Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“Unfortunately.”
No one liked Derek’s fiancée, Kasey. She was materialistic and talking to her was like a read on how much money everyone spent each week. I just didn’t care about it all and couldn’t figure out why Derek didn’t see it.
“Order me the chocolate chip cheesecake,” I told Marina.
“Will do.” She squeezed my hand and then followed the guys inside.
Anticipation tore through me. I’d been waiting all day for this moment. Ready for Ash to talk to me. I’d come up with a million scenarios, and though I’d downplayed it to Marina, I couldn’t deny that at least half of them were us riding off into the sunset together.
“So, you wanted to talk to me?” I asked.
“Right. Yeah. You don’t want to go inside and eat first?”
“Have you ever been told someone wants to talk to you and then walked away? It’s been on my mind all day,” I said with a laugh.
“Shit. Didn’t think about that. It’s not bad.”
“Well, that’s good,” I said with a laugh.
For all of the possible things that had gone through my mind when he said he wanted to talk to me, not a single one of them prepared me for what he said.
“I got into an MBA program.”
My mouth opened slightly, and confusion flittered across my face. “What? An MBA? What do you even need an MBA for?”
He shrugged. “I really don’t since I’m working for my dad. But then again … I’m working for my dad.”
“Right,” I said slowly. “Being your own boss is preferable, but you’re not leaving Talmadge Properties?”
“No, I’m not. UGA has a program in Atlanta, and we have an Atlanta office.. I’m going to take classes on nights and weekends while working for the business from there.”
My heart stopped. “Atlanta.”
“Yeah. I start in August.”
I was going to be sick. “You’re moving to Atlanta next month? Does Derek know?”
“I still need to tell him. Well, I was going to tell you all together, but you sort of jumped the gun.” He laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “So, I’ll get my MBA and get to be out from under my dad.”
“That’s … wow. Congratulations,” I said, pushing myself into his arms.
He hugged me tight as the dreams I’d had burned to ash.
It was stupid. Again. So stupid. Why had I thought for a second that he was going to choose me? That didn’t even make sense. I’d thought I’d gotten over so much of that feeling. I hadn’t realized how ingrained it was in me until he gave me a tiny bit of hope and then shattered it like glass.
He didn’t want to be with me. He’d helped me open my boutique, and now, he was getting the hell out of town. After telling me that Savannah was home and reeling me back in, he was leaving his own home.
“I’m excited. It’ll be good to have a new opportunity like this.”
“For sure,” I said, pushing away my own feelings about the matter.
Ash and I were ancient history, and I needed to get that through my head. I just needed to be happy for my friend. So, I brought out a smile—a real one.
“Let’s go tell Derek. Though he might hate you for leaving him behind.”
Ash laughed, relief hitting his features when he saw that I wasn’t mad. “Probably. Y’all will have to visit.”
“Obviously,” I told him.
I took his arm and drew him inside, ready to see my brother’s reaction to Ash leaving. And knowing this was the nail in the coffin of our relationship that I’d tried to rise out of all afternoon.
13
Savannah
December 25, 2017
My dress was Christmas green, my lipstick was Christmas red, and everything was all right at our annual Christmas party. Dad had been having it before he and Kathy got married, and he’d had it every year since too. We all went to church for Christmas Eve Mass, Dad threw one giant party for all of his friends the night of Christmas. The only year we’d missed it was when Dad’s work had taken us all to Paris for the holiday, when I was in college.
This year was like every other year. Except I had a date.
“I got you more champagne,” Smith said with a smile solely for me.
He was handsome, just the way I liked them. He’d been a Holy Cross boy in high school, a few years older than me. He knew Derek well enough to fear him, but he’d grown out of that boyish fear, and he was here at my side now. His father worked in the pharmaceutical business, and his mom was a state senator after years as an attorney. Smith was following in both their footsteps with an interest in politics as he worked for his dad’s company.
Dad liked him. Which made me feel things that I couldn’t articulate. Kathy just squeezed my hand as they hit it off like best friends and planned golf trips together. That was what I was supposed to want. It wasn’t supposed to make me suspicious of my choices.