34. Jenny
JENNY
It was a truth, universally acknowledged, that an escort from the wrong side of the tracks should never fall in love with her billionaire client.
But I’d gone and done just that. I’d fallen hard for Cole Bryson.
Now I was alone. And I would be for the rest of my life.
I listened to Cole’s father’s message again. “You have until noon today to leave the Liberty. Don’t say one word to Cole. Otherwise, there’ll be hell to pay.”
I didn’t know what he meant by “hell to pay.” But I knew I would never put Cole at risk. Cole’s father had discovered I was an escort. He didn’t want his billionaire son anywhere near me—he said I wasn’t good enough for the Bryson family.
He was probably right.
Cole’s father had also somehow found my auntie Theresa. He’d dug up my ugly, secret past. My aunt came back from the dead with a vengeance, texting me and demanding money. She said she’d tell Cole the truth about me. If she did that, I knew he’d never look at me the same way again.
Between his father’s threats and my auntie coming back, I knew it was best to leave. I’d packed my things, written Cole a crappy note, and left his apartment. My billionaire client had never asked for this sort of trouble. All he’d wanted was a fun date for his friend’s wedding. We were never supposed to fall in love. I was doing him a favor by leaving. Cole would be better off without me.
That was three days ago. Three days of hell. The crumpled-up tissues on the bed next to me and the empty bottles of wine on the table attested to that. Heartbreak didn’t exactly feel good. But I didn’t want to think about that. I tried to focus on doing the right thing for Cole—because that was the only way to accept the pain and the only thing keeping me from running back to him.
My phone rang, causing me to jump. My heart stopped; it was Shirley, Cole’s assistant. She was like a fairy godmother to me, always buying me dresses and fussing over me. Shirley and her husband, Mike, were on a Caribbean cruise. Why was she calling—was it an emergency? Had something happened to Cole?
“Shirl?” I croaked. “Is everything okay?”
“Jenny!” Shirley wailed. “What on earth is going on? I called Mr. Bryson, and he said you’d left. He wassoupset! What can I do? What happened? I’ve never heard him like that before. He was crying ?—”
“It’s okay,” I lied. “It’s for the best. How’s your cruise?” I asked, lamely trying to change the subject.
“It’s great, but that’s not what’s important!” Shirley sounded like she was going to cry. “What on earth happened?”
“Cole’s a great guy.” I sighed. “But we took things too fast. And let’s face it, he’s way out of my league, Shirl. He needs to be with someone from his own world.”
“Please don’t talk like that,” she pleaded. “He has real feelings for you, I can tell. He’s never been like this with anyone, Jenny.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” I said, tears starting again. “I hope you have a great time on your cruise. Thank you for everything.”
I hated hanging up on Shirley, but I hated a lot of things at the moment. Quickly, I checked her cruise reservation details. Then, I went to the ship’s online gift shop and picked out the most giant bouquet of flowers I could find. I paid for them and added a note:
Thank you for everything, Shirley.
You always made me feel welcome.
I hope you have the best time on your cruise—you deserve every happiness.
Please look out for Mr. Bryson for me.
Love,
Jenny
Then I threw down my phone and got back to crying.
Later, my phone pinged with another text from my best friend, Audrey. She’d been texting and calling nonstop for the past three days. I ignored it. But the phone beeped again, then again , until I finally gave up and read her messages.
Jenny, please text me back.
I’m worried about you!
If I don’t hear from you by the end of the day, I’m calling the police.
I rubbed my temples. Audrey was my best friend, but she was engaged toCole’sbest friend, James Preston. So, I knew it would get back to Cole as soon as I talked to her.
Sighing, I tapped out a response.
I’m alive. Don’t go calling the police!
Where are you? Are you okay???
I’m fine. I’m safe.
I broke up with Cole.
Taking a break from life.
My phone rang, making me jump out of my skin. I had zero desire to talk, but Audrey would freak out if I didn’t answer.
“What?” I croaked.
“Why haven’t you called or texted me back?” Audrey asked. “I’ve been worried sick!”
“Because I don’t want to talk about it,” I said.
“Cole’s been so upset,” she said. “Just like the rest of us. Even Elena was freaking out!”
“Sorry.” I sighed.
“Where are you?” Audrey asked, her voice laced with worry. “Are you okay?”
“Home.” I grabbed one of the many crumpled-up tissues from the pile next to me and blew my nose. Hearing Audrey’s voice was getting me all worked up. “I have to go, okay? It’s been a rough couple of days.”
“Don’t hang up!” Audrey said quickly. “FaceTime me, so I know you’re telling me the truth. I need to see that you’re safe.”
“Oh my God,” I groaned but complied. Working at the agency, Audrey and I had learned to always look out for each other. We FaceTimed to confirm that the other was okay, not being held hostage by some crazy-ass John. I turned the video on and blew my nose again. My little reflection peered back at me. My eyes were puffy, and my hair was a rat’s nest. “Jeez, I look like crap.”
Audrey’s pretty face appeared on my phone. She scowled at me. “You’ve been crying.”
“Nah.” But I blew my nose again.
“You’re not with one of your awful clients, right?” Audrey peered into the screen. “I was worried someone kidnapped you.”
“I’m by myself, I swear.” I held up the phone to show her my crappy Roxbury studio apartment. “Another day in paradise.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why’d you leave Cole’s place? What happened?”
I shrugged. “I just got to thinking. I’m not really a relationship kind of girl.”
Audrey took a deep breath. “Did he do something to you? Something… bad?”
“No! No, it was nothing like that. I swear to God.” I crossed myself for good measure. “He was a perfect gentleman. I just didn’t want to be with him anymore.”
“Why not?” She didn’t sound like she believed me.
I shrugged again. “I guess I felt like if I got out now, I wouldn’t get hurt later. I thought lowering my expectations might be smart. You know what I mean?”
Audrey nodded, her eyes huge in her face.
“But don’t go thinking of doing the same thing,” I admonished her quickly. “You and James are different—he proposed and everything. You’re official. Even his parents know! What happened with Celia, by the way?”
Celia Preston was James’s mother. She’d recently been arrested for involvement with the death of James’s college girlfriend, a crime that had happened twenty years ago.
“She’s getting out on bail tomorrow. We’re dealing with it,” Audrey said. “But don’t change the subject. I want to hear about you . I just saw you at the airport. You looked happy. So did Cole. I thought things were good.”
“Yeah, well. Things change.”
She looked into my eyes. “You said you loved Cole and that you guys were going to live together. That was only a few days ago, Jenny. Something must’ve happened.”
“I can’t—I don’t want to talk about it.” I lifted my chin. “Let’s just say it was my decision, okay? A girl wants what a girl wants. I realized when we got back to the real world that it would never work. He’s a billionaire, and I’m a call girl.”
Audrey started to speak, but I cut her off.
“And like I said, you are a different story! You and James are right for each other. You’re just as classy as he is. I’m not like that—the people in Cole’s life wouldn’t ever accept me. It was time to face the truth. The party was fun while it lasted, but it’s over.”
“He’s not going to forget about you that easily.” Audrey sighed. “James talked to him—he said he was devastated.”
“Don’t tell me that,” I snapped. My eyes burned with tears.
“I’m sorry.” Audrey sighed. “And listen… There’s something else.”
My stomach dropped. “I don’t know how much more I can handle.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I know, and I feel terrible about this. The timing’s bad. But…”
Audrey looked at me, her eyes huge in her face. “James and I have decided to get married sooner rather than later. With everything that’s happened, we don’t want to wait. But I’m so sorry about you and Cole?—”
“Don’t say you’re sorry again—I’m so happy for you guys!” Fresh tears sprung to my eyes, but they were happy ones. “No one deserves happiness as much as you do.”
“Thank you.” Audrey smiled. “And I wanted to ask you something. Jenny, will you be my maid of honor?”
“Of course I will be!” Fat tears rolled down my cheeks, but they were happy ones.
“Now you’re going to make me cry!” She dabbed underneath her eyes with a tissue. “There’s one more thing, though. And like I said, I’m so sorry about the timing.”
“Let me guess.” I groaned. “Cole’s the best man.”
She blew out a deep breath and nodded. “Cole’s the best man.”
I shrugged. “He’s James’s best friend. I get it.” I didn’t know what I was going to do, though. More than anything, I wanted to see Cole again. But his father had made that impossible, and I couldn’t tell my best friend about it. I couldn’t say a word. And I’d just agreed to be her maid of honor…
What was I going to do? More tears spilled over, and these weren’t the happy kind—they were the wallowing kind. I had to say goodbye before they took over.
“I have to go, okay? I’m happy for you guys,” I said, and I meant it. “I’ll call you in a couple of days. Love you, Audrey.”
I hung up on another friend, which wasn’t nice of me.
And then I once again burst into tears.