Chapter 23
Marilyn
The lemon chicken is in the oven. A fresh, leafy salad is chilling in the refrigerator. The rice is in the pressure cooker, ready for me to hit the button. I even have a bottle of white zinfandel waiting to be uncorked. The only thing missing from our dinner is Ricky.
I expected him to come back to my office after his meeting with Mr. Parker. When he didn’t, I checked my cell phone for missed calls or messages. By the time I was leaving work, I sent him a text message, asking about the meeting and reminding him about dinner at my place.
Now it’s a quarter to seven and, still, no word.
In the bedroom, I check my reflection. After work, I came home, changed clothes, and freshened up. All the while, my talk with Bryce replays in my head.
After Ricky left my office, Bryce appeared.
Looking up, I smile, expecting to see Ricky back in my doorway for one more pep talk. My smile fades at the sight of Bryce Perkins. Even in his business casual attire, he doesn’t hold a candle to Ricky. His torso doesn’t slim down to a V, accentuating his shoulders. I don’t even want to compare their facial features. “Do you need something?” I ask.
Bryce comes in the door and takes a seat opposite my desk, leaning back and crossing one ankle over his knee. “I thought I’d tell you personally that your friend—or was he a date?” He shrugs. “Anyway, Dick Dunn isn’t Parker and Stevens material.”
I feel my blood pressure rise as I clench my jaw. “I think you mean that he isn’t entry-level material.”
“No. I said what I mean. He’s not working here.” Bryce lowers his leg to the floor and leans forward. “Marilyn, I’m sure it’s hard to hear the truth, especially from me.”
“And what truth would that be?”
“He was just using you to get a job here. Honestly, it was painfully obvious to everyone else.”
I recall what Ricky said, that he thought Bryce was still into me. “His name is Rich,” I correct. “And my relationship with him is none of your business, just as your relationship with Beth is none of mine.”
Bryce shrugs. “I’m afraid Beth and I agreed to part ways. She isn’t like you. Too high-maintenance for my liking.”
A scoff escapes my throat. “Two high-maintenance people in a relationship would be exhausting.”
He placates me with a soft laugh. “I spoke with Rich” —he emphasizes the name— “in the hallway. You know, some people aren’t meant for the white-collar world.” He lifts his hands. “There’s nothing wrong with manual labor. Lord knows we need those people.”
Those people.
His condescending tone grates on my nerves. “Bryce, do you want something, because I have a meeting with one of my clients in a few minutes, and I need to review their portfolio.”
“I came to ask you to dinner, a real one. Just you and me.”
I shake my head. “Maybe you’ve forgotten, but there’s no you and me. We’re done.”
“I haven’t forgotten. I’m hoping you can see a way to give us another chance.”
My temples begin to throb. “There’s no us.”
“Marilyn, seeing you with someone else…it made me realize. We’re kindred spirits. We’ve both tasted success and have the thirst for more. I knew that about you when you were an intern. Your drive, ability, and willingness to learn drew me to you. Together, you and I could be a power couple in the wealth management world.”
Inhaling, I stand. “I’m not interested.”
He also stands and scrunches his lips. “Oh, do you think you’re in a relationship with him?”
I know I am.
Instead of saying that, I once again tell Bryce to leave my office.
He walks to the door. “I’ve missed you, Marilyn. Have your fun, but when he breaks your heart, I want you to know that I’ll be here to help you put it back together.”
“Bye, Bryce.”
Even now, hours later, the whole conversation has me steaming. I can’t help but think that the reason Ricky wasn’t chosen for one of the positions is Bryce. Of course, I can’t prove that. And with each passing minute, I worry that Bryce is right about Ricky.
Was he using me?
I find my phone and try calling Ricky. Biting my lip, I wait. The call goes to voice mail, just like all the calls I’ve made since seeing him this afternoon. As I’m about to put down my phone, it vibrates with an incoming call. The screen says Devan.
While I’m happy to talk to my friend, I’m disappointed that it’s not Ricky. After pushing the green icon, I answer, “Hi, Dev.”
“Marilyn.”
It is Ricky.
“What’s the matter?” I ask, wondering why he’s calling me on Devan’s phone. My pulse increases. “Is Devan all right?”
“Devan is fine.” He takes a deep breath. “It’s Justin. There’s been an accident.”
I fall into a nearby chair, my blood draining to my feet. “What kind of accident?”
“He’s hurt. Dad called me as I was getting out of the meeting with Herold Parker. I hurried to my apartment and packed a few things. Now I’m in Bloomington. Justin’s in surgery.”
“I thought your parents were in Florida.”
“They are. Devan called them.”
My emotions are all over the place, sad about Justin and relieved that Bryce wasn’t right. “I’ve been calling you.”
“Marilyn, I’m sorry. I have no fucking idea where my phone is. It’s probably in my apartment. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“There’s no reason to apologize. Will Justin be okay?”
“Fucking hope so. He was working on some machinery, and it fell, crushing one of his legs.”
I gasp. “Oh no. How is Devan?”
“Upset, but strong.”
I do some mental math on time and distance. “Which Bloomington hospital? I can be there in less than an hour.” Our dinner no longer matters.
“You don’t have to. It’s dark.”
His concern makes me smile. “I’m on my way. My car has these things called headlights. Wonderful invention for driving in the dark.”
“IU Health. Check in at the front desk and call Devan’s phone. I’ll come get you. This place is a maze.”
“Ricky?”
“Yeah?”
“How did your meeting with Mr. Parker go?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when you get here.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Is it bad?”
“No,” he answers quickly. “I think it’s good.”
I let out a long breath. “Tell Devan I’m on my way.”
My next call is to Jill. Ten minutes later, I’m getting into the back seat of Todd’s SUV. Once I’m settled, I look up to the front seat. “Todd, you didn’t have to come.”
“I’m not a fan of the two of you taking off in the dark on country roads.” He reaches across and lays his hand on Jill’s knee. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Jill turns in my direction as Todd starts to drive. “Besides, we figured if you didn’t want to come back with us, Ricky might be able to give you a ride.” Her expression saddens. “Have you heard anything more about Justin?”
I shake my head. “Just what I told you.” I fight back tears. “We were just with them two weeks ago.”
Jill nods. “I know. And we made the guys leave.”
“They didn’t mind,” I say, recalling the breakfast the next morning. “They had a good time at Decoy Ducks.”
A little over an hour later, Todd finds a space to park in the visitor parking lot, and the three of us stuff our hands into our coat pockets and trudge forward through the icy air. By the time we reach the door, my ears are prickling with the cold.
It’s as we enter that I see the people checking in, showing their IDs for entrance.