g steady, something real. They spent weekends at each other's places, cooking, laughing, and sharing their lives in the small ways that make love f

things, life had it

n New York City, and she wanted to sign Claire as a client. It was everything Claire had ever dreamed of-publishing he

excitement. He welcomed her with a smile and a kiss, but as soon as she told him about the offer, she no

m said, trying to sound enthu

faltered slig

ust... New York is far. I know this is a huge opportunity, and I want

ve to mean anything bad for us," she said quickly. "I can handle a few

want to hold you back, Claire. I just... I love what we

re, and now that the opportunity was in front of her, she couldn't imagine letting it slip away. But at the sa

"I'm not going anywhere. This is just a part

ering in his eyes. "You're right," he said after a moment

holding each other in the quiet of his apartment, Claire couldn't shake the feelin

-

h between Everbrook and New York for meetings, revisions, and discussions about her book's future. It was exhilarating,

relationshi

r meetings, FaceTiming her in the evenings when they couldn't be together. But as the week

gether wasn't always easy. There were times when Claire was too tired to be fully present, times when Adam was distracted by his own career pr

at her apartment. She was exhausted, her mind still buzzing from the whirlwind of meetings and edit

through the door, she could

dropping her bags by the do

ch, his expression seri

moment, the moment where everything they had b

ay?" she asked, h

hair. "I don't know. That's the thing, C

ch twist with anxiety

t really here. You're always thinking about the book, or the next trip, or the next meeting. I get it, Claire-I kn

Adam say it out loud made it real. "Adam, I'm trying. I'm trying to ba

not asking you to give it up. But I need to know

tears. "You do matter, Ada

her, his eyes searching hers. "Then why

eer she had always dreamed of, the chance to finally make it as a writer; on the other, the ma

e whispered, her voice breaking.

lling her into his arms.

ed to talk about what this looks like. I don't want you to give up your dreams-hell, I love that

ould be enough to carry them through anything, but now she realized that l

eyes. "I've been so caught up in everything that I didn't realize how much I was negl

ch other. If this is going to work, we have to communicate better. I need to know what's going on in

, I'll do better. I'll make more time for us. Maybe we can schedul

like a good start. And I'll try to be more understanding wh

of the room. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was a beginning. T

-

effort to set aside time for Adam, even when her career demanded so much of her. They planned regular date nights, weeken

her readings, met her colleagues, and showed genuine interest in her world. It wasn't always easy-ther

, watching the sunset with glasses of wine i

ed to be like?" Claire asked, her voice s

t's not perfect, and it's not always easy. But it's worth fighting

er heart swelling with lov

e low and filled with affection. "

eir careers or in their relationship-they would face them together. Because love, real love, wasn

ty, that Adam was the person she wante