Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Three months later

The conferences, the excess in meetings, they didn't stop happening. Which was part of being a CEO, and she knew that better than anyone else at Ross Corporation did, apart from the man himself. But this military contract was draining

It felt like she was in a long-distance marriage, more often than not the last few months. She kept busy where she could, and she was grateful for the responsibilities that came with being muid of honor to Aaron and Maine. But she wasn't happy. She didn't feel. Seuled.

She knew Kylan didn't want to leave her so often, but during her three and a half years as his assistant, she had never known him to go on this many trips so close together. And she would know, since she booked each one of his trips during that time.

He had been gone for another week, and she was tired. Tired of video chatting, tired of texting tired of hearing his voice through a phone instead of in the same room as her

Aaron and Maine were getting married in three days, and their joint bachelor party was set to be that night. Kylan would be meeting her there after his flight landed, and she pretended that didn't sour her already dwindled mood.

She dressed herself in her favorite pair of jeans and a comfortable sweater and a light jacket. It was mid-October, and it was rainy. Which was fitting for how she was feeling

But the night wasn't about her, and she was determined to shower her friends with the love and attention they deserved. It wasn't their fault she was grumpy about her husband never bring home anymore.

She drove to the bar they picked out, her windshield wipers working double time to combat the rain that continued to fall. She hoped Kylan's flight hadn't been delayed or canceled again. The private jet she normally thought was a gross display of money, didn't sound so outrageous anymore.

It took her a while to find parking, but once she finally did, she ran to the entrance of the bar, slipping inside and shaking off the water that drenched her hair and clothes.

She could hear her friends before she could see them. Aaron's booming laugh, Maine's softer chuckle, Harry's loud

d voice and Max's careful one. All of them were seated around a table that was already filled with drinks, both empty and full, and she found herself smiling at them while she walked over to join them

"Katrina The maid of honor has arrived, gentlemen" Aaron was clearly drunk, and she laughed when he pulled her into a hug. of cheap beer and peanuts, and she loved it. She really loved it, really loved him.

His breath smelled

anyone

coming!" She shook out of his arms and took off her jacket, draping it over her arm whale they all shifted to make room for her at

the table.

"Just your husband." Jean slurred and she smiled, checking the time on her phone.

"He should be here soon." She accepted the fresh bottle of beer Harry pushed her way and took a sip, wincing as the bitter liquid traveled down her throat.

The next hour passed quickly, and she had another beer, along with a shot or two. She allowed herself to let loose, to have fun while she waited for Kylan to arrive

When he finally did, when she saw him enter the bar, she was ecstatic.

He was wearing a white button down, his black suit jacket open, his belt looped and done atop his slacks that hugged his hips sinfully. He looked like a dream. Her dream. Her favorite one.

Her head was pleasantly fuzzy, and she hugged him tightly as soon as Maine moved so he could sit next to her. She pressed a wet kiss to his check and smiled at him. "Kylan, my Kylan. You're finally here," she sighed, pressing her face into his neck, smelling his Kylan smell. Maybe if she could learn how to bottle the unique stent, she wouldn't miss him so much when he was gone.

Kylan allowed her to hang all over him, and she was grateful. "Let me get you some water, Katrina," he said quietly, kissing the top of her head.

f you take a shot, maybe," she bargained with him.

"One shot. I have a feeling I'll be driving us home tonight, Kylan replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to pull her into his side.

Kylan indeed only had one shot, and she had way too many. She didn't care, though. Tonight, was special. Tonight, was about her friends and their love.

So she I

laughed with them, she reminisced with them, and she celebrated them.

Well into the night, Harry and Max were both chanting for her to give a speech, and though she was more than buzzed, she couldn't refuse. So, she held up her next boule of beer, and she cleared her throat

"Aaron and Maine, you're my best friends. You have been for years. I'm so happy you're getting married. Even if you rook so long being engaged. I'm so happy you found solace in each other. I know you'll be great together, that you'll live a life filled with the right kind of love." She grinned at them, licking the dryness from her lips. "And the best part? The best part is that neither of you are a CEO, which means you won't be going on stupidly long trips, and you won't have a long-distance marriage ever. Because that sucks, and it's lonely, and it's tiring. And your bed is too big, and you make too much food and have too many leftovers." Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes and she brushed them away, spilling some of her beer in the process.

Aaron and Maine were frowning at her, or at least she thought they were. She couldn't really tell, given that that they weren't exactly staying still in

her line of vision.

"That's my cue to step in. C'mon, Karina Let's go talk." Rylan's voice registered on her right, and she turned her head to protest

He didn't give her a choice, though. He practically carried her from the booth, his warm hand gripping hers so tightly that she could do nothing

bus follow.

too fast, and she was struggling to keep up. Then, he opened a door and pulled her inside a room. She heard a lock click and

against the locked door, his arms folded, his

thin line

was

had she

herself, but he held up hand

Well,

blinked a few times, trying to make sense of why he would apologize to her, when she was undoubtedly the one who embarrassed him at the

drink, but I can't quite fault you there, either. I've been gone an ungodly amount, and I apologize." Kylan sounded so nice, so sweet. so soft. It made her

to cry.

I miss you so much. I can function fine without you. I can get my work done, I can have fun, I can make memories without you being with me all the time. But you've just been gone so much, and I miss you." Her words weren't as slurred

room in only one or two strides, and then he cradled her face in his warm hands, lifting her

He kissed her right cheek. "I'm sorry." He kissed her forehead. "I love you." He kissed her lips, long

into his mouth, wrapping her arms around his middle, gripping the

exploring, brushing her tongue against his. It

want to stop; she didn't

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Mountains, where

was nothing short of p them, it was everything

helped organized; much the same way the couple had for her. They spoke their vows, promises, and she cried right along with

their quiet and sacred

eternuties as one,

those same promises to each other, and she knew that, and he knew that, and it was

draping canopy, and music echoed along the makeshift

danced with Aaron and Maine, her dress sashaying around her while she laughed. She managed to convince Kylan to join her for a song or two, and when he wasn't dancing, he was watching, the kind of smile on

be forced to spend away from him. None of it martered. Because he was it for

away beneath the October skyline, the smell

friends off on their honeymoon after several teary-eyed hugs and kisses, and then she

-0-0-0-

"Can I

I take

to Maine?" Kylan's voice broke through

ulence that lingered

in their

together while her fingertips toyed with his, her head pressed to his

moving her leg to

reply. "We can visit your father in Portland, yes. But I wanted to take

before she settled on his face, "Camden is beautiful. When would you like to go?" she asked him, yawning and rubbing the last remnants of

him, her hands falling

a few days off for the wedding, I can't possibly

been arranged.

shrugging his shoulders like what he was suggesting

laugh at him. "Kylan Ross, you're a confusing

her sides, his thumbs stroking the skin there. "Say

rolled her eyes, leaning down to kiss him. "Yeah, okay. Let's go

His arm

around so he was hovering over her, peppering kisses all over her face

already reserved the private jet," he mused, effectively silencing her with his lips when she

-0-0-0-

a bag of sour cherries, and it was impossible for her to be annoyed with him when he was being

about her childhood like he always enjoyed doing, and Belding questions about their

more lines on his face, more grey in his hair, but it never seemed to bother him. If anything, it reminded her that he was living, when she wasn't there. He was finding things that filled his life with joy, which was more important to

was in New York, Ross Corporation was in New York, and by marrying

she enjoyed watching Kylan and her father get along better than they ever had. They talked about fishing, about France. and about Kylan's mother, who would never not

only once or twice. But that was also new. He was still going to therapy, biweekly now, and he didn't often talk about his sessions with her anymore. That didn't bother her, though. She could see the progress he

they loaded their luggage into their rental car and bid her dad farewell before making the eighty one mile journey to

hand intertwined with Kylan's while she hummed along to the music and watched trees and small

she knew Kylan, or maybe even Vincent,

Kylan's assistant with a somber but comforting reverence intended only for

and off for the last half of the drive, her hand staying in

felt the SUV jerk into park and the hum of the engine quiet, she blinked her eyes

imimbird,

at her, but she were taken aback by how. Intense he was. He took hold of ber other hand and she waited for him to speak. It was clear a lot was on his mind, and she

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