Chapter 10 – Katie
Ten
PRESENT DAY
KATIE
The following morning
Asher’s kiss lingered on my lips long after my morning shower, and I couldn’t stop fantasizing about the way his touch rendered me completely useless.
How the mere thought of it made me slide my fingers deep until I came with his name on my tongue.
I’d most definitely remembered our first hate-kiss from long ago, but we’d both agreed to drown it. To let it wash away with our other ‘almosts,’ with the things that were far outweighed by our hatred of each other.
“Two blueberry scones and a flat white for Katie!” The Sweet Seasons barista’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I pushed my way through the small crowd to grab it. Then I settled into an empty booth near the windows.
Taking a long sip, I tried to brush away any remnants of Asher and mentally brace myself for the next hour.
Today was the third Thursday of the month, i.e., “relationship check-in day” with Brad. Unlike usual, I wasn’t hoping for him to list all the ways why we were finally in the right position to turn “us” on again.
Every time we revisited this chapter, the words never seemed to change.
Our story didn’t seem to have any place new to go, and I couldn’t think of a single good reason why I continued to put myself through this.
Alas, since we’d both asked for rain checks on the last two meetups, skipping a third was something we both agreed couldn’t happen.
Where the hell is he?
Are you still meeting me at Sweet Seasons today?
You’re twenty minutes late…
Shit. I’m so sorry, babe. I got completely wrapped up in something.
Would you mind coming to my office instead?
I’ll treat you to an early lunch if so.
Be there in ten…
I tossed my cup into the trash and left the café, taking my time to walk up the street to the Premier Building.
I signed in at the reception desk and glanced at Brad’s oversized picture that hung in the middle of the wall.
Flanked by the CEO and CFO, his frame finally held the job title he’d worked toward since I’d met him: Senior Director of Operations.
Taking the elevator up to the top floor, I found myself in a flurry of rushing interns and ringing phones.
I opened the door to his office and saw him poring over a folder.
“Are you ready to talk?” I asked.
“In just a second.” He flipped the pages. “How have you been lately?”
“A bit stressed, but—”
“Here it is.” He picked up his desk phone and tapped a button. “Georgia, tell Frank I found the clause we need on page seventy-eight. Have legal get it assessed by the end of the day, and tell the junior staff to get up here so we can prepare for our evening meeting.”
He hung up, and the door behind me instantly swung open.
Suddenly, a blur of suits rushed past me. They took their places in chairs and opened their laptops; some of them picked up files from his desk and flipped through them.
I’m practically a ghost…
“Brad…” I kept my voice firm. “You invited me here to talk, remember?”
“Yeah, but you know what?” He flipped through that damn folder again. “I should’ve just asked you for a rain check. Can it wait?”
“I’ve been waiting on you for fucking years!” I hissed. “When will you be free enough to take a phone call or talk to me like I’m someone you even halfway give a damn about?”
Everyone in the office suddenly stilled, darting their gazes toward me.
Brad looked up from his papers, his eyes meeting mine for the first time this morning.
“We can talk now,” he said, straightening his tie. He snapped his fingers, and the staff returned to rushing around the office.
“Let’s talk someplace private.” He reached out for my hand, but I didn’t take it.
I followed him down the hall and into an empty boardroom, where his framed picture met me once again.
“I’m sorry I missed our coffee date this morning,” he said. “I’m not trying to be an ass, I swear.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say.
“I’ll go with my personal update first,” he said. “Since we last met up, I’ve supervised two projects, hired forty new people, and…”
His voice dissolved under my thoughts, and as his lips moved, I waited to feel something, but there was nothing.
I didn’t desire to feel them pressed against mine. Didn’t wish he’d roll up his sleeves and pull me into his arms, and I no longer saw any softness in his eyes. No warmth for me.
Screw another few months of this…
“I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to you but…” His voice came through clear again. “Given everything that’s going on in my life right now, I think it’s best if we stay ‘off’ for a little while longer. That’s okay with you, isn’t it?”
“Actually, it’s not.” I crossed my arms. “I think we should just make it permanent. No love lost.”
“Stop being dramatic.” He scoffed. “I do love you. I just can’t give you any time right now.”
“I find it quite ironic that the man I hate seeing here and there finds a way to make more time for me than you do,” I said. “He even finds a way to text me, while I have to wait on you for weeks for a simple reply.”
He arched a brow. “What man?”
“You’re missing the point.”
“Are you talking about Asher Brooks?”
“I’m talking about you not being there for me.”
“Asher Brooks wants to fuck you,” he said. “If this is your way of saying that you’ve been cheating on me with him, then just say that.”
“You’re completely misreading what I’m saying,” I said.
“Have you slept with him?”
“No.”
“Touched him?”
“No, Brad.”
“Thought about it?”
Far too many times to count. “No.”
“Well, I don’t see why you’re trying to throw a tantrum and make me jealous.”
“I’m breaking up with you, Brad.” I spoke slowly. “Our relationship is off, for good. I wish you all the best, and I hope you find someone who won’t mind being neglected for months at a time.”
“It’s called working hard, Katie.”
“Ha!” He looked offended. “Look. I think it’s cute that you plan weddings, but let’s be real. That’s not exactly something you can do forever.”
“Excuse me?”
“People book with you because you’re pretty and you look young,” he said. “Once you hit the wall and turn forty, they’ll be running away to the next young girl who can do exactly what you do.”
“That’s…really not how my fucking job works.”
“My job, on the other hand—” He didn’t stop for a second. “Is to make sure that we have a big enough nest egg to live on when you’re no longer able to work and your main job becomes taking care of our children—whenever I’m ready for you to have them.”
What?
“So, okay.” He held up his hands in a slight surrender. “You’ve made your point, and I’ll send you some flowers and a few goodnight texts so you know I still love you until our next meetup.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, looking at me.
“Are we all good now?” he asked. “Can I answer this?”
“Goodbye, Brad.” I stepped back. “And fuck you.”
I left the boardroom and walked down the hall, hoping for the first time in forever that he wasn’t following me.
Thankfully, the elevator arrived within seconds, and I took the ride down by myself.
His name crossed my phone screen, and I did what I should’ve done years ago.
I pressed “block” and vowed to never speak to him again.
Opening my calendar, I swiped to April and saw the first three weeks lit up in pink for Michelle’s wedding.
The only things left before then were a few private lunches with the bridesmaids and a bachelorette party she had yet to announce.
It meant that I wouldn’t have to worry about seeing Asher until I landed in Punta Cana, and I could manage to hold off on thinking about him until then.
At least, I thought…