Page 105 of The Last Goodbye

“Well, I suppose we’ve got a few weeks to let it get really annoying. And I have to go home next week for my dad’s birthday party, and that interview he’s doing for the magazine,” I reminded him. “So the time apart might be good.”

“Maybe we’ll realize we don’t miss one another at all, and it’ll be our breaking point,” he teased as he played with the ends of my hair.

“I mean, it’s going to be easier for you than for me. Celebrations at my dad’s house are no walk in the park—they’re honestly pretty brutal. The party will be very fancy, with a lot of pretentious people. And then we have to take the family photo for his magazine interview, which means Tabitha will be an absolute nightmare. She won’t want me to be included, even though my father is insisting I be there,” I huffed. I hated that it was such an awkward dynamic.

They were the only family I had, and I wanted to just go to a birthday celebration and have a good time, not feel the need to disappear into the background so I wouldn’t have to face the wrath of Tabitha.

“Magpie.” His voice was deep and gravelly, his eyes hard now.

“Yes?”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“To New York?” I asked, probably looking at him like he had three heads.

“Yes. Do you want me to come home with you? Would that help you?”

“You would come to an awkward family weekend just to help me?” I narrowed my gaze, unable to believe what he was offering.

“I would come to an awkward family weekend to support you, yes.”

“But you have to work,” I pointed out, knowing it would be a busy tourist weekend in Blue Sky Bay.

“I have chefs who are more than equipped to cover for me.” He stroked the hair away from my face. “And our time is limited, so I feel like it’s unfair of you to be gone for one of the few weekends we have left. You’re shorting me good quality time to irritate the shit out of you.”

I sighed. “It’s going to be awful. You’ll hate it.”

“Of course I will. But I’ll be with you, and we can talk shit about everyone at the end of each day.”

I looked away for a moment as a thick lump formed in my throat. He was offering to go with me and spend the weekend—where he’d probably have a horrible time—all in the name of showing up for me.

When was the last time a man had offered to show up for me?

The answer was never.

And then the thought of my father questioning my relationship with Bass—of Tabitha using it against me.

Judging me.

I was here in a professional capacity. I wasn’t supposed to fall for my client.

“Hey.” He reached a hand beneath my chin and turned my face toward him. “Don’t start overthinking it. Let me do this.”

I wanted him there with me. Bass had a way of settling me. Calming me. He’d make the weekend at home tolerable—probably even enjoyable.

Because he’d be with me.

I could feel the smile break free on my face as I nodded. “So the pretentious, snotty people aren’t a big selling point. But I haven’t told you the best part.”

“There’s a hot tub in our giant suite at the palace? We’ll be fed grapes while we lounge by the pool?” His voice was teasing, though the house my father lived in bordered on being offensively large, but I wouldn’t share that just yet.

“We get to fly on the company plane, which means⁠—”

He cut me off before I could finish. “Mile-high club, baby?”

“I was going to say that they served little quiches and mimosas on my flight here, but apparently you’re one step ahead of me. The food was great.”

“Sounds like a dream vacation.” He smiled and added, “Sign me up.”