Chapter 43 Audra #2
“My last name is King. Did you grow up rich?” I was fully aware of how absolutely unhinged I was being. Poor Nathan had no idea what he was walking into. The questions were so, so inappropriate, but there was no stopping me.
“I have lived a privileged life.”
“And they’d be okay with whoever you married?” I pushed. “Even if they weren’t rich?”
I couldn’t believe this man was still standing here.
“I’m gathering your night went to pot when you met your boyfriend’s parents tonight?” He guessed.
“Yeah. They were horrible to me. It was the worst I’ve ever been treated in my life,” I admitted as the tears welled in my eyes again.
“Audra, I’m not sure what your deal is and why you ended up at this lobby bar.
But I have three younger sisters, and if they were in the state you were in, I’d want someone to give them a hug.
When I came over, I was hoping to hit on you and see where the night took us, and while it’s clear that you don’t need that right now, it does look like you need some love.
” And he held his arms out to me. I let myself fall into them.
“This is the oddest night I’ve had in a long time,” Nathan laughed.
“Can I just say that I’ve never done anything like this before?” I laughed back. “I bet you didn’t know the shit show you were walking into when you asked to sit down. You’re a good guy, Nathan. Thank you.”
“My intentions were not hugging a woman for comfort, but alas,” he laughed. “Now that we’re best friends, can I buy you a shot?”
Jules interrupted the moment when she put her hand on my shoulder and pulled me out of the hug.
“I’m Juliette, here to rescue my friend. What’s going on?”
“This is Nathan. Poor Nathan just got subjected to a lot of questions about his wealth and if he would marry a nurse, and then I started to cry. He hugged me because he has three younger sisters and said that if someone saw his sister out looking like I looked, he would hope someone would comfort them. Did I cover it?”
As I regurgitated those words, I couldn’t believe it was an actual replay of those last few minutes. Nathan just smiled at her and shrugged. Because honestly, what else was he going to do? At that point, this man was in for a penny, in for a pound.
It took a lot for Juliette to be shocked into silence. She looked between us with furrowed brows and shook her head from side to side to try to process what I had told her.
“Are you … are you serious?”
“Yup,” Nathan took over. “One minute, I’m finishing dinner with some friends who are staying here, and the next, I’m consoling a stranger at the bar. New York is always full of surprises.” He tipped his drink into the air.
“I’m going to take my friend now, Nathan. But do you live here?”
“I do, over in Hell’s Kitchen.”
“I’m here for a couple more days for work. Let’s meet up.”
Freaking Juliette. Take no prisoners. I bet she was going to have rock-star sex with the super-hot guy and not even give it a second thought.
Not worry about whether they’d marry her.
Not worry if his parents approved. She was just going to enjoy the ride.
I needed to start living my life like her.
Maybe I just needed to stop falling for rich men.
“You’re not weirded out that I…?” Nathan trailed off as he looked at me, then Jules.
“That you were hitting on my friend? No. If I swung that way, I’d hit on my friend, too. She’s freaking gorgeous. But she’s taken and I’m not, so what do you say?”
A grin overtook Nathan’s face. “Point taken. You are quite gorgeous as well, and I’d love to take you out, Juliette.”
She pulled out her phone and got his number. Only she would come in to manage my crisis but still also manage to pull the number of the super hot guy that was hitting on me with the intent to fuck him later. She should write a book.
Jules led me out of the bar and towards the elevator.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“This is my hotel, Audra. You picked a good one to run to because Roscoe Media has good taste. And for the second time tonight, fate was looking out for you. Come on up. Donovan is looking for you.”
“He’s not here, is he? I can’t see him.”
“He’s not here, no. But yeah, he came into my work event frantic.
Busted right in. Everyone turned to him because the man was shouting my freaking name like a lunatic.
Never thought I’d see the day that Sir Donovan looked anything less than dashingly handsome, but he looked crazed, and was freaking the fuck out. ”
Guilt crept in. I didn’t want him to lose it; I just needed to step away. To remind myself that he and I were not meant to be. But that wasn’t just stepping away, that was throwing a grenade into a situation and watching it explode.
“I’ll text him,” I said.
When we got to her hotel room, I pulled out my phone.
Audra
Hey. Sorry about leaving like I did. I’m with Jules.
The reply was instant.
Donovan
Audra. I am so sorry. That went both how I expected it to and nothing like I expected it to. I should have protected you and never subjected you to that in the first place. Please let me explain myself. Just a talk. Are you willing to come back to my apartment tonight?
I hadn’t quite thought that piece through.
Audra
I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.
Donovan
Can I come to you?
“Jules, help!” I shouted to her.
She popped her head out of the bathroom. “What’s up?”
“Do I see him tonight?”
“What’s your goal?”
I knew she was going to ask that question; it was her favorite one to ask.
“I’m not sure. I want to yell and tell him how bad that hurt me.
Shout that this is literally the reason I’ve been hesitant the entire time.
To be fair, he doesn’t know the full story about Theo and why this cuts so deep.
But I want him to explain why he sat there and let his parents talk like they did.
I should have left, Jules. I should have flipped them all off and walked out with my head high twenty-five minutes before I did. ”
“Did you know his parents were fucked up?”
“We haven’t exactly delved deep into our traumas yet, but I’ve gathered that his family drama is significant.
I know he doesn’t have a good relationship with either of his parents.
He drained his trust and ran when he was twenty-five, and he hasn’t seen them since.
There was so much thrown around tonight.
A possible baby. And apparently he knew that tall bitch was going to be there. ”
“Wait … he has a kid? The fuck? Also, side question; Why did he agree to come if things are so fucked up?” she asked.
“His sister begged him to come. She passed her bar on the first try, and she’s my age. I don’t think there was an actual baby. Maybe a miscarriage or something?”
“Ah, so he’s close with the sister, then?”
“Yeah, and she’s wonderful. I don’t know how the two of them were raised by such assholes.”
“Because their parents didn’t raise them. There had to be nannies involved. They’re normal because a normal person raised them and loved them.”
“You’re right. He has talked about his nanny a couple of times. One time, he mentioned she would be the one scolding him if he didn’t remember his manners.”
“Okay, you want what I have to say?” she said as I nodded. “I think you have to give him a chance to explain himself. He’s not Theo. I rather like Sir Donovan.”
“I know that tonight was an overreaction. Not to his parents and the tall bitch being horrible, but running out because it just cut too deep. Now that I’m removed and have taken a breath, I’m able to be a little more rational.
And side-note, I can’t believe I was hit on by a hot guy who you’re going to sleep with later. ”
“Damn right. Did you see his hands? And he is obviously very nice, given that he switched gears from wanting to hit on you to comforting you. I know many men who would try to take advantage of that situation. Bet he’s a giver in bed, too, and I will definitely be testing that theory.
But let’s circle back. I say give Donovan a chance to explain himself, and also it’s time for you to lay your cards on the table, too. ”
I nodded at my friend.
“For the record, you know I never would swoop in like that if poor Nathan actually had a chance with you,” Jules added.
I laughed because she was right. In another life, maybe, but I wasn’t going to run out and sleep with someone to feel better about a fight with my situationship.
“Obviously, I know that, Jules. Just as much as you know he didn’t have one.”
Jules got up to hug me. How lucky was I that she was there? I was completely drained. Maybe the talk with Donovan could wait until the next day?
“Do you want Donovan to come here? Neutral ground? You still have to get on a plane with him tomorrow, right?”
“Shit. Tomorrow.” I kind of forgot that I was going to have to get back on a plane with him.
He was still waiting for an answer to whether he could come to me.
Ugh. I’d have to deal with it. I didn’t want to meet in a public space, though, so it was Jules’ hotel or his place.
I didn’t want to put Jules out anymore, seeing as she had to leave her work event to find me. “Is your work event still going on?”
“Girl, no. But even if it was, I’m not going back. If you leave, I’ll find some... thing to do,” she waggled her brows at me.
“Can I ask you a personal question, Jules?”
“Shoot.”
“You and Murphy.”
“You didn’t ask a question,” she looked at me, smiling.
“Are you guys … hanging out?”
“We’re doing a lot more than hanging out,” she laughed.
“He’s fun, and we are having a great time.
But we’re not exclusive or anything, if that’s what you mean.
Have I been hanging around Savannah Springs more?
I have, because that man is magic in bed and I’m having fun.
I have no doubt he’s still playing around, too, though. That’s just how it is with us…”
“Got it.” I laughed. Although I wasn’t quite so sure that Murphy was still playing the field.
in fact, I was almost positive he wasn’t.
He certainly seemed tuned into her when they were together, and I hadn’t seen or heard him around town with anyone else in months, either.
But I had no time to worry about Jules and Murphy when I was knee-deep in my own shit.
I debated calling Donovan, but ended up just texting.
Audra
I’m going to come back to your place.
His reply was instant again, as if he was waiting for me with his phone in his hand, even though I unintentionally took a little longer to respond.
Donovan
I will send Miles to you. I won’t even be in the car. He’ll bring you back. Thank you for hearing me out, Audra.