Mr. Davenport pushed to his feet and accepted Kelton’s hand. “You will show up on time. If for any reason you can’t make it, you will let me know immediately. In the meantime, work with Bonnie on your class schedule and what days you’re available to work. And you won’t be working on Ms. Reardon’s case. If you two are in a relationship, that would be a conflict of interest.”
As long as Kelton got the job, I didn’t care if another intern was working my case.
“No problem. Thank you so much. I will not disappoint you,” Kelton said with his head held high.
“I have every confidence you won’t.” Then he said to me, “We’ve made long strides today. I’ll fill in Mr. Pilkington. In the short term, I’ll need you to stay in town in case I need you to sign any documents, if that’s okay.”
More than okay. Kelton and I had some unfinished business.
31
Kelton
I was dying to scream, shout, and swing Lizzie in my arms. But I had to wait until we were out of the building so I wouldn’t come off as unprofessional. We made it down to the lobby, and I was just about to pick up Lizzie when Zach and Chloe rose from the lobby chairs. Zach took Chloe’s hand as they made their way to us. I hadn’t spoken to Zach since the day Chloe had told me he was the father. Even when I’d moved out, he hadn’t been around, and since I wasn’t modeling for Brew anymore and Zach and I didn’t have any classes together, I hadn’t bumped into him on campus.
“Hey, man,” Zach said. His hair wasn’t messy, he was clean-shaven, and he was dressed in tailored pants. The dude appeared as though he’d shed years of worry.
“What are you doing here?” Lizzie asked, swinging her gaze between Zach and Chloe.
Chloe beamed. Gone were the puffy eyes that had seemed to become the norm for her. She stuck out her small hand to Lizzie. “I’m Chloe. I know we met when you had red hair, but since then we haven’t really met.” She laughed.
It was good to see Chloe happy.
Lizzie shook hands with her. “I’m Lizzie. Congrats on the baby.”
Chloe blushed at Zach.
Okay, this was way too awkward for me.
“We came with my dad,” Zach said. “I wanted to thank Lizzie and apologize to both of you.” He let go of Chloe. “My dad told me what happened. He said Lizzie made him realize he needed to get his head screwed on properly. Well, not in those words.” He chuckled. “Anyway, I wanted to thank you. I also wanted to say how sorry I am. I was an ass to Lizzie at Rumors that day, and to you, Kelton, for everything. I should’ve told you Chloe and I were dating. I know we had a friend code, and when I put myself in your shoes, I get it. I would’ve been equally as pissed. I value our friendship, man.”
I wasn’t one to hold grudges. He hadn’t slept with Chloe while she and I were dating, at least that was what Chloe had said. I’d never known her to lie either. Therefore, no one cheated. The only problem I had was Zach breaking our friend code on dating ex-girlfriends. But seeing how happy they were together, concerns about that friend code disappeared. I couldn’t fault either of them for wanting happiness. Hell, I was over the fucking moon with Lizzie in my life.
I pulled Zach in for a man hug. “Congrats, daddy.” I laughed as I stepped back.
Zach beamed from ear to ear. “Dude, thank you.”
“Where is your father, by the way?” Lizzie asked.
“He went to get the car,” Zach said. “He doesn’t want Chloe walking five blocks to the garage.”
“We got to run.” I had some private celebrating to do with my girl.
After we’d said our goodbyes, Lizzie and I headed to my Jeep. As soon as we were on the busy streets of Boston, I swung Lizzie in my arms. The only piece of news left that would make this great day complete was her decision about moving to Boston. Sure, Mr. Davenport wanted her to stay in town for the short term. But fuck short term. I itched to start hunting for an apartment right away.
She squealed as I twirled us one more time. People passing by didn’t give us a second glance.
“So.” I laced my fingers in hers. “We were interrupted when I asked if you’d made your decision.” She’d had days to think about it. “Boston or Miami?” I’d thought about moving to Miami if she decided that Boston wasn’t the place for her. But I had a year left at BU. I also had my mind set on attending Harvard Law. I couldn’t disappoint my parents. My mom was beaming with pride that one of her sons was going to be a lawyer. Yet Lizzie was my future, too.
We started walking.
“Do you still want to get an apartment together?” she asked. “I mean, you did ask right after sex.”
I came to an abrupt stop. A lady bumped into me. I pulled Lizzie into the doorway of a yoga studio.
“You think I asked because we had mind-blowing sex?” I held my emotions in check. I got how people did or said things in the heat of the moment. “Baby doll.”
Her blue-gray eyes met mine.
“Do you know how difficult it was for me to say the words I love you? I’ve never been this crazy for any woman.”