When I’m With You by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 35
Ben
Two weeks had passed, and it was time for Leah to go home. Lindsay flew here from Arizona to pick her up, and since there was a three-hour layover, I treated them to dinner at the steakhouse restaurant in the airport.
“I can’t thank you enough for letting Leah stay with you.” Lindsay smiled.
“No need to thank me. We had a really good time.” Didn’t we? I signed.
Leah smiled. I had a great time here. In fact, I think I want to attend UCLA.
That’s great, but make sure you attend for the right reasons. I winked.
Lindsey got the job in Phoenix and Leah was more than happy to move. After talking, laughing, and doing a lot of catching up, it was time for them to go to their gate.
Bye, Leah. I love you and I’m going to miss you.I hugged her tight.
Bye, Ben. Please come visit us more when we move.
You can count on it.I smiled.
I hugged Lindsay goodbye. “If you need any help moving, call me. I’ll be there in a flash.”
“The company I’m working for is paying for a moving company. But maybe I could use your help unpacking.”
“I’d love to help. Give me a call.”
I climbed in the truck and drove home. When I walked through the door, I could feel the emptiness of the house now that Leah wasn’t here anymore. My phone rang and my heart started to race with the hopes that it was Paisley calling, but it wasn’t. It was Finn.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Hey, bro. Long time, no talk. What’s going on?”
“Not much. I just got back from dropping Leah off at the airport.”
“Oh. Me and a couple of the guys are going to Vegas next weekend for a little man time. Come with us.”
“Thanks for the invite, but I’ll probably have to work since I just took two weeks off.”
“Well, if you don’t have to, come with us. It’ll be fun.”
“Thanks, Finn. I’ll talk to you later.”
As I got to thinking about work, I thought about extending my leave. Christmas was in a couple of weeks and I wanted to finish the sofa table. Not that it mattered because I doubted Paisley would be back for the holidays. I was going crazy without her and not knowing where she was or if she was okay.
I called my boss and asked him if he would meet me at the Sunset Bar for a drink.
“Hey, Ben,” he said as we shook hands.
“Hi, Lou.” I took the seat next to him at the bar. “Drinks are on me. I need to talk to you about my leave.”
“What about it?”
“I want to extend it. I actually want to take a personal leave of absence. I never took any time off after Amy’s death and there are some things I need to do and take care of.”
“How long are you talking?”
“Until after the first of the year.”
“You know what to do. Fill out the paperwork, turn it into me tomorrow, and I’ll approve it.”
“Thanks, Lou.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You’re welcome. Do what you have to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He smiled as he got up from his seat and walked out of the bar.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and thought about calling Finn and telling him that I’d go to Vegas this weekend. Then I decided that if I went, it wouldn’t be because I wanted to. It would be to try and put Paisley out of my mind. It bothered me that I didn’t know where she was just as much as it bothered me that I didn’t know if she was okay. I didn’t want to spend Christmas without her. I missed her so much that I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel this way again. I needed her just as much as she needed me. She left for a reason and when she figured out her life, she’d be back, and I would wait for her for as long as it took.
