Accidentally On Purpose Part 17

"Clearly! For once, I want you to focus on me and not..." For a half a second, I thought he was going to say Kyle's name. "Forget it." He glared at me for a moment and then stepped off of the elevator and didn't look back before the doors slid shut.

I was thinking about that and other things while I stood at the shredder, shredding a pile of doc.u.ments.

"What are you doing?" Kyle said, suddenly at my side. "Please tell me that's not the Carlton-Lauglin paperwork."

"What?" I stared at him. "You told me to get rid of it."

"I said to get rid of the Happerson doc.u.ments!" He yelled. "Why would I tell you to destroy doc.u.ments of our biggest current client?"

We were in a small room away from the main office, but I was sure someone probably overheard.

Kyle opened the door to the shredder and picked up a pile of shredded paper and held it before me.

"This deal was about to close and you have single handedly set it back by weeks, and that's if they don't back out again or try to change s.h.i.+t because there's no paperwork for them to sign tomorrow tomorrow!"

"I'm sorry," I said stupidly, but then blinked out of my stupor. "I still have it backed up on a few cds."

"How long is it going to take you to get all of that s.h.i.+t together again, Emmy?" He threw the shredded paper into a trash can and walked out of the room.

I took the rest of the file and after a few deep breaths went to my desk. Looking through the cds I realized that it was was going to take a while. I delegated my daily responsibilities to a few other people in the office and gathered the cds and the rest of my things. I would get more done in one of the private offices reserved for traveling a.s.sociates. I wouldn't be disturbed by anyone and I would have more work s.p.a.ce. going to take a while. I delegated my daily responsibilities to a few other people in the office and gathered the cds and the rest of my things. I would get more done in one of the private offices reserved for traveling a.s.sociates. I wouldn't be disturbed by anyone and I would have more work s.p.a.ce.

After closing the door to the available office I found on the next floor down, I let myself cry for a moment, but only a moment because I had a lot of work to do. I worked through lunch, through the afternoon and evening. Eliza brought me some dinner, but didn't stay and distract me. No one else came by or texted or called, which was sad, but I was too busy to worry about it.

Somehow I had pushed myself to stay up all night and work. When I finally finished, it was a little after ten in the morning. I looked like h.e.l.l, I knew it. My dress was wrinkled and looked sloppy on me. My hair was tangled, my eyes were bloodshot, and I needed a shower. I walked into Kyle's office and put the time sensitive doc.u.ments in front of him.

He looked at me and then at the stack of files.

"I'm taking a vacation, starting now." I said tiredly. "Eliza is perfectly capable of doing my job while I am gone."

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I agree you need some time off, but what is going on with you?" He was asking as my boss, not my boyfriend.

"I'm just distracted. I'll feel better when I get back."

He got up from his desk and closed the door. He came and stood in front of me, but didn't touch me.

"You worked on that all day and night?" He nodded at the files.

"Of course I did. It was my fault."

He reached out and rubbed my cheek with the back of his hand.

"I am sorry I yelled at you." He said quietly.

I let him touch me for a moment, but then stepped back toward the door.

"It's fine. I was wrong. I need to get some sleep."

"Okay," he was obviously hurt by me pulling away, and it really pulled at my own heart. "Are you just going to hang out with D or at home? Maybe we can do something fun."

"Actually..." I bit my lip.

His eyes widened and then narrowed. "You're doing something with Luke?"

"I'm going to Chicago with him for the week," I said carefully.

Kyle's face fell into a million pieces. I couldn't stand to look at his face a second longer, so I opened the door and rushed to the elevator. I didn't have time to consider Kyle's feelings or my own, because it was only seconds to Luke's floor.

I found him in his office, working so diligently he didn't look up when I walked in. He a.s.sumed I was his secretary Tracy.

"Not Tracy," I said, making him look up at me, surprised.

"Forgive me for saying so, but you look like c.r.a.p."

"Forgiven and I agree. I worked all night in a spare office. Listen, I want to apologize," I started, but he cut me off as he stood up and came over to me.

"No, I should be apologizing to you." He took my hands into his. "I shouldn't have talked to you that way."

"It's totally understandable. I came here to ask if it's too late to go with you Sunday."

He grinned and then gave me a slow kiss. When he released me, he said "I get to kiss your morning breath mouth every morning for a week."

I hugged him tight, but not so far back in my mind I thought about the expression on Kyle's face. I hoped he would be okay. h.e.l.l. I hoped I would be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Three

We arrived in Chicago late in the afternoon. We checked into our hotel before heading to Luke's parent's house for a quiet dinner. I was nervous about meeting his family and kept asking him questions like "What if they don't like my hair? What if they think it's too Jersey?" and "What if they don't like me?"

"They're going to love you," Luke had promised. "It's not like you to be so nervous."

"It's not every day I fly half way across the country to meet my boyfriend's family." I sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Maybe I'm just a little wound up from traveling. I get cranky when I travel."

He leaned over me, kissed my lips and whispered "Let me help you unwind."

I let him push me back on the bed as he kissed me. He pushed up my skirt and pulled my panties down. I unb.u.t.toned his jeans and pulled them down just enough to let his monstrous p.e.n.i.s out. I guided him until he was inside of me.

Nothing like a quickie before we go off to meet the parents.

Grace Kessler baked an apple pie for my visit. I was flattered and fattened, because I think I ate more pie than anyone else. My mother was the best cook and baker I knew, but even her pie couldn't compete with Mrs. Kessler's pie. I was in pie heaven.

"You really like that pie," Luke whispered to me while his Mom poured us some coffee.

"If I had to choose between you and the pie..." I sighed and shook my head.

"I'd rather you choose pie over me rather than another guy," he said with a smile, but I saw a hint of something else in his eyes I couldn't place. It made me uncomfortable for a little while.

Luke's mother was disappointed that we would not be staying in her home during our visit. Luke explained that there would be several late nights for us and we didn't want to disturb them, but what he told me was slightly different.

"I don't want to be quiet when we're doing our thing," he had said, grabbing my a.s.s.

Luke's sisters immediately treated me as part of the family. Lena, the oldest one, and the sister with cancer, handed me her baby within moments of meeting me.

"I really gotta pee and it's hard to pee holding a baby." She said and rushed off.

"She looks so healthy," I whispered to Luke.

"Yeah, well you know, she won't always look that way."

Lena had the same light brown hair Luke had, and the same shocking blue eyes. She was a thick woman, boisterous looking and lively, like her personality.

"You look good with that baby." Luke grinned.

I forced a smile. The baby, a little girl, wasn't even six months old yet and her mom had cancer. Lena also had two other small children. I felt bad for Lena's family. What would happen to them if she didn't make it? Her husband worked hard to keep them comfortable. How would he work and take care of the family? No wonder Luke felt he needed to be here. I looked over at Luke and felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation for him.

The other sister, Lorraine, had six six kids of her own. Lorraine was pretty, but looked a little frazzled. I guess with six kids, anyone would look frazzled. We had visited her first but didn't stay long. Four of the kids were sick and she was very busy. Besides, I definitely didn't want any kiddy sicknesses. kids of her own. Lorraine was pretty, but looked a little frazzled. I guess with six kids, anyone would look frazzled. We had visited her first but didn't stay long. Four of the kids were sick and she was very busy. Besides, I definitely didn't want any kiddy sicknesses.

Despite the health issues and other typical family drama, Luke's family was great. They were close and kind to one another, and even if they did fight they made up quickly. His dad was a little boisterous, but made me laugh, and he really appreciated and loved his only son. His mom wasn't anything like my mom. She was meek and treated her children with dignity and they treated her the same way. It made me sad to not have a very close relations.h.i.+p with my own siblings and to not have a mother who didn't think so lowly of me.

We didn't spend our entire time with his family. Luke took me out to museums and bars and to meet his friends. I had a much better time than I ever expected. More importantly, I fit in well with his life in Chicago. I felt at home immediately and I was sad to leave, especially Lena who I connected with more than anyone.

As much as I knew I fit in with Luke and his life, on the flight home I couldn't stop thinking of Kyle. Throughout the week I had a gnawing ache for him, but the ache only intensified the closer we got to home. I had not spoken to him since the night before I left. We met in a Wal-Mart parking lot that was the half-way point between our homes. We stood a few feet apart, both of us feeling uneasy.

"Are you all packed?" He had asked, hands jammed into his pockets.

"Yeah. I never go anywhere anymore so it took me some time to get it right - at least I hope it's right."

He nodded and stared at the ground between us. I s.h.i.+fted from one foot to the other. I was still on edge after everything that had happened that week.

"Do you have to go?" He asked.

"I want want to go, Kyle. You shouldn't make me feel guilty for it. That's really not fair." to go, Kyle. You shouldn't make me feel guilty for it. That's really not fair."

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Maybe we should..." I bit my lip and looked at the customers going in and out of the behemoth store, oblivious to us and our problems. I wished I was oblivious.

"Maybe we should what?" He pushed. "What?"

"Maybe we should stop this." I said quietly, and it hurt to say it.

"Is that what you want?"

"What I want is apparently irrelevant, but maybe this is best."

We were quiet for a long time. Finally, he said "I don't want to make any decisions right now. I want you to go to Chicago and have a good time."

I looked at him with suspicion, but he said it again. "I won't bother you while you're there and you don't have to feel obligated to contact me."

After more discussion, I agreed. He kissed and held me a long time that night.

As soon as I got home from Chicago I texted Kyle. After a brief exchange of texts, I took a quick shower and drove to his apartment. He was waiting for me when I got into the lobby. At first I thought he was just that excited to see me, but the look on his face wasn't that of excitement.

"What's wrong?" I asked immediately.

"Jess. She just showed up minutes ago. She was supposed to be in the Hamptons."

"Okay," I said and started to leave.

"Wait. I can get rid of her I think or tell her I need to go to the office."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "I'm really not in the mood for this tonight. I'm going home. I'll just see you at work on Monday."

"Em, wait." He grabbed my arm. "What about tomorrow?"

"I think I'm going to stay in and hang with my dad tomorrow." That wasn't my original plan, but I suddenly didn't feel much like talking to any other man. "Besides, what's another day?"

"But I really miss you. I really want to see you."

"Not enough," I said softly and left him standing there.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I dialed Luke's number and counted off the rings. It went to voicemail after the fourth ring, like it did the other six times I called.

"How many times are you going to call him?" Kyle asked, irritated.