Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“… acquisitions that are at the top of your list, Callum?”
I startle out of the memory, embarrassed that Cannon just asked me a question and I only caught half of it. I ask a clarifying question of my own. “You mean who’s at the top of my list?”
Cannon nods. “Outside of Navarro.”
“I’ve been doing a deep study on North Paquette, Rafferty Abrams and Atlas Karolak.”
Cannon’s eyebrows hike and Gage leans forward and places his arms on the table. “Bold moves if you make them,” Gage says.
“Go big or go home,” I reply.
My phone buzzes on the table and I turn it over to see a text from Juniper.
When I left this morning, I told her to contact me if she needed anything. She assured me she wouldn’t and that she intended to unpack and read a book. I offered to leave her my car as it would be easy for me to Uber to the arena. That way, she could go visit her dad, but she actually said she was a little tired and just wanted to hang out at my house.
I can only see the first two lines of the text. I’m organizing your pantry and do you have a preference if…
The text cuts off and I have no clue what she needs to know. In the grand scheme of things, this is not something that requires my immediate attention and is not nearly as important as the discussions going on around this table regarding the future of the Titans.
Yet I find myself saying, “Do you mind if we take a five-minute break?”
Brienne rises from her chair. “Let’s make it fifteen. I have a phone call I have to make.”
Everybody stands to stretch, but I’m already walking out of the conference room and headed toward my office where I close the door behind me. I don’t even bother reading the rest of Juniper’s text and instead call her.
“Hello?” she answers hesitantly.
“Rearranging my pantry, huh?” I ask, not filtering the teasing tone I’m trying to convey. “Someone must be bored.”
“Let’s just say being jobless does not suit me,” Juniper replies dryly.
Unfortunately, she did have to quit her job as there was no potential for remote work in her position. She hated not being able to give sufficient notice, but her boss was incredibly understanding after Juniper explained the underlying issues. She told the full truth as to what was going on with Joshua and I get the impression she had a close enough relationship with her boss she could share those things.
“I was just curious if you wanted me to arrange things in a certain way. I mean clearly, you have absolutely no organization because you’ve got the pasta sauce right next to the cereal, which is right next to the crackers. None of that stuff goes together.”
I can’t help the deep laugh that rumbles out of me. Fuck if I haven’t missed Juniper’s wit. And how could I forget that she’s an organizational freak? “You put my house in order however you see fit. You can only help matters.”
“I also have no clue what time you’re going to be home, but I found enough ingredients in your freezer and pantry to make a passable meal. I was going to do some shredded chicken tacos, if that’s okay with you?”
I try very hard to ignore the flush of pleasure that sweeps through me at the thought of Juniper cooking a meal in my home for us to share after work.
Wasn’t that the dream I always had where she was concerned? We were going to get married once I got a stable job in the front-office of a professional hockey organization. We would spend our evenings talking over good food and wine. We’d cuddle on the couch, watch TV and then make love all night.
That was the fucking dream and I ruined it.
I banish the sense of loss that produces. I’m not allowed to feel those things because I chose to let it go. “I’ll probably be home around six thirty, if that’s okay with you?”
Juniper manages to pull me the rest of the way out of dreams and aspirations. “I have no say about when you come home, Callum. This is your life and I’m impeding on it. I just wanted to have a warm meal for you to show my gratitude. You tell me the time and I’ll have the food ready. And if you’re running late, it will always reheat.”
So much for romanticizing what tonight might be. “Six thirty,” I affirm. “If I’m running late, I’ll call.”
“I’ll see you then.” She disconnects the call without saying goodbye.
I get she’s holding herself in reserve and I can’t say that I blame her.
I take a minute to bend over my laptop and check emails that have come through while I’ve been in the meeting. I stew over that conversation with Juniper, wondering if I’m ten times the fool for having her in my home. I could’ve easily put her up in an apartment. But that didn’t seem right either because I didn’t want her to be alone. I like having her close to me. I like helping her. I really like helping her father. And I’m so glad to have gotten her out of her horrible marriage.