Maybe I should just stay a little longer. Because I know this is all about me and has nothing to do with Forrest. He knows what he wants, and after last night, it’s fairly obvious that it’s me. And I can’t deny that I want him too, but I need to know he’s not going to hurt me.

If only the universe could promise me that I’m doing the right thing if I stay.

My poor brain is totally drained from all this overthinking, and as I feel like sleep is about to claim me, I ask for whatever that thing is out there that guides our lives, fate or intuition, to send me some kind of sign and answer my simple question.

Should I stay or should I go?

Because right now, I want to follow my heart and take the biggest risk of my life.

I want to be loved enough that I feel safe to stay.

* * *

Waking to an empty bed was not what I was expecting, and as I feel across the sheets, they are cold, so Forrest has been up for a while.

I know it’s Monday morning, and although we had the most amazing weekend and I didn’t think about work for one moment, it doesn’t mean it’s the same for today. Regardless of my personal struggles, I need to get myself together and go to the office for another chaotic day. Because as much as we say we don’t work on the weekends, we absolutely do, and to have ignored my emails now for two days means there will be a mountain of them when I open my computer this morning. And Forrest will be the same, which is probably why he is up and already in his office.

I need to shower first, and then I will go and find him. Besides the last few hours of last night, the rest of my birthday weekend was a celebration that I will never forget, and that’s all because of him. I need to thank him properly because I don’t think the way I spoke to him last night really let him know how much I appreciated it.

Although I feel fragile and still not sure what I should do as I dress and apply my makeup, the more I look at myself in the mirror, I’m convincing myself that I deserve to at least feel love and try and see if I can get past my fears.

“I can do this.” Taking a deep breath, I turn from the mirror and pick up my bag and walk out of my room and down the hallway toward his office.

The closer I get, I can hear his fingers typing on his keyboard. And the moment I stop in the doorway, his eyes are on me and his hands are still. It’s almost like he is studying me.