Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“If you don’t stop talking, I might actually punch you in the face.”
Wade looked at me in surprise. “What’s your problem?”
“My problem is that I love this woman you’re talking about like she’s a fucking piece of meat. And I can’t think of anything better than having her to myself for the rest of my life. The thought of being with someone else is absurd. The thought of her being with someone else makes me want to put my fist through the wall. The thought of losing her because I’m a fucking idiot is unacceptable.”
Wade shrugged. “Okay. Then get married. But don’t blame me when it all goes to hell and you wish you were banging hot interns instead of getting your ass chewed out.”
“I have to go.” I pulled out my wallet and threw some cash on the bar.
“When are you back in the office?”
“I don’t know.” I stood up, stood taller. “Maybe never.”
“Huh? What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means I did what I came here to do, but it doesn’t matter as much as I thought it would—or rather, the reason it matters has nothing to do with HFX, and everything to do with me realizing I might fail but taking the risk anyway, because not taking it would have been the greater failure.”
“Dude. You lost me.”
“Never mind.” I was already heading for the door.
Losing Wade, I could handle.
Losing Felicity, no fucking way.
In the car on the way back to the hotel, I changed my flight so I could get out of D.C. tonight. Then I packed in a hurry and raced to the airport.
It was late when I got home, after midnight, so I wasn’t surprised that all the lights were off. I let myself in, dumped my bags at the door, and rushed into the dark, silent bedroom.
“Hey.” I sat down on her side of the bed and put a hand out. “I’m home.”
But she wasn’t there. I felt around for a few seconds, then panicked and switched on the lamp. The bed was empty.
I jumped to my feet. “Felicity?”
No answer.
Frantic, I checked the bathroom and noticed all her things were gone. I looked in the guest bedroom across the hall, even out on the deck. I went downstairs and looked in every room. I went into the garage—her car was gone.
“Fuck!” I pulled the door shut and went into the kitchen, my heart racing.
That’s when I saw the envelope on the island. It was white, and my name was written on it in her loopy, girlish handwriting.
My chest grew tighter as I ripped it open, smoothed out the page, and began to read.
Dear Hutton,
By now you’ve realized that I moved out while you were in D.C. I’m so sorry for doing it without telling you, but I didn’t want you to be worried or distracted during the hearing. You needed to be able to focus one hundred percent on your testimony. I didn’t want to add any additional stress.
I think this time apart is a good thing. As much as I have loved living with you and pretending to be a couple, it feels like the right time to step back from the fantasy and remember what’s real.
If you could please respect my need for a little space, I’d really appreciate it. I’ll get in touch on Saturday and we can make a plan for attending the party. Maybe on Sunday we can discuss the best way to handle the breakup where our families are concerned.
I hope you don’t think I’m upset with you—I’m not. I am upset, but only with myself for getting carried away. I forgot that it was all for show, and my feelings for you have grown beyond make-believe.
This isn’t your fault.
I’ll never forget this time we had together.
Love,
Felicity
P.S. I have been and always shall be your friend.
The postscript was written in code, and that, almost more than anything else, made my throat constrict and my heart threaten to splinter.
I had to fix this. I had to win her back.
Friday morning, I skipped my run and showed up at my sister’s house before eight a.m.
She looked surprised when she answered my knock. “You’re back already?”
“Yeah. Can I come in?”
“Of course!” She grabbed me in a hug. “Congratulations. You did so great!”
“Thanks.”
“How’d you get through it? Was it my stellar advice?”
“Your suggestions did help,” I admitted. “Thanks for the text.”
“You’re welcome.” She let me go and gave me a smug grin. “The things I said were based on the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy, by the way. I asked Natalia for a few ideas. She’s still open to talking with you.”
“I might take her up on that.” I exhaled and adjusted the cap on my head. “But first, I need your advice.”
Her jaw dropped. She put a hand by her ear. “Did I hear that right?”