Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
She lowers herself in front of me, putting a hand on my knee with a worried expression on her face. “What happened?”
I dash the tears away with the back of my hand, sucking in a huge breath as I stand up. She follows along with me.
“I’m fine,” I say in a quivery voice, shoving my phone back in my purse. “Just got some bad news.”
“Is it something I can help you with?” she asks. While I’ve only known her for three days, I’m touched with her motherly concern. She has been brisk and polite at work, clearly not wanting to ever blur the lines between superior and subordinate. But right now, she looks like she just wants to grab me into a hard hug.
I finally lift my chin and put on a brave smile, once again wiping at my cheeks to catch a few stray tears. I’m proud at the strength behind my words. “No, really. I’m totally fine. Nothing like a good cry to make you feel better, right?”
She’s not convinced. Her brow furrows, and she studies me carefully.
“Seriously,” I assure her as I reach for my car door. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m really okay.”
“Okay,” she says hesitantly, but clearly not believing a word I just said. “If you need anything, I can give you my home phone number. You can call me if you’d like to talk.”
“That’s very sweet,” I say. “But I’m good. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure,” she says with a nod and a halfhearted smile.
I wait until she turns away from me before getting in my car. I turn it on, but don’t leave right away. Instead, I pull my phone back out of my purse and I call my mom.
She answers right away. “Hey, honey.”
“Hi, Mom,” I say, and then my strength starts to crumble a little. I have to suck in a silent breath, then let it out just as quietly to get control of myself. “Um… I was thinking that Hope and I could maybe come visit for Thanksgiving next week.”
“Oh, Hannah… that would be wonderful. Your brothers will be so excited, too.”
“Awesome,” I say in an overly bright voice. “I’ll make the reservations tonight. I’ve got Thursday and Friday off. I think I’ll try to find a flight out Wednesday night. Think someone can pick us up from the airport?”
We’d have to fly into Columbia, which was the closest airport to my hometown.
“Of course. We’ll work it out. I’m just so thrilled. I can’t remember the last time we all had Thanksgiving together.”
“It will be great.” And very much needed. I’m feeling so homesick right now.
We chat for a few more minutes, her basically wanting to know how the new job is going. She’s been so thrilled over how my life has changed the last few weeks with Hope returning to me. While I’ve never let her directly in on just how hard things have been for me this past year, I know she still worries.
After I hang up, I take another deep breath and start the car. After I pick up Hope, we’ll go out to dinner. I don’t feel like cooking.
Or eating, to be honest. But I’ll treat Hope to her favorite pizza.
Then, more than just making flight reservations, I need to figure out what to do with my life. I have what I think is a good idea—something that has always been on my radar of desires—and I’m hoping a few days back home next week and a lot of conversation with my mom will help put things into perspective. I still have a good chunk of the fifteen thousand Asher had given me weeks ago, so I have some breathing room if I decide to make a big change in my life.
CHAPTER 27
Asher
Leaning back in my office chair, resting my elbows on the arms with my fingers steepled in contemplation, I stare out the window at the traffic below. I sent out an email about thirty minutes ago telling the employees their Thanksgiving holiday was starting early. I do it every year, so they were expecting it. It’s a tradition my dad started, and I carried it on. Although we generally only give Thursday and Friday off for the holiday, we’ve always closed via “surprise” email to the company at noon on Wednesday.
Several of the executives and higher-level staff have stopped by my office. Poking their head in my open door and wishing me a happy Thanksgiving.
Fucking fat chance of that.
I suppose I could spend it at The Wicked Horse, but even I know that’s not going to happen. Haven’t been able to step foot in there since the last time Hannah and I went together as a couple.
Feeling brave, I went there Saturday night. I was supposed to be at the charity gala, but I chose not to go. Christina said she understood, but how could she really? She had no clue I hadn’t gone because Hannah wasn’t with me, nor that the whole fucked-up truth was that she wasn’t with me was because I canceled the date. If Christina had known, she’d have thought I’d gone off the deep end.