Chapter 33
Nate
Igave her a day.
One day.
That’s all I can handle. It was a struggle not to go to her and demand we work through me being an idiot.
But I knew that wasn’t what she needed. My sisters were right.
I wanted to give her some time. But I’m worried about her.
I can’t imagine how she’s holding everything together as well as she is.
I need her to understand she doesn’t have to anymore.
I’m here and ready to support her in whatever is going on in her life.
Now, I have to get her to talk to me. And then, also forgive me.
I swipe my phone off the table. Scrolling through my contact list, I selected Olive’s name.
It rings. And rings.
“Hi, this is Olive. Please leave—”
I disconnect and pull up our text string.
Me: Please call me. I want to talk to you about the other day. I want to make this right.
I would like to talk to her before our flight in a couple of hours, so hopefully, I’ll hear back from her soon.
Sitting down at the table with my laptop, I try to work, answering emails and reviewing some new contracts Jack sent over, all the while checking my phone every few minutes.
I dig my fingers into my eyes, trying to rub the distracted thoughts.
When it’s finally time, I pack my suitcase and roll it over to the door. Wandering back into the room to make sure I didn’t miss anything while packing, I pull my phone out of my pocket and stare down at it.
No notifications.
I hesitate.
There aren’t many times I second-guess myself.
That’s something most of the guys I work with pride themselves on.
It’s a byproduct of our professional backgrounds.
But right now, I’m at a loss about what to do.
What I really want to do is go to Olive’s room and demand that she open up to me and let me in.
But logically, I know that’s not the best option.
It's a balance between giving her the space she needs, but not enough where she thinks I don’t care anymore, which is the farthest thing from the truth.
Blowing out a breath, I grab the handle of my suitcase more aggressively than necessary, jerk my door open, and step into the hallway.
Waiting for the elevator, I connect the call one more time.
Ringing.
“Come on, pick up,” I mutter.
Ringing.
“Hi, this is Olive. Please leave—”
A frustrated grunt leaves me as I enter the elevator.
When I step into the lobby, my eyes laser focus on Cade on the far side. I’m surprised Olive isn’t with him. We’ll need to leave as soon as Ian gets to the lobby with Jenny, which should be any minute. Maybe she’s already in the waiting SUVs outside.
I walk outside and hand my suitcase to the waiting driver. “Has anyone loaded yet?”
“No, sir. Not yet.”
A scowl presses my eyebrows together. Pivoting back to the lobby, I stalk inside, on a mission. Cade is staring down at his phone and doesn’t see my approach. “Cade.”
He jolts at my greeting, his phone jostling in his hands as he startles. “Jesus, Nate. You scared the shit out of me.”
Not wanting to waste time by apologizing, I ask, “Where’s Olive? I tried to text and call her, but I haven’t heard back. And we’ll need to leave soon.”
He purses his lips. “Well, I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you.”
I fight the annoyance because I know he’s right. “I know, I fucked up. I’ve been trying to apologize to her. But she isn’t answering my calls or texts and didn’t answer the door of her room.”
He sighs. “I don’t know what happened. All I know is she texted me and said she had to fly home last night.”
“Goddamn it,” I mutter, glancing around the lobby. Ian’s walking toward the door with Jenny.
Last night?
Something must’ve happened after we returned to the hotel. On the walk back from the library, she definitely didn’t seem like anything happened during the meeting that would cause her to have to go home. She looked happy. At peace. Lighter.
It pisses me off that anything would have ruined that for her.
I look back at Cade. “Thanks, Cade. If you hear from her, will you please ask her to call me? I need to talk to her. Even if it’s just to know she’s okay.”
He gives me a sad smile and agrees.
Walking back outside, I help get the group loaded into the SUVs to head to the airport.
Uncertainty, guilt, and anxiety mix to form a rock inside my gut.
I’m the last to enter the plane, and my feet falter when Jenny is stopped in front, speaking with Cade. He has a look of disbelief as he nods slowly in response to whatever she’s saying.
“Everything good?” I ask when she walks away to take her seat.
Cade turns to me, still perplexed. “She just asked me for something. Asked. Not demanded. And she said please?” He rubs his forehead. “I think I might be having a fever dream.”
A low chuckle leaves my mouth, shocked, but pleasantly surprised, she took my reprimands seriously. Let’s just hope it lasts. I slap his shoulder. “You’re not in a fever dream. Looks like someone grew a conscience.”
He gives me a skeptical look as he turns away from me and goes back to prepping for the flight.
As I take my seat next to Ian, he glances up from his phone. “I meant to ask you, did you talk to Jack?”
I tilt my head back onto the headrest. “About the new contract?”
He nods.
“Yeah, I did. This is huge for us.”
“It is. Are you going back and help with it? Jack says the new guys are ready and can take over this job.”
Forty-eight hours ago, I didn’t have an ounce of doubt that I made the right decision when I told Jack I didn’t want to leave.
Now…I’m beginning to wonder. Am I going to be able to stay here if Olive really is done with me?
Do I want to see her every day? While everything in me is screaming to not give up, how hard can I push her before it becomes too much?
I answer him the only way my heart allows me to, “No, I’m going to stay on this job. ”
That is, if Olive comes back.