Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
ASLAN
H ow long does it take to lose a woman?
Two hours.
When my meeting is over, I march toward Keaton’s office. The office door is open—and empty.
“Where’s Keaton?”
“Ms. Nealy left for the airport a couple of hours ago, sir,” her assistant answers.
“What do you mean she left? Where? Is everything okay?”
“She’s visiting Monti Media.”
I stare at her empty office, wondering why the sudden visit. Does she know something I don’t? Why didn’t she interrupt the meeting?
Tapping her desk a couple of times, I ask, “Do you have her flight information?”
Her assistant shakes her head, looking at me almost terrified. “No sir, but I’m sure Lulu knows more since she stopped by her desk.”
“Thank you.”
I make my way back toward my office. Lulu is on the phone when I reach her desk. As soon as she sees me, she says, “I’ll give him your message as soon as he’s available, ma’am. Thank you, you too.”
I arch an eyebrow. “My mother?”
She nods. “This is the third time she's called.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Thank you for not interrupting the meeting when she called, though…why didn’t you tell me Keaton was leaving?”
She hands me an envelope. “Ms. Nealy didn’t think it was necessary. She left a few minutes after she talked to your mother.”
The last two words send my brain into a spiral, pondering what happened between my mother and Keaton that sent her to another state.
That’s it, I’m disowning my mother. If I ever have children, they won’t meet their grandmother until they’re in their late twenties.
Old enough to avoid her, but also old enough to afford their own therapy.
“Did she say anything before she left?”
“She said she was going to be in Phoenix for at least the next couple of days.”
I press on the bridge of my nose. “At least?” I repeat the two words, but they sound more like a question.
Lulu shrugs. “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?”
Should I catch up with Keaton? I open the envelope. There’s a note inside with her neat handwriting.
Aslan,
I’ll email you my flight details once I’m at the airport. Monti Media invited me to visit. Savannah is going shopping with your mom on Saturday. I should be back later that day.
By the way, your mom called me. I don’t know how to feel about the call but just make sure to tell her that I won’t get a physical so she can confirm that I’m a good candidate to have your children. Yes, I’m scared of your mother.
Enjoy the next couple of days.
K
“So, she flew to Arizona, huh? How convenient.”
Lulu shrugs.
My guess is that she found an excuse to avoid my mother’s shopping trip and probably me too. My gut told me that the kiss would send her to the other side of the world. I didn’t listen. I try to call her, but her voicemail picks up right away.
“Hi, Keat. Can you please call me when you land?” There’s not more I can do until I talk to her. If I didn’t have back-to-back meetings for the next couple of days, I’d be flying to Arizona to figure out why she left.
Around three, I get a text from her.
Keaton: I’m in Arizona. I’ll be at Monti’s offices, don’t call me.
Aslan: Then call me when you can, please.
It’s eight o’clock when I finish my last meeting. I check my phone. There aren’t any missed calls or texts from her. Should I be concerned?
I send her a text.
Aslan: You can’t just leave without letting me know that you’ll be out. Will you be back today?
Keaton: I left you a message.
Aslan: Leaving a note with Lulu doesn’t count.
Keaton: Next time, I’ll send you a memo.
Aslan: Are you coming back tomorrow night?
Keaton: Nope. I might stay here until Monday.
What the fuck, Keat? This isn’t what we planned. Well, we didn’t have plans, but I hoped that during the weekend we could get acquainted with each other. I can’t have a girlfriend who is skittish around me.
Aslan: You can’t possibly think this is okay. We have work to do, and we need to practice.
Keaton: I need to ensure that we’re still in the running. Did you know that the other two companies came to visit last weekend?
Keaton: I’m being proactive. You’re welcome.
Aslan: They were there at the same time?
Keaton: No. One of them was here on Monday and the other on Friday. HANNETH hasn’t visited them yet. I’ll call Ethan Killion next Tuesday.
Aslan: Come back tomorrow morning.
Keaton: No. I have to go. Mr. Monti invited me to have dinner with his family.
Keaton: Bye, Spearman!
Aslan: Call me tonight.
She sends me a gif of Homer Simpson hiding in some bushes. I guess she’s not going to be answering my texts anymore.
On Saturday, Keaton sends me texts about her trip to Sedona, including pictures of hot air balloons. It’s not a festival, like they do in Paradise Bay. They have it as an attraction.
Keaton: I want a ride in a hot air balloon.
Aslan: I’ll take you.
Keaton: Nope, I’m afraid of heights.
Aslan: I’ll be there to protect you.
Keaton: You don’t fly, I think there’s a flaw in your plan. What are you doing?
I send her a picture of the vineyard, which I took when the sun was rising. Then, a selfie in the tasting room where I’ve been working since ten o’clock.
Keaton: You’re drinking wine? Save me some.
Aslan: No, I’m working in the tasting room. Lysander needed help with the winery. We’re all pitching in this weekend.
Keaton: That’s one thing I like about your family. You guys are always there for each other.
Aslan: I guess there are pros to being a Spearman. Should I warn you that you might have to come and help?
Keaton: Is that a girlfriend duty?
Aslan: Yes.
Keaton: Will I get some wine afterward?
Aslan: Sure.
Keaton: Pencil me in for the next shift.
Aslan : You should come home.
Keaton: Maybe Monday night.
Aslan: Hey, I need to get back to work. Call me later.
Keaton: I’ll try.
Keaton doesn’t call me. We exchange a few more texts. On Sunday night, I end up working at Hux and Cory’s bar. So much for bringing my A-game during the weekend.
Mom wasn’t too happy that she didn’t get to hang out with Keaton, however, she enjoyed her shopping trip with Savannah. From what I heard, they had fun and Mom loved her.
Monday morning, Keaton texts me that she’s going to be shadowing Mr. Monti, but she’ll be back on Tuesday.
I ask for her flight information. She never answers.
I’m tempted to cancel all my appointments and drive to the airport.
However, I’m reminded that on Thursday we’re leaving for Hawaii. I can’t afford to take the day off.
It’s around three when I receive a text from Keat telling me she’s boarding the plane.
I check my schedule and realize that I’m going to be in the middle of a meeting when she arrives.
That confirms that she created this impromptu trip to avoid me.
Since my meeting doesn’t end until seven, I make plans to drop by her house with dinner.
However, my phone rings right as I’m about to leave the office. It’s her.
“Finally.”
“Your mother bought the entire mall. Does she know the meaning of thrifty? We could feed the entire city with all the money she spent.”
I laugh. “That should teach you to leave your sister unattended with my mom.”
“This isn’t funny.” She sighs. I lean on the back of the chair, closing my eyes and imagining sitting down on her couch, taking off her shoes, and watching her relax after a long trip.
“Hello, sweetheart. I was beginning to think you were going to avoid me for the next five years.”
“I was in Arizona, working.”
“The pictures you sent me told a different story. You were on a girls’ trip with Mrs. Monti.”
“Well, the original idea was to spend Thursday and Friday shadowing Mr. Monti, but then he invited me to have dinner with his family. His wife is lovely, by the way.
“Amanda Monti is so much fun. You wouldn’t think the woman is in her late seventies.
I couldn’t say no to her invitations. Really, she doesn’t accept no for an answer.
We talked about the company’s plans. One thing led to another, and they had to introduce me to Arizona since I’ll be moving there in a few months. ”
I swallow hard, because those were the plans before last week, now…I don’t want her to leave. “Are they selling it to us?”
“Not exactly, but I think we’re on the top of their list.”
“How can you be sure?”
“They liked that I’m moving to Phoenix, and we’re not just taking their accounts and closing the branch. They’re retiring and need to sell, but they want to make sure their employees will be okay.”
“We can guarantee that without you moving to Arizona.”
“Why? Are you changing strategies?” Her voice harbors fear.
“No. You want that company, and it’s yours.”
“Oh, for one moment there, I thought you were switching gears and…Are you changing your mind? I need you to be honest.”
I doubt she’ll want to hear the truth.
I want to say, ‘No, but if it was hard to be without you for five days, it’s going to be so fucking painful when you move away permanently.’
Fuck, I don’t want her to leave, but I can’t tell her that, can I? Her happiness is more important than whatever it is that I’m feeling for her.
Since I don’t want to hang up yet, I try to move the conversation along. I missed her voice so fucking much. “What else did you do?”
“Well, today, one of Amanda’s friends showed me a few houses around the area—in case I have to move fast.”
No, no, no. She can’t leave so soon.
“Did they tell you when they’ll be making a decision?”
“The timeline is still the same. We still have to do the presentation, and…we’re going to work during our trip to Hawaii.” Her voice is almost a warning.
Then, I still don’t understand why she had to leave for Arizona, unless it was because she didn’t want to deal with Mom, and she tried to avoid me.
How do I explain to her that I need more time with her outside of work without being too forward?
I don’t have time to work with her while on vacation with my family.
Fuck, this is unbelievable. I’m supposed to be the workaholic of this partnership, not her.
Not that we have a partnership.
We don’t have anything, and I’m running out of time.
“What happened to the beach and fruity drinks? We can catch up with the Monti account once we’re back from vacation and well-rested.”
“We’ll do that with moderation. I need you to take this seriously, Aslan. It’s for your company, but also my future. Can you do that for me?”
There’s nothing more to say other than, “Of course, you’re the boss.”
“Ha, like I believe that.”
“Hey, can I drop by your house? I’ll bring some champagne.”
“Why don’t we save that for tomorrow? I’m exhausted, and I need to help Savannah with her closet. Your mom bought her an entire new wardrobe.”
This is my chance to tell her that the personal family shopper will visit her per Mom’s request. “You still need to buy clothes for Hawaii.”
“Umm…I’ll swing by Target this week?”
“We’re leaving Thursday morning. You only have a day to do that.”
“I’ll find the time.”
I chuckle because I have no doubt that she’ll be scrambling tomorrow night because she ran out of time. “Let me take care of that.”
“I’m afraid of what you’ll do if I agree.”
“Face your fears, Keat.”
She yawns. “Easy for you to say.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. It’s been five days without seeing you.”
“You make it sound like a lifetime.”
“It felt like it.”
“Are you telling me that you missed me?”
“Probably…” More than you can imagine, Keat.
“See you tomorrow, Spearman.”
“I can’t wait, Nealy.”