Chapter 33

33

Davey

"Do you have a minute?"

I glance up from sending one of my last-ever emails for the company. My heart is heavy, my energy is low, but in a few hours, I'll be heading home to my family.

For good.

That makes it easier to go through with this.

"Sure, Eric, come in." Even after my little I quit tantrum, he's been a great boss. We announced my resignation, put my job to recruitment, and he's told everyone—high and low—that the company is losing a huge talent. Which, I can't lie, is amazing to hear, even if it also stings that little bit too.

"Everything done?" He points toward my computer, and I stare at it for a moment, realizing that, yeah. I think I am done. I'm officially replaced.

"I think so." I shut down the screen, realizing I don't have a hell of a lot to pack up from here. I didn't have my promotion for long, but even more than that, I didn't make a lot of effort to make any space here mine .

"Good. This is for you."

Eric hands over a card, and I'm blown away by all the people who have written inside it. I save reading what they've actually written for later, though, because I refuse to get emotional at work. I set the card down and smile over at him. "I appreciate you not making this harder than it needs to be."

"How did Mack take the news?"

"I, uh … haven't told him yet. It's a conversation we need to have in person."

His eyes widen. "You don't think he'll be pissed off that you quit your amazing job without telling him?"

"Nope."

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Because when Mack says he'll support me through anything, he means it."

"Uh-huh …" Neither of us mentions the divorce, and I'm grateful because that's a time in my life I want squarely behind me. "Well, since you're in the habit of making decisions solo …" Eric opens his jacket and pulls out a wad of paper that he thumps on my desk.

Apprehension settles over me. "What is this? A noncompete? You know I have nothing?—"

"Just read it."

I flick my gaze to him and back to the paper again. The more I read, the more I'm sure he's confused. "This is my position description."

"Is it?"

I jab at where it says marketing director . "Yes. "

"I wouldn't be giving you this if I didn't think you were good at reading contracts, Davey. Look closer."

I'm so fucking confused, but I play his game, switching from skimming to actually reading what's in front of me.

… contracting the services of Davey Eiser, marketing director, on all premium client portfolios …

"Contracting …" I query the word out loud.

"I meant it when I said you were irreplaceable."

I wave a hand at my computer. "We've just proved that isn't the case."

"Anyone can do a task. Not everyone has the creative vision you do. In short, I don't want to lose that."

"So what are you offering?"

Eric points at the contract. "Take that home. Discuss it with Mack. Make any changes you're comfortable with, and then come back to me. You've brought a lot of big clients in, and you've also highlighted the need for some restructuring." He pins me with a look. "It wasn't fair of me to break our arrangement."

I swallow thickly. "Thank you."

"We want to hire you as a consultant. Top-level expertise that the teams have to run their ideas by before we move on. Ideally, you'll make time to pop into the office, at least once a month, but no more away trips. No more face time with clients. The retainer we're offering you is a pay cut, but that comes under the assumption of decreased hours."

My vision goes unfocused on the paper, struggling to wrap my head around what it says. "Why now? Why … Just why?"

"I'll be honest with you: this wasn't an option before. We have no need for consultancy at an executive level. The director role brought you leverage, and the years you've put in, the testimony from happy client after happy client … it all ad ds up." Eric spreads his hands wide. "I understand if you don't take it. But I'm asking you to at least think about it because I couldn't let you walk away without one more ditch attempt to keep you here."

"Wow …" This is so far beyond what I was expecting when he walked in here that I'm struggling to wrap my head around it. "I'll … yeah. I'll talk to Mack." Because if I take this, that'll be it. This'll be our new future, and if it means working from home and being on call, I want guarantees that it's not going to bleed into my family life like it always has before. There's no point getting my hopes up over something that could be another trap.

Eric gets up to leave.

"Hey. Thank you. I'm not sure if I can take it, but I really appreciate this."

He smiles, taps the doorframe, and then leaves.

I stare at the contract again, wanting to dive in and read it but feeling way too overwhelmed at the idea.

My team takes me out for farewell drinks right after, but I stick to one to make sure I can drive home afterward. Mack didn't sound happy when I said I wouldn't be home until late, but once I tell him why, I know he'll understand.

I leave at eight, a twinge of sadness at saying goodbye to everyone that's quickly smothered by how much easier it is to breathe once I've gone.

I hit the road home, and contract or no contract, the relief I've been waiting for finally settles in.

I'm expecting the house to be dark and quiet when I pull up in the driveway and wheel my suitcase inside. But the TV is on, and when I shed my coat, then step from the hallway into the living room, there's Mack on the couch, eyes sleepy but smile ready.

"You're home!" He tackles me in a hug, mouth finding mine, and we both topple over onto the couch. He doesn't give me a second to get a word in as he kisses his way down my body and gives me the blow job of my life.

After a shitfuck of a day, big thoughts and bigger goodbyes, this is the perfect way to end it.

Or … given it's after midnight, the perfect way to start a new one.

I come with my cock buried in his throat, thighs twitching over the high of my orgasm, and when Mack pulls off me, he looks smug as hell.

"My turn."

He shakes his head, cheeks tinging pink. "I might have, uh, taken care of myself already. I got too horny waiting for you."

"Mack!"

"Sorry." He doesn't look it.

And it's not like I can be mad at him after the way he just sucked me dry. I give him a long, sweet kiss, reveling in the fact that this is it now. I can do this anytime I want.

He pulls away and settles beside me while I tuck my dick back into my pants. "You wanted to talk about something."

I should have known that he'd be fixated on it. I meet his eyes and say, "I quit."

Mack blinks. Then blinks again. "You … what?"

"Sorry if I should have told you first. Or talked to you about it. I know it puts us in a difficult place now financially, but?—"

"I don't care."

"What? "

"I don't fucking care." Tears spill onto his cheeks. "You quit? You're home? For good?"

I hurry to nod. "Yeah. You're dating an unemployed guy now."

"I don't fucking care as long as it's you. Holy shit. Holy shit . Holy fucking shit ." He's completely sobbing. "You quit."

My heart goes all floaty at how he's laughing through his tears. "I did. And there's going to be a lot we have to work out together."

Mack kisses me, deep and slow and full of all the emotion building in my chest. "We'll figure it out. Just let me enjoy this."

So I do. We spend the night enjoying each other, and when the kids wake up the next morning and I tell them Daddy doesn't have to leave again, I get mixed reactions from two little people who have no clue what's going on. Kiera asks if it means she won't get toys anymore, and Van demands to go to work with me.

Oh, the love …

But I don't need anything more than that from them. All I need is to never have to leave them upset again.