Page 83 of Love: Take Two

My breathing slows as Noah's words settle over me. I'mdamn impressive. I've spent years working for this. My clients will stand behind me.MamanandPapawill stand behind me. And they will all see what Awa Faye can do when no one is holding her back!

Chapter forty-two

Noah

"Oh good; you're still here," Camila says as she rushes into my office and quickly closes the door behind her. I arch an eyebrow.

"Good morning to you too, Camila," I answer, standing. "I was actually just about to head to set."

"Well, keep your seat," she insists, waving me down.

I sigh, my smile indulgent, and retake my seat. It's hard, considering the chance to see Awa—and hopefully some good news about those annoying "loose ends" she mentioned—is waiting for me on the other side of that door.

"OK. What's up?"

"I just overheard Clarissa in Theater say your not-so-secret crush is now a free agent."

My back goes rigid, and Camila actually laughs.

"See? I knew you'd want to know."

"When did this happen?" I ask, confused. I just saw her yesterday. She didn't mention anything about quitting. If those assholes fired her…

"I can see from the flare of your nostrils that you're worried something bad happened, but no. Clarissa is friends with Elle, Awa's assistant, and she said Awa walked into the partners' office and quit. Said there was no future there anymore, which," Camila looks pensive, "is probably correct. She was the editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review. She reps some of the biggest names in the business. Why the hellwasn'tshe a partner?"

I don't know, but I plan to ask her. Right now. When I stand up this time, Camila must realize there's no stopping me, because she stands as well.

"Any idea where she is now?" I press.

If she's still at her office, I can walk over, but if she's at home, I'll need to catch a cab. A look at my watch has me cursing under my breath. There's no way I'll get a cab in the middle of the lunch rush.

"No idea," Camila replies on her way out. "Want me to text her?"

I shake my head.

"Nah, I'll surprise her."

I leave Camila grinning in my doorway and take off toward the elevator, ignoring the curious looks of my coworkers. On the way to the ground floor, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

Henry

Henry:I don't know what's going on, but I just got the weirdest feeling.

Henry:If you're going after Awa, it's about fuckin' time.

Running to her office was a lot more romantic in my head.

Now, standing in front of the unassuming entrance of Gehrig & Associates, just blocks from bustling Union Square, I'm painfully aware that I've sweat through my dress shirt and I'm here empty-handed.

You should've stopped for flowers!I berate myself.Richard Gere had flowers when he came back for Julia Roberts.

He also had about a billion dollars, I grumble.

I'm pacing on the sidewalk in front of an office building, effectively arguing with myself. I must've snapped somewhere around 20th Street.

"Noah?" Awa utters from behind me. When our eyes meet, I lose my breath for a second because…

She's beautiful. There's no other way to say it. Her suit jacket is unbuttoned, revealing a titillating amount of cleavage. Her hair is loose, the thick twists falling around her face like the women in one of Henry's Renaissance paintings. Andher eyes. In her eyes, I see not just joy at me being here, but the same love that's pounding in my chest like a war drum.