hey, she’d roll with it.

  Another twenty minutes went by and her stomach churned. So close…

  It had been more difficult than they’d imagined to bring this day about, since the decision four months ago. But, suddenly, in the last three weeks it had all come together and now, right now, Alex was only minutes away from arriving for her two-year placement in the newly announced position of director of HR training and development (global) at RCS.

  Two years. It wasn’t forever, but it was enough for now. They’d made plans, talked endlessly about what they wanted, what they didn’t want, what they dreamed about. Since that night the last time she was here, when they’d first laid bare their souls, everything between them had simply fallen into place. Alex had apparently romped the interview, clear daylight between her and the other candidate. They’d offered her the job without hesitation; no need to see external candidates.

  It was as if the universe was simply waiting for them to each just be open and honest with each other before granting them their ultimate wishes.

  Two years. It would fly by, but she knew—they both knew—that by the end of that period, they’d know exactly where they were and what they were. She hadn’t mentioned it to Alex, but she’d already been researching how easy it would be for Alex to get residency if they got married. It was crazy thinking, when so far they’d only spent two nights together, four months ago. But they’d spoken nearly every day since then, in one way or another, and although they weren’t physically close, the emotional connection between them was iron-cast. Tonight, if Alex wasn’t too tired, the physical would be resurrected, and Justine shivered at the prospect.

  The doors in front of her glided open and a steady stream of people flooded through, pushing trolleys piled high with luggage, obscuring Justine’s view now and then. She knew not to look for a big trolley; Alex was arriving with two suitcases only, containing simply clothes and toiletries. Everything else had been crated up a couple of days ago and sent via air, paid for by the company as part of the relocation deal. Alex had spent the last two nights staying with Danielle and Beth, who were already booked to come out for Alex’s birthday in March. The idea made Justine nervous but pleased that Alex’s friends had got behind her so emphatically with her life-changing move.

  And now, here it was, two days before Christmas and she and Alex would be spending it together. It was beyond her wildest dreams of a year ago…

  The doors opened again, and Justine’s breath caught in her throat.

  Alex.

  She was here, and she was smiling from ear-to-ear even as the tears poured down her cheeks. She almost jogged over to Justine, dropping the handles of her suitcases as she came to a halt, then her arms were tight around Justine’s shoulders, and their lips were pressed together in a fierce kiss.

  “You’re here,” Justine whispered as their lips parted, gazing into the shimmering green eyes of her beautiful lover.

  “I am.” Alex sniffled and wiped at her eyes. “God, it’s so good to see you.”

  “A
nd you.” Justine pulled back slightly. “Come on, come to the end so I can hold you properly without this damn railing in the way!”

  Alex chuckled and picked up her cases again, wheeling them along the walkway in parallel with Justine on the other side of the now relatively empty barrier. Alex skirted round the end of it and dropped the cases again, throwing herself fully into Justine’s arms, her mouth seeking Justine’s instantly.

  They kissed, unhurriedly, their hands in each other’s hair, or cupping each other’s faces.

  “Justine,” Alex said as they pulled apart slightly for air. Her eyes were shining and her breath came in ragged gasps. “I… God, I’ve missed you.”

  “I know. Me too.” Justine gazed at her, and suddenly, here in the arrivals hall at Montreal’s airport, she was ready. They were words she’d never spoken to Alex—somehow saying them on a phone call or a Skype session hadn’t ever felt right. Alex hadn’t said them either, and Justine suspected for the same reasons as she; the miles between them made it seem almost impersonal, no matter how strong her feelings. But now, even with scurrying passengers pushing past them and the noise of the tannoy above them, it felt utterly right.

  The words that had been lingering, waiting for their perfect opportunity, came tumbling out.

  “Alex, I love you.”

  “Oh!” Alex’s hand flew to her mouth, then away again. “Oh, honey, I love you too.”

  Justine pulled her close, noting how perfectly they fit together, with not a hair’s breadth between their bodies.

  Nothing between them anymore; not miles, not misunderstandings, not doubts.

  Nothing except a future.