49. Alice
49
Alice
W ill steps back into the conference room, and by some miracle, I follow.
“I have a lot of work to do before the press conference tomorrow,” he says to the team. “I expect to see you all there in your Red Tails gear.”
Does that include me? Or should I pack up and leave today?
But then he looks right at me. “Bright and early. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
So then, after the press release. My breath hitches.
Gosh, this isn’t how I expected this day to go.
Will leaves and I stand there, in the middle of the conference room, while everyone else packs up their things. Time to go.
“What was that all about?” Theo nods his head toward the open office door.
“Um.” My brows knit. Do I tell my team I’m leaving? Do I just go?
“I’m guessing that’s personal,” Mason says.
“What do you mean?” Mateo sidles next to Theo.
“It’s not obvious? Will and Alice are the reason Billy’s ending the no-dating rule.” Mason looks at me for confirmation. But I’m not even sure what to say—even with Will’s last speech telling me I don’t have to lie for him anymore.
“Wait,” Theo says. “Is that true?”
“Maybe,” I say. Because it was when he said it. And I’m still trying to decide if Will just broke up with me or if he’s merely sending me home. Will we try long distance?
“And all this time you were flirting with me,” Theo says, snapping me out of my daze.
But I don’t need to defend myself or correct him. My team beats me to it.
“No, man, she wasn’t,” Mason says.
Mateo shakes his head. “Not at all.”
“ S top packing and go talk to the man!” Lula yells at me.
My phone is propped on my bed as I pack my clothes into my blue suitcase. “What am I supposed to do with my furniture, Lula? I have my Jeep. That’s it.”
“Alice Jasmine, you need more of an explanation. He didn’t fire you?—”
I pause. “That’s true. He didn’t. Maybe he’ll let me work remotely.”
“Stop it!” she barks. “And he didn’t break up with you.”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t see the sorrow in his face, Lula. It wasn’t a happy moment—for either of us.”
“I still think you?—”
“You can give me advice on my furniture, or I can hang up. Those are your choices.” I didn’t tell Lula about Will being Billy. I think I could have. That’s what he so sadly told me, that I don’t have to lie anymore. Clearly, I was terrible at it. But it’s not as if it came up. I can at least thank him in this one last way.
Lula’s lips purse. “Fine. Get Dad to ship your things.”
“I can’t do that. Lula. I’m twenty-six.” I bite my inner cheek and sigh. “I really do love this bed. I could probably rent a truck and pull the Jeep behind.”
“Are you going home, then?”
“For a while.” But I’ve liked my freedom. I’ve loved my independence. I may have to give up Will, but not everything. “I spent the afternoon looking at jobs. I’m applying for one in New Orleans and one in New York City.”
She blows a raspberry through her lips. “Dad will love that.”
“He’ll be fine.”
“He will, Alice. But will you?”