Chapter 36
thirty-six
. . .
Winnie
I’d landed in New York this morning, and I was doing this last stretch on my own, as Laney needed to get back to work. I was fine on my own now. And I’d met a different author at each stop, which had been a real highlight of this tour. I’d met so many authors whom I myself was a huge fan of.
It was surreal in so many ways.
I’d just sat on a stage at one of the most iconic bookstores in New York City with Claire Chestnut, a well-known contemporary romance author. We’d had a great conversation, and I’d gotten more comfortable speaking in public over the last two and a half weeks.
We settled at one large table beside one another as we signed books for all the readers who’d attended the event.
It was so nice chatting and hearing how they’d discovered our books, or how they’d related to them in some way.
I think as an author, that’s the best compliment, when a reader connects to your words.
I signed and took photos and talked for a few hours, then hugged Claire goodbye. The bookstore would be closing soon, so I tossed my markers in my green suede tote bag and pulled up my Uber app.
Of course, I checked my texts to see if I had any messages from Archer.
He hadn’t been calling as much, but he always sent texts before every event each day.
Archie
Good luck today, beautiful. Just be yourself. I miss you.
That was the first time he’d said that he missed me in over a week. My chest squeezed at his words, because I missed him so much.
Just as I was getting ready to type a response, a deep voice startled me.
“Hey, Win,” the familiar voice said.
I looked up, surprised to see my ex-husband Jaden standing in front of me.
“Jaden. What are you doing here?” I asked, not hiding the surprise in my voice.
He chuckled, and I could smell the booze on his breath. “I’m in town for Johnny West’s bachelor party, and I was scrolling on social media and saw that you were here for a book signing. I tried to make it over for the event, but we were out, so I just snuck away to see if I could catch you.”
It was completely par for the course for Jaden to show up to something after it was over. Especially an event that was for me.
Our relationship had been me picking him up over and over again, yet he never showed up for me.
Jaden had held on tight just to keep me stagnant and in place.
Archer wanted me to chase my dreams, but I wanted him to hold on tighter.
“Well, thanks for stopping by.” I chuckled, because I was just getting ready to leave.
“Listen, Win, I’m impressed. I guess I owe you an apology for doubting that people would actually want to read your books.”
“I don’t need an apology, Jaden. I’m good.”
“I can see that,” he said as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m seeing someone. We’ve been together for a few months, and it’s good. She’s got a great job. Makes really good money, so she helped me get the car fixed, in case you were worried about it.”
I snorted. “I wasn’t worried about your car. But I’m glad you’re happy, Jaden. I wish you the best.”
“So, can I get a book signed for my girlfriend? She can’t believe my ex-wife is a famous author now.”
The woman who’d hosted the event, Vee, appeared out of nowhere, almost as if she’d sensed my discomfort. “We’re about to close, but I can ring you up for that book before I shut the register down.”
He startled a bit and glanced over at me. “Oh, you don’t get free copies?”
“I have copies that the publisher sends me to my home, but this is a book signing hosted by the bookstore. So the books aren’t free.” I started to reach into my purse for some cash but stopped myself.
Jaden wasn’t my problem anymore.
I didn’t need to buy him a book.
If he couldn’t spare twenty bucks to purchase my book, then that was his choice.
He surprised me when he pulled out his card and handed it to her.
She gave me a book, and I looked up at him. “Who am I making it out to?”
“Coraline,” he said, clearing his throat.
She was the woman I was fairly certain he’d cheated on me with.
I should have felt something.
Anger.
Sadness.
But I felt nothing for this man. Only relief that he wasn’t in my life anymore.
I’d surrounded myself with people who believed in me. People who respected me.
I quickly wrote her name in the book and signed it before passing it back to him. “My car is here, so I need to get going. Take care, Jaden.”
“Yeah, you too, Win.” He tucked the book under his arm and held up his free hand before walking out the door.
I thanked Vee before stepping outside and smiling when I slipped into the Uber.
It hit me in that moment how much my life had changed over the last few months.
I’d found a man I loved, and a little girl who had my heart.
I’d landed in the most peaceful town, where I’d made great friends.
My career had exceeded my expectations, and I was on a book tour, talking to readers about a book that I wrote.
I dialed Archer from the back of the Uber, hoping he’d pick up this time.
Melody’s face came into view, and I smiled, my chest squeezing just at the sight of her. “Hi, my Winnie. I’m missing you big.”
“I’m missing you, too, sweet pea.”
“Daddy’s taking a shower, and I’m watching a show until he comes out, but I heard his phone ringing, and I was hoping it would be you.”
He’s taking a shower? It was six p.m. their time. He usually showered in the morning, and they’d usually be having dinner now.
“It’s me,” I said. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I ordered all the decorations for your birthday party.”
“Is it still going to be a cowgirl party with horses and pink hats and boots?”
“Of course it is. We’re going to make it so cute,” I said with a chuckle as the car pulled in front of my hotel.
“I can’t wait, Winnie. Justine told everyone that since you were gone, my party is going to be canceled.” Her big brown eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed.
I thanked the driver and got out of the car, then stepped toward the hotel and entered the lobby. “Well, that is not true. This party is going to be the best party ever.”
“Yes!” She pumped her fist at the ceiling, just as I heard her father’s deep voice in the background.
I didn’t step on the elevator because I knew I’d drop the call.
“What did I tell you about answering my phone when I’m not in the room, angel face?” he said before he glanced at the screen to see my face. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey.” I took him in. His hair was wet and clean, and he was wearing a black sweater and looked like he was ready to go out. I could practically smell his cologne through the phone. “You look nice. I thought I’d catch you guys having dinner?”
“I’m having dinner at Mimi and Pops’s,” Melody shouted, and I didn’t miss the look that Archer gave her.
Was she not supposed to tell me?
“Oh, that’ll be fun. And where are you off to on a school night?
” I asked, trying not to sound annoyed, though that was how I felt at the moment.
We’d barely spoken on the phone this week.
It had mostly been texts, and he’d call and leave messages when he knew I was at the signing, and then he wouldn’t pick up when I’d call back.
“I’m, uh, I’m going out for a bit.”
“I’ll go get my sleepover bag, Daddy,” Melody said, and I didn’t miss the way he winced. She leaned over the phone and waved. “I love you, my Winnie.”
“I love you, too,” I said, a lump forming in my throat as my gaze locked with his. “Sounds like a big night out for you.”
He nodded and ignored the comment. “How was the signing?”
“It was good. Jaden stopped by.”
“Your ex-husband stopped by? Doesn’t he live in Chicago?”
“Yes. Apparently, he’s here for a bachelor party and saw that I was doing a signing, so he came by at the end.”
“How was it?”
“Fine. He has a girlfriend, and I signed a book for her,” I said, my voice flat because my mind was reeling.
Why was Archer being so mysterious?
“I appreciate you telling me that he came to see you,” he said.
“You appreciate me telling you that he came to see me?” I repeated his words, the sarcasm impossible to miss.
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m not the secretive one, Archer.” I purposely called him Archer instead of Archie, and his lips twitched the slightest bit as if he was trying to cover a smile. Was this funny to him? “I’m the one who’s been open and honest this whole time. And you know what?”
I started walking toward the elevator because I was frustrated and hurt, and I wasn’t even sure why.
“Why are you angry?” he asked, his voice completely calm, which only made me more angry.
“I’m exhausted. I’m freaking exhausted. I’ve been going nonstop, and I just wanted to see your face, and you’ve been so distant since I left, and now you’re going out and I’m going to bed.
” I sniffed a few times, a desperate attempt to stop the tears from coming.
“My elevator is here, and I need to go.”
“Don’t give up on me, beautiful,” he said, his green gaze locking with mine.
What does that even mean?
I wasn’t the one giving up on him.
He was the one who’d been shutting me out. He was the one who hadn’t told me how he felt.
I’d been putting myself out there this whole time.
“Good night, Archer.” I ended the call and stepped onto the elevator.
As soon as the doors closed, I let the tears fall.
Everything hit me at once.
All the travel. The lack of sleep. The hustle and bustle that I’d experienced over the last two and a half weeks.
But mostly my tears were falling because I was in love with a man I knew loved me back.
But I wasn’t certain he would ever allow himself to admit it.
I pushed into my hotel room, then dropped on my bed and kicked off my shoes as I swiped at my cheeks.
My phone vibrated, and I glanced down to see a text from Archer.
Of course, it was cryptic and only frustrated me more.
Archie
Hey. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know she’d answered the phone. I promise we’ll talk tomorrow and I’ll explain everything. I miss you, Winnie.
I didn’t reply. Instead, I padded to the bathroom and turned on the water in the tub.
But I was ready to have that talk.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.