Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“For the Westgate Board of Visitors’ meeting?” she inquires. “But you usually do that via Zoom.”
“Book me at Casa Cipriani for three nights. I think I’ll do some shopping while I’m there.”
She stares at me as if I’ve gone utterly insane. “But… you never go shopping.”
“I guess it’s time to try new things, then, huh? It’s called self-care, Tina. Anything else?”
“No, ma’am,” she says, rising from the chair. “I’ll handle all of this right away.”
She hurries out of my office, but I take a breath before calling out, “Tina.”
She turns back to look at me. “Sorry if I’m being snippy. I had a rough weekend.”
“No worries, Ms. Norcross. Just let me know how else I can help you.”
“Thank you.”
She closes the door, but I have one more quick meeting before I start my workday. I buzz Jenna’s office.
“Good morning, oh glorious boss,” she says.
I can’t even muster a smile—I feel dead inside. “Hey… got a minute?”
“Sure. Be right there.”
When Jenna walks in, I steel myself to keep this purely professional.
“What’s up?” she says cheerfully as she plops down in the chair Tina just vacated.
“I’m moving back to my offices across the river today, and I wanted to let you know. Your main work is with the Titans, so you’ll be staying here.”
“Um… okay,” she says as her brow furrows in confusion.
“And… I’m not going to be able to join you and the ladies for drinks or lunch anymore.”
“What?” she exclaims, coming right out of the chair and putting her palms on my desk.
I lift my chin and pray my voice stays steady. “I think our relationship should only be professional.”
Jenna glares at me. “You’re going to need to elucidate.”
My chin notches higher. “Blurring those lines is confusing, and inevitably, someone’s going to get hurt. It’s easier if we keep to our roles.”
“Easier for whom?” she demands angrily. “Because I can assure you, it’s not easy for me to lose a friend.”
My lower lip trembles, because fuck… it’s not easy for me either.
“What is going on?” she asks, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Nothing.”
“Something,” she snaps. “Something is most definitely wrong, and I want to know what it is.”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” I insist, looking away from her to my laptop.
“But I do,” she says softly. “You’re my friend, no matter if you say otherwise. You’re clearly upset and sad and you need to let me help make it better.”
It’s the last part—let me help make it better—that gets me. Because nothing can make me feel better. No amount of moving across the river or hiding in New York will cure me.
Tears pour down my cheeks, and I can only imagine the look of alarm on Jenna’s face since everything is blurred. She rushes around the desk, bends over, and pulls me into an awkward but secure hug while I sit in my chair.
She squeezes hard. “I don’t know what happened, but just let it all out. Trust me… there is nothing more cleansing than a good cry.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I sob into her shoulder. “I don’t cry. I mean, if someone dies, I do, but otherwise I don’t. I’m a strong woman. I’m made of steel, and I’m being utterly ridiculous.”
“Tears don’t mean you’re weak,” she coos.
“Drake has made me weak.” I hiccup and pull back to look at my friend. She loosens her grip. “This is all Drake’s fault.”
Jenna’s expression hardens as she steps back and leans her butt on my desk. Arms crossed, she says, “What did that asshole do?”
I let loose a torrent of word vomit covering our last few weeks, not sparing the plot of the story but going light on the sexual details. I focus on the last few days and how we made a connection. How we both agreed it was more than just sex and we’d explore a relationship. Then I explain how it all went south after Crystal showed up.
“He kicked you out of his house?” She gasps. “Oh my God… he’s the biggest asshole ever.”
“No,” I say, reaching into my purse for some tissues. I blow my nose. “I get it. He has so much baggage with Crystal, and it was an awful situation. The kids were scared, he was furious. He was only being a protective dad.”
“Sure, he was being a protective dad, but he was also an asshole to you. Don’t excuse his behavior. You’re not the enemy, and he treated you like you were.”
“To him, I could be the enemy.” Because this all boils down to Drake’s inability to stop looking at me through his jaded lenses. “He doesn’t want to risk it with me, and I have to respect that.”
“Well, I don’t have to respect it,” she grouses. “He’ll always be an asshole to me.”
I can’t help but laugh, blotting at my eyes. “You can be mad at him for me. I’m just sad, but it will pass.”