Page 73 of Boss Abroad

Awkward as the truth is, I appreciate it.

Actually, I’ve been keen to show him just how much I appreciate it, but he’s been nowhere to be found.

Not going to lie, for the first few days, I was thankful for the headspace his absence gave me. Our time apart was just what I needed to remind myself of what we signed up for. Literally.

Uncomplicated, no strings attached, sex.

My fath—Sterling’s unannounced visit served one painful purpose: to show me I was breaking the promise I made all those years ago to Mom.

‘Men would be a distraction,’ she said. They’d make me lose focus on myself, on my goals. So I kept them at a distance like she told me to.

Well, Mom got one thing wrong in her predictions. Men hadn’t accomplished that. One man did.

And missing him was proving as distracting, if not more, than being with him.

So I decided enough was enough, and I was ready to get back on that metaphorical horse. Well, Liam is hung like one, so if he starts saying ‘neigh-neigh’, not that metaphorical, eh? Seriously, I need bleach and a mop to deep clean my dirty mind.

It’s just like Liam said at the hotel; we’ve got to keep things separated. He was talking about personal and professional, but I mean emotional and physical.

Callie found it comical when I told her this and only one of us left that conversation convinced. The difference being she catches feelings like she doesn’t have a fucking immune system while life has vaccinated me against that shit.

Today marks a strike of nine days of no Liam. Days that I dolled up and hoped in vain to see him at work. Days that I’ve initiated texts he cut short before I could turn them into sexting. Days that I wanted something more, and he wasn’t there to give it to me.

I should be in an exquisite mood. I spent the morning operating with Dr. Sofia at King Edward Hospital as part of my fellowship training. A whole morning mending cracked bones. My favorite thing in the world. I should be buzzing.

But no, here I am, riding the elevator nowhere, parading around with more swing than needed in my hips, in a skirt too tight after living off curries, roast dinners, and fish and chips since I arrived.

It's a pencil skirt with a significant split. I paired it with a button-up, sleeveless blouse to maintain a professional appearance, but the skirt is hella sexy, teetering on the verge of provocative. If I’m aching this bad for Liam, I want him to take one look at me and writhe in agony.

I prance around aimlessly, hoping for Gunn to come find me like he did so many times before. The man always knew where to find me. It’s like he’s planted a chip on me, I swear.

Fuck’s sake. Has Liam turned me into a nympho? Nine days without sex and I’m losing my mind, coming up with conspiracy theories about the man tracking me.

I’ve played with every single toy from Callie’s London’s Essentials selection and they haven’t been enough to keep me sated. I’m getting grorny. That’s the word we made up for when we’re grumpy and horny.

My phone rings and I’m grateful for the distraction.

“Hey, girl!”

“Hi, Callie. I was just thinking about you.” Well, her toys. Close enough.

“Soooo… You haven’t talked much about Liam these days. How are things?” I scoff at her timing.

“More like aren’t. He’s avoiding me like the plague. I think we’re done?” I look behind me and even though the coast is clear, I whisper into the phone and cover my mouth with my hand. “He did say he would fuck me until he had enough. Well, apparently, he had enough.” Ouch. That was intended as a joke, but saying it out loud saddens me and unscabbed a wound I didn't even know I had. Am I making a fool of myself? Is he ghosting me and I didn’t read the signs? And why does this possibility hurt so much? Awareness hits me so hard, I stumble back.

“Oh, babe.” Her tone is very condescending, and to add insult to injury, she laughs at me. “I beg to differ.”

“Why? Did your fortune teller tell you so?”

“No, I didn’t talk to Marcia about it, but I’m happy to ask her in my next appointment if you want.” Oh, Callie. I facepalm myself.

“He’s been avoiding me. He’s done.” It makes sense when I say it out loud, so that’s it. He’s busy? Did I really fall for that excuse? “You know what? It could only get messy if we kept that up.” I’m selling us both the idea. “Better this way.” I don’t think anyone’s buying into it.

“Yeah, I know. You don’t like messy. That’s why I took this unboxing very seriously. It’s all very tidy, don’t you worry.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just these boxes Liam had delivered for you at my place. Can you turn your camera on, A?”