Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Willa
“You wanted to see me, Randall?” I nervously asked.
“Have a seat, Willa.” He gestured.
“If this is about?—”
“It is, and it’s not good.” He sighed. “One of our biggest clients dropped us because of your error.”
“But—”
“Sush, Willa. Let me finish. That typo in the motion made us look really bad, as well as our client. Do you know how humiliated I was in front of the judge?”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered my head.
“So am I, Willa. You’re fired. Collect your things, and security will escort you out.”
“I’ve worked here for two years and never made an error. I made one mistake, and you’re firing me?”
“Unfortunately, we can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
Stunned, I slowly rose from my chair and left his office. When I reached my desk, I noticed a cardboard box waiting for my personal belongings. This place sure as hell didn’t waste any time. My coworkers stared as I placed my things from my desk inside the box. I was so humiliated that I wanted to cry, but I didn’t. Picking up the picture of Liam and me, I stared at it momentarily before setting it in the box. I instantly knew everything would be okay because he was going to propose to me tonight, and I’d say yes.
Stepping into the 1,000 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment I shared with Liam, I set my box on the floor, pulled out my phone, and threw my purse down. I pulled up my cousin Matt’s number and called him.
“Hello, sweet pea. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I got fired today,” I said, reaching for the bottle of wine.
“Oh, shit, Willa. Was it because of that error?”
“Yep. That’s what my boss told me.” I sighed.
“Well, don’t let it get you down. Tonight is a big night for you. Don’t let this little setback ruin it. You’ll find another job soon after you’re done celebrating your engagement.”
“I hope so. Listen, Matt. I have to go. Liam will be home soon, and he’s made a reservation for us at Daniel. I bet he’s going to have the waiter put the ring in a glass of champagne.”
“Have fun and call me after it happens. I want to see the ring.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you later.”
I walked into the bathroom to freshen up my makeup before changing into the new slinky black dress I bought for tonight’s occasion. Staring at myself in the mirror, I rehearsed my reaction to Liam’s proposal.
“Oh my God, Liam. Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
“Liam, oh my God. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“I can’t believe this. Yes, Liam. I would be honored to become your wife.”
I heard the apartment door open as I brushed through my long, brown hair. I thought it was odd when he didn’t call out my name, so I left the bathroom and found him sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“Hi.” He looked up at me. “You’re not dressed yet?”
“All I have to do is put on my new dress.” I grinned all the way to the closet.
“Willa, wait. We need to talk.”
“Okay.” I turned and looked at him. Maybe his plan was to propose to me first and then take me to dinner to celebrate.
“I got a promotion. My firm is sending me to Connecticut to oversee the offices there.”
Suddenly, my belly sank.
“What?” My brows furrowed.
Then it hit me. The fact that I got fired today and didn’t have to stay in New York. I was free to move with him.
“Yeah. So—” He looked down, fiddling with his hands.
“That’s great news, Liam.” I walked over and sat beside him, grabbing hold of his hand. “Well, this is exciting. And you don’t have to worry about my job because I got fired today.”
“You what?” His eyes widened. “They fired you?”
“Yeah. All because of that one error I made. But it’s no big deal. I can find a job in Connecticut.”
He turned away and stood up, tucking his hands into his pants pockets as he paced around the room.
“Shit, Willa. This makes it even harder.”
“What does?” My brows furrowed.
“I don’t want you to move to Connecticut with me. I don’t think this is working anymore. Actually, I know it’s not.”
My eyes swelled with tears. Thank God I was sitting down. If I were standing, the floor would have dropped beneath me. Seven words shattered two years of morning kisses, holidays, and shared dreams. My biggest fear came true.
“Is there someone else?” I vomited out the words.
“No,” he said too quickly, then sighed. “No, it’s not that. I just…I feel like we’re going in different directions. I know you thought I was going to propose to you tonight. You’re ready to settle down, but I’m not. I’m not ready for that.”
“Okay. Forget marriage. We don’t have to get married. I won’t mention it again. Please, Liam.” I stood from the bed and walked over to him. “Don’t do this.”
“I’m not happy anymore, Willa. I’m sorry.”
“And how long have you been thinking about this? Huh? Because you made a dinner reservation at Daniel, Liam!”
“I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. I made that dinner reservation to take you to dinner one last time before we said goodbye. But I couldn’t do it. I thought it was best I told you here.”
“And what the hell am I supposed to do? This is your apartment. The lease is up at the end of this month, and I can’t afford to stay here. Especially since I just got fucking fired today!” I shouted.
“I already told the landlord that I wasn’t renewing. I’m sorry, Willa. I really am. You can find another apartment or move in with your cousin. I don’t know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And I’m sure you’ll find another job soon.”
“Fuck you, Liam Richards!” I ran to the closet, grabbed my duffle bag, and threw some clothes into it, along with other necessities. I couldn’t breathe and couldn’t believe this was happening.
When I walked into the living room, I found Liam sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone.
“I’ll be out of here tomorrow afternoon. You have the apartment until the end of the month,” he said.
“Fuck you and fuck your apartment, you asshole.” I opened the door and stormed out. My life had completely fallen apart, and I didn’t know what to do.
* * *
I lightly knocked on my cousin Matt’s apartment door. My eyes were red and swollen from the sobbing I’d done in the back of the cab on the way over.
“Willa? What happened?” James, Matt’s husband, asked when he opened the door.
“Liam broke up with me.” I sobbed.
“Oh no. Come in.” He took my bag, set it down, hooked his arm around me, and led me to the couch. “Matt should be home any minute. What happened, darling?” He handed me a tissue.
“He got a promotion and is moving to Connecticut. He said he was unhappy, and then he just broke up with me. He said he’s been thinking about it for weeks.” I sobbed.
“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him. “Shh. It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not, James. My whole life is unraveling. I got fired from the firm today. Matt broke up with me, and our lease ends at the end of the month. What am I going to do?” I cried into his chest.
The door opened, and Matt walked in. “What happened?” He ran over to the couch.
“Liam broke up with her. He’s moving to Connecticut.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He grabbed me and pulled me into him. “I thought he was proposing to you?”
“I guess that was all a fantasy in my delusional little head.” I sniffled.
“You’re more than welcome to stay here. Right, James?”
“Yes. Of course.” James softly rubbed my back.
“That apartment isn’t in your name, right?” Matt asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “Remember, Liam already had it when we met?”
“I just wanted to be sure he didn’t add your name to the lease when you moved in.”
“Why?” I asked.
“When is the little wormhole moving to Connecticut?”
“He said he’ll be out of the apartment tomorrow afternoon,” I replied.
“Good. Then you and I are going to do a little redecorating.” He grinned.
After climbing out of bed the following afternoon, I grabbed my duffle bag and returned to the apartment. When I walked through the door, the warm and inviting place I called home for the last year and a half felt cold and empty. I went into the bedroom and opened his drawers, finding them empty, as was his side of the closet. Walking into the bathroom, I flipped the switch and stared at the holder on the sink with his missing toothbrush. Tears sprang to my eyes as the ache in my heart gripped me.
After a couple of hours of wallowing in self-pity, there was a knock at the door. Getting up, I opened the door, and Matt stood on the other side, holding a hammer and smiling.
“Shall we, darling?”
“We shall. Come in.” I gestured.
I opened the kitchen drawer we used for miscellaneous items and pulled out a pair of kitchen shears.
“Oops.” Matt smiled, hitting the living room wall with the hammer, causing the drywall to crack.
Taking the shears over to the couch, I stabbed the arm and sliced the fabric, then one of the cushions. Matt walked around the apartment, hitting the walls and creating holes the size of a quarter. With all the damage we’d done, Liam would get a hefty bill from the landlord above and beyond his security deposit, which he wouldn’t be getting back.