Page 187 of Top Shelf

His breath is heavy down the line. “I miss you too, min älskling.”

My fingers tighten around the phone. “And this bed sucks.”

“It is your bed.”

“I know. You’ve officially ruined all beds that you’re not in with me.”

“I can only apologize.”

I hum. “You don’t sound sorry.”

“I am not.”

A laugh catches in my throat and turns embarrassingly close to a sob. I cover my eyes with a hand. “Viktor?”

“Mm?”

“I want you at the opening.” He goes quiet, and my pulse trips. “If you still want to come, of course.”

“There is nowhere else I want to be than celebrating you, Dr. Grant.”

The answer comes down the line as quickly as the tears rolling down my cheeks. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

I breathe out, finally letting myself smile. But then Viktor says my name, and his voice sounds different.

“Heidi.”

My stomach tightens. “Yeah?”

“What happens after Wednesday?”

I know what he means. There’s a deadline approaching that we can barely ignore for much longer. September thirtieth. A marriage contract sitting between us with only days left on it.

My entire body seems to lock at once. “Viktor…”

“You do not have to answer tonight.”

I close my eyes.

“I love you,” I say. “I need you to know that.”

“I do know.”

“But I’ve made approximately four thousand decisions this week, and this one…” I press my fingers harder against my forehead. “This one matters too much to make when I’m this tired. I need to get through Wednesday.”

“Okay.”

Guilt pricks beneath my ribs. “I’m sorry.”

“Do not apologize.”

The room goes quiet around me, and I wish I could reach through the phone and touch him. Slide my fingertips along his jaw and around the back of his neck. Lean my forehead into his chest and breathe him in. Instead, I stare at the pink glow spilling across my ceiling.

“Goodnight, Viktor.”

His breath catches faintly on a laugh.