Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Sera: Do you believe he was involved in the sabotage?
Luke: I'm not sure how he could be. He would lack access to our code.
Sera: You must be terrified. Some weird guy following you around… Now you know what I feel like.
I immediately regret my last text and send another.
Sera: Sorry. My attempt at levity to lighten your mood.
Luke: Don't apologize, Sparkplug – except to my team for making me erupt with laughter. Are you going to be at my speech?
Sera: Yes, I want to support you.
Luke: We'll be heading back tomorrow morning. So tonight, will be our last opportunity to see each other… I'm aware you don't want to do the long-distance thing, but Sera, I honestly feel I will be physically incapable of NOT texting you.
Sera: Your hands have a life of their own, do they?
Luke: You know they do.
I can't help but smile. I subsequently notice Graham staring at me, and something about his expression makes me wipe the smile away.
Luke: I'm taking you out tonight, and I don't want to hear any arguments about it. Otherwise, I'll have to move my entire operation to the East Coast.
Sera: I know you texted that as a joke, but honestly, I'd be pretty freaking happy if you did that. Let me check if I'm free this evening.
"Graham, do you need me for anything later?" I ask.
Again, he adjusts his glasses. It's always been his nervous tic. "Why?"
"I might be going on a date."
"With Luke Cross?"
"Is that a problem?"
Graham sighs. "He's much older than you, Sera. A powerful man. And a billionaire, to boot."
"I haven't heard a single viable reason why dating him would be a bad idea."
"You know we worry about you," Graham says in a tired voice. "I don't want you getting tangled up with some playboy."
"What makes you think he's a playboy? Have you heard anything, seen anything?" My tone gets a little too aggressive, but I can't help it. I don't want to think of Luke like that. He's told me he isn't a playboy, anyway.
"Nothing," Graham says. "But he's a billionaire. Men like him have more choices than the average man."
"And why would he choose me, right?"
Graham sighs. "I didn't say that. But please, be careful. Try to keep work separate from everything else. Spending time with him is one thing; giving him free labor is another."
"Okay, Graham. That's fair."
Sera: Yes, I'm free. What did you have in mind?
Luke: Do you seriously expect me to ruin the big surprise for our final night together?
Sera: Final night, woah. That has a seriously ominous ring to it.
Luke: Then let's give this long-distance thing a try.
Sera: I've seen it fail time and time again.
Luke: We're not everybody else. In fact, Sparkplug, what we have in such a short amount of time makes us pretty damn special.
I smile.
Sera: What happened to enjoying what time we have left?
Luke: If you think my phone is miraculously going to lose the ability to text you once we've gone our separate ways, you've got another thing coming. I'll look for you in the crowd during the speech.
Sera: I'll be there, sending you good vibes, not that you'll need them. You've got this.
I put my phone away, a warm feeling coursing through me... but it's bittersweet, too. He's talking a big game about making long distance work, but he's not seriously considering it. Long distance might have a chance if there's an endpoint, a destination when, finally, we'll be able to be together.
But Ellie could battle her condition for years. And if she loses her battle – which is horrible to even think about – will I be comfortable leaving Graham to deal with that alone? How many times did they say I'm like the daughter they never had?
"Are you okay, Sera? I didn't mean to be so stern before."
"I'm fine," I tell Graham. "Just wishing TechGuard was located on the West Coast, but other than that, I'm A-okay."
Graham frowns. "This might be fine for a fling, some fun at the show, but a long-term relationship, Sera? Surely it would be better to find somebody your own age?"
"No, it wouldn't," I snap. "But we'll have to agree to disagree there."
"Are you thinking of having a relationship with him, then?" Graham asks.
"You've never taken this much of an interest in my love life before."
He looks at me strangely. There's no need for me to guess why. Of course, he's never taken this much interest. Before, there was nothing to be interested in. Even if I told Luke that long distance would never work, dooming us to failure before we even try feels wrong somehow. Especially behind his back.
"I don't know," I say. "But that's my decision to make."
"I'm just looking out for you," he says. "I can't help that."
"I know," I reply in a softer voice. "I just don't like the thought of something as trivial as his age getting in the way. It's not like I'm some naïve kid. We've got a lot in common. He's not a playboy."