Chapter 50
Mac
When I return to the flat after my very unwelcome meeting with my father, the air in the place feels different.
Something feels wrong immediately. I look around and notice Eliza’s purse isn’t on the kitchen counter, and I rush into the bedroom and don’t see any of her things.
There’s no sign that she’s been staying here.
I move into the bathroom, and everything is gone in there, too.
I fish my phone out of my pocket and open her location that she shared with me months ago, and her little blue dot shows she’s at the airport. What the fuck?
I grab the first thing within reach and throw it at the wall, sending it smashing to the ground.
I pull up the list of flights for the day and see there’s one departing in an hour a half.
I have a feeling it's the one Eliza is taking, and I know there’s no way I’m making it on that one.
I pack as fast as I can and reschedule my flight to the next possible one to Vancouver, knowing I’m going to be a few hours behind Eliza.
While I sit and wait for my own flight, I track hers as it travels over the Atlantic. She won’t land for hours, and I don’t know for sure she’s on that flight, but tracking it seems to calm my nerves slightly, if that’s even possible. I’m a mess.
I wait until I’m on board to email my father that I’m heading back to Vancouver.
During our meeting, he tried to tell me that I was required to move back to London to run the company, and I refused, right to his face.
He then tried to tell me then he wouldn’t give me the position.
I pointed out how he wouldn’t look very good publicly announcing me as his successor only to turn around and change his mind.
He continued to try to get me to move, but I told him that unless it’s what Eliza wants, I’m not doing it.
He looked affronted when I said that, and I reminded him that it was him who wanted me to get a serious girlfriend.
I’m not sure why he’d want me to do that while living in Vancouver only to want me to drop everything and move to London.
It doesn’t make sense to me, but most of what he does when it comes to personal lives rarely makes sense.
I put my phone onto airplane mode the moment the email is sent and prepare for takeoff. I’ve flown hundreds of times, but this time feels different. I’m now chasing someone. But not just Eliza, I’m chasing this life we could have together, one I’m not ready to give up on.
I spend the entire flight making a mental list of all the places to stop and look for her and who to text when I land as well as putting together what I want to say to her. Even after the flight, I feel like I don’t have it all down.
I checked her location again when I got off the plane, but couldn't see anything. The first place I go is her apartment, I knock several times and don’t hear anything on the other side of the door.
Even if she was inside and ignoring me, I feel like I’d hear something at least. I head to my place next, bringing my bags with me, and check everywhere.
Her stuff is still here, but she’s not. I open my suitcase and pull out the only thing I need before heading out again.
I open my phone to text one of her friends and realize I don’t have any of their numbers. I text Grayson instead.
Mac
Can you send me your wife’s number.
Grayson
Why?
Mac
Because I need to get ahold of her.
It’s about Eliza
Grayson
Again, why do you need my wife’s number?
Grayson’s never been this standoffish, so I have a feeling he knows something I don’t.
Mac
Where are you?
Grayson
Matt’s
Mac
On my way.
I pull up the address from the birthday party a couple weeks ago and start driving. I notice a few cars in the driveway and on the street when I pull up. I head to the front door, and it’s pulled open before I even have a chance to knock.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Grayson says.
I nod, and he closes the door behind me and follows me into the kitchen where I find Matt and Josh. Caleb and the kids are playing in the living room. They’re all watching me in a way they never have before.
“So you fucked up,” Matt says, jumping right into it.
My head jerks back at the comment. What the hell does he know? I turn to look at Grayson, who’s leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. The air in the room is cold and unfriendly, the complete opposite of what it felt like being here for Jayden’s birthday party.
“I woke up this morning and instead of getting to spend the morning in bed with my wife, she opened the front door to find her best friend on our porch with suitcases and she collapsed in her arms crying.”
I let out a breath and run my hands down my face. “Is she okay?” I ask. No one answers, they all just stare at me. “What happened to the chatty bunch?” I ask.
“Well, everyone is here in my house because all of our girls ran out this morning when Hannah called them. Grayson and I have already received texts saying you're banned with no further context, and I’m afraid to ask Zo for more information. What the fuck did you do?”
I sink into a chair at the kitchen counter. “I think it’s more what I didn’t do.”
Matt rolls his hand in front of him for me to continue.
I explain the agreement Eliza and I made, leaving out the details of her virginity and just saying something I could help her with.
I end with telling them about my father arriving this morning and leaving with him to have a meeting so Eliza could sleep.
“You’re an idiot,” Matt says.
“Yup,” Grayson agrees.
“Not the smartest move,” Josh adds.
“You fell in love with her, didn’t you?” Caleb asks.
I grip the back of my neck. “There were feelings of some sort before we entered the arrangement. I was intrigued by her. Then I really got to know her and yes, I fell in love with her.”
“Does she know?” Grayson asks.
“Circling back to the it’s something I didn’t do. I didn’t tell her. Instead what I did was something insane. I went out and bought a ring with plans to propose to her today while we were in London.”
They all look at me like they’re seeing and hearing things.
“You haven’t told her you love her and you bought her a ring?” Matt finally asks.
I nod.
“Please tell me none of us were that stupid,” Grayson says, and all eyes turn to him.
“Who the fuck are you to say anything, you married your wife while drunk in Vegas and then made her stay married to you for ninety days,” Josh says.
“All your crazy stories the other week told me to go big, I went big,” I say.
“That doesn’t mean do something stupid,” Matt says. “How are any of us married?” he asks, more to the universe than the room.
“You’re not,” Grayson points out.
“Yet. I have every intention of marrying Zoey, and she knows it.”
“You’ve at least told Zoey you love her,” Josh says and hikes his thumb towards me. “This idiot hasn’t even told Eliza that.”
I look at Grayson and ask, “Are they still at your place?”
“Yes, and you’re not going over there and pissing my wife off.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
Grayson shrugs. “I don’t know, but know we’re all on Eliza’s side.”
As hard as that is to hear, I’m also grateful that Eliza has a group that will rally around her when she needs them.
I nod, and Matt slides a coffee cup across the counter to me.
We don’t talk about Eliza or the girls, we talk about hockey and they talk about their kids, and I’m just thankful they let me stay.