Thanksgiving

This scene is part of this one: Back in New York City. I accidentally posted this out of sequence.

“Roth.”

“What?” he said absently as he scrolled through something on his phone.

“It’s Thanksgiving.”

He looked back at her, frowning. “It’s what?”

“Thanksgiving.” She frowned. “Your employees are working today?”

“Why wouldn’t they be?”

“It’s a holiday,” she said slowly. “You do know what holidays are, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “I have back to back meetings all day. No one said anything when we scheduled it.”

Of course, they didn’t. Apparently, he forgot why he speeded up his business dealings in Berlin—to keep his promise to Lyle to make it back in time for Thanksgiving. Ever since she agreed to give him another chance, his energy had been next level. He was a bit manic—insatiable, hyperactive, unable to sleep. She had actually ordered him to work in London because his hovering was freaking her out. It only took him two days to wrap up his business because he threw himself into a work frenzy. She doubted he got more than eight hours in the three days they were there. The constant calls to make sure she wasn’t feeling neglected were disconcerting. She didn’t know what to do with this attentive, affectionate Roth, who was willing to take time away from work to be with her. She was desperately in need of rest and space to process, while he seemed to want the opposite.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Confessions. Please do not share or distribute.

That's so Roth not to recognize any holidays, it makes me snicker.

The transition from London back to the States was jarring because the beginning of the book is this insane throw down where they hash out their past and sort through a ton of misunderstandings and revelations and come to some compromises. That felt like a book in itself. Then, we arrive back in New York and all of that angst is gone, which leaves you with... what?

I was a little lost at first because I don't generally write cutsey, domesticated scenes. I thrive in toxicity. Lol. I was out of my element, just like Roth and Jasmine. Well, Roth wasn't awkward. He just plowed forward, but Jasmine and I were more than a little out of sorts and needed time to adjust to this version of Roth and our new set of circumstances.

Can you guys imagine an affectionate, attentive (clingy?) Roth after the past two books?