Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
SOPHIE
Me
Is Colson still in Lauderdale?
Hayden
He left this afternoon.
Me
With a yacht?
Hayden
It’s getting delivered to California within the next two weeks.
Me
Did you two discuss me at all? You know I have to ask.
Besides, I know when I called you, you were together on a sea trial, so I’m assuming he overheard some, if not all, of our conversation.
Hayden
As soon as I brought up the subject, he shot me down pretty fast.
Me
So, he didn’t say a word about me? Not even one?
Hayden
Just that there’s nothing between you two, and whatever it was, it’s in the past. I tried to press for more, but he wouldn’t let me. I didn’t bring you up again, and neither did he.
Me
Damn it, Hayden.
Hayden
Have you spoken to him?
Me
No.
Hayden
But you have feelings for him …
Me
I do.
Hayden
So, are you telling me you’re giving up?
Me
That’s not what I’m telling you at all.
For the first time in several days, I could breathe.
That wasn’t to say there weren’t knots in my throat the size of boulders, controlling how much air I was intaking and releasing.
But the weight was gone—from the mounting pressure of walking into the conference room of my law firm and presenting my case to the board, to the anticipation of their varied reactions.
When I had become partner, that had come with a certain responsibility, but that was only one of the reasons I had taken action. The other was because it was necessary.
Now that the meeting was over and I was sitting at my desk, staring at my email, I should feel this immense relief.
Except I didn’t.
And the knock on my door only made that feeling worse. I wanted to ignore it. I wanted whoever was outside to assume I’d left for the day. The problem was, there were glass panels next to each side of my door, so a quick peek would tell them I was present.
“Come in,” I called out.
Bob poked his head through the opening, not moving farther than the entrance.
With the top of his arm pressed against the molding, his suit jacket buckled in the shoulders.
He was one of the older partners at my firm and had been a mentor since my first day of hire, which was why I had stopped by his office yesterday to discuss the topic of today’s meeting.
He offered a small smile. “I’m just checking to see if you’re all right.”
Unexpected consoling was sometimes the best kind. I hadn’t received any during the meeting—nor had I expected to. Bob’s pop-in was needed more than I was willing to admit.
I swallowed hard and moved my keyboard back to lock my fingers together on top of my desk. “I’m fine.”
“I’ve been married for almost forty years, Sophie. Whenever my wife says fine, it’s never a good thing.”
I attempted a laugh. “Sounds like you know women well.”
“Don’t give me that much credit.” He waited a moment, pushing his glasses higher. “What you just accomplished wasn’t easy.”
“I wouldn’t say I accomplished anything.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You shared your truth. Not many people would have done that. I want you to know I’m proud of you.”
I put all the weight on my arms, flexing my back, causing my head to drop. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself, Bob.” My admission came out as a whisper. “Regardless of what happens, it’s not right.”
I refused to let the emotion take hold of me. There was no crying when it came to law. I wouldn’t break that rule just because my future at this firm was in jeopardy.
“Has the letter been sent?” he inquired.
“Through email about an hour ago.” I took a quick breath. “And a certified letter went out right after it.”
Now that the door was fully open, he crossed his arms instead of holding it. “Everything is going to be all right.”
“For the record, all right is just about as painful as fine.”
He chuckled. “I’ll have to remember that when it comes to my wife.” He shifted his stance. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
As he turned around to leave, I said, “Hey, Bob.” I waited for his stare to reach mine. “You could have steered me in a much different direction. I appreciate that you didn’t.”
“I had a law professor once tell me that there are attorneys, and then there are good attorneys. Attorneys complete the task. Good attorneys bring a level of heart into their practice.” He nodded toward me. “You’re a good attorney, Sophie. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
There were plenty of people who would disagree with his statement. The entire Weston family would be leading that group.
I thanked him, and he closed my door.
Now that I was hit with a room full of silence and a set of restless hands, I took my phone off my desk and scrolled through my Contacts until I found Colson. The timing of this call wasn’t random; I had purposely waited for this moment.
I pressed the button to phone him and didn’t hear a single ring before his voicemail picked up. I tried again with the same result, so instead of leaving a voicemail, I texted him.
Me
Can we talk? Please, Colson? I have so much I need to say to you.
I stared at the screen, waiting for the message to show Delivered and for the bubbles to appear under Colson’s side, telling me he was writing back.
After several minutes, neither happened. No bubbles, no Delivered.
Which only told me one thing.
Colson had blocked me.
I walked several paces past the unmarked door, keeping my back to it while I held my cell to my ear. “Hey, baby.”
This was a phone call I should have made in the car, but I hadn’t thought of it.
My head was still all over the place.
“Mommy!”
I smiled. “How was dinner?”
“Yummy steak! Heather let me dip it in ketchup.” She giggled.
“Oh, she did, did she?”
As an extremely health-conscious foodie, Heather tried to encourage the elimination of unneeded sauces. I had no issue with that, but I also appreciated a balance for my four-year-old, like there had been tonight.
“How about dessert?”
“MMM, lemon bars! That made my cheeks hurt!”
I laughed. “Sounds delicious.” I turned toward the mouth of the alley, where there was a flash of headlights, telling me my time alone was limited. “I have to go, baby, but I love you.”
“Love you and miss you, Mommy.”
My eyes squinted shut as the guilt rode high in my throat. “I miss you, Abbi.”
“You won’t be here to tuck me in.”
The sadness in her voice was because she was tired. She’d had dinner, a bath, and now it was about twenty minutes until bedtime. When my girl was nearing sleep, emotions often got the best of her.
“Heather’s going to tuck you in, my love. And she’s going to push back your hair, just the way you like it.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be there when you wake up, and we’ll have breakfast together. Okay?”
“Bye, Mommy.”
“Bye, baby.”
I kept the phone in my hand as I walked to the unidentifiable door and knocked on it.
When it swung open, I handed my cell to the security guard, which would be locked away until I departed.
I went through the proper steps to confirm my membership and prove I didn’t have any other traceable electronics tucked into my dress before I was permitted into the lobby of Lush.
From there, I headed to the bar, taking a seat in the corner, giving me a full view of the entire space, including everyone who was in here and anyone coming in.
Of course, Colson could be in one of the hallways or the multiple rooms on either side, but I wasn’t checking those.
After seeing him here twice, I had learned that he didn’t come until later in the evening and his first stop was always the bar.
So, I stayed right here, and I didn’t move, nor did I accept a single offer despite there being many. I wasn’t here to play with anyone but him.
I allowed myself one martini, extra filthy, and I sipped it while I focused on the faces entering the room.
For someone as angry as Colson, I assumed Lush would be his target. A place where he could let off some steam. Where he could take out his feelings, even if he wasn’t taking them out on me.
That was why I stayed, why I refused to get up from this seat.
What if Colson pulled himself out of bed, unable to sleep, and he decided to come here?
What if he had an event that was let out late?
By two in the morning, I ran out of what-ifs and faced the hard truth. Colson wasn’t coming.