53. Trevor
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
TREVOR
“ P lease tell me you’re kidding, Miles.” Leaning back in my office chair, I stare at the towering suit standing in front of me. I shake my head as his face moves into a grimace.
“Afraid not. That potluck yesterday wiped almost everyone out. Jessica’s the latest one to call in sick.”
The irony of food poisoning taking out the entire team isn’t lost on me.
The only reason I was spared is because I was out of the office for Willa’s thirty-seven-week appointment yesterday.
Despite it all, I feel completely betrayed by the universe.
How could the one stipulation in my contract collide with the one exemption right now ?
It’s the middle of May, I’ve only been off the flex schedule for a week, and Willa’s already having Braxton Hicks. This is a fucking nightmare and a half.
“Look, I know it’s horrible timing for you, but even I have to jump in and help. It’s only a two-day training. We fly out to Salt Lake City tonight, and I booked return flights immediately after we end on Thursday.”
I’m so pissed off I can’t even speak, so I sit with my jaw clenched, eyes roving over my workspace.
It takes me a couple of seconds to accept that I have to do this.
I signed a contract saying I’d step in for this exact scenario.
Walking back through everything he just said, I get stuck on a word.
“Almost everyone? Who else didn’t get sick? ”
“You and Marla. That’s it.”
Of fucking course .
“It’s too late of notice to pull someone from a regional office, so I’ll be tagging along too,” he continues. “The Salt Lake office is a big one. We’ll need all hands on deck.”
I blow out small puffs of air as I come to terms with having to leave tonight, knowing Willa could go into labor any day. “I get it. Are you good with me leaving now to pack?”
“Yep. I’m headed out myself. Emailed you the itinerary. Flight leaves at eight.”
Nodding, I log out of my workstation, and by the time I look back up, he’s gone. It’s just past ten now. I’m not even going to give Willa a heads-up. I’ll just show up at the studio with flowers in hand and groveling.
When I walk into Framed Orchid, Willa’s standing on a step stool, securing the top of a summer themed backdrop.
My heart stops, and I drop the bouquet of tulips at the empty front desk before rushing across the studio.
“I swear you’re gonna be the death of me, Gem,” I grunt, wrapping an arm around her legs. “Why the hell are you up there?”
“Emily stepped out for a coffee run, and I need this up for the rest of my popsicle mini shoots today.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and steps down.
Her independent streak has been off the charts the last couple of weeks.
Between nesting and insomnia, it’s like the bigger her stomach gets, the more determined she is to do things on her own.
Being back home every night this past week has been an adjustment for both of us.
I had to threaten to strap her to the bed so she’d relax, which only made her push me down for a steamy quickie on the couch. The libido’s back too.
“Don’t you have interns for this?” I ask, helping her down.
She throws one hand on her hip while rubbing her belly with the other. “Do you see an intern, Tre? What are you even doing here?”
“Saving your life, apparently.” I pull her toward me and hold her in my arms. She tilts her head back expectantly for my kiss. Our lips meet in a casual sweep, and I’m dreading telling her why I’m here.
She pulls back, eyes narrowing. “What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“You kiss weird when something’s wrong. What is it?”
“Can I show you the flowers I brought you first?”
“Tre…
“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “I have to fly out tonight for a training in Utah.”
Willa’s eyes bug out of her head. “You’re leaving? Now ?”
“The team’s all sick from the potluck I missed out on yesterday, so Miles, Marla, and I have to step up.”
Her face drops, and the slump of her body in my arms wrecks me. I never want to be the reason for the terrified look on her face right now. “How long?”
“Two days. I fly out tonight and get back Thursday night.”
“I could have the baby by then,” she whines.
“Okay, well, do me a favor and don’t,” I tease, but she’s too busy staring blankly at my chest to return it. Willa squirms out of my hold and trudges back to the step stool. “Gem?—”
“I’m putting it away!” she snaps, folding it up.
Her cute little pregnancy waddle as she walks to the back room would make me smile if it wasn’t for the frustration steaming off her.
I take a few quick steps back to the front to grab the flowers and meet her at the doorway.
She glances at the tulips with a scowl, but I give her a little smile, hoping to melt some of the frostiness.
I hold out the bouquet with a bite of my lip, and that’s when she breaks into a little smile.
Tugging her to me, I wait for her eyes to meet mine.
“You better train the hell out of those people and get back to me ASAP, Trevor.”
“First plane back. I promise. ”
“God, you better not miss the birth of our child…”
“Not for the fucking world.”
Joining Miles for a quick dinner when we landed didn’t seem like a bad idea until we bumped into Marla and he invited her along.
Now I’m trying to network with my supervisor while fuming inside from being stuck at a table with my ex.
She keeps trying to engage me in conversations I don’t want to have.
We’ve just placed our food orders, and I’m kicking myself for not getting it to-go.
“So, Trevor”—Miles turns to me—“tell me about your thoughts on the EdTechU expansion.”
EdTechU has been slowly expanding into the Educational Technology market overseas.
Everyone’s been making bets on the next region we’ll land in.
I take a sip of my water to clear some of the aggression from my throat.
“I think Germany’s the next logical step, considering how well the expansion into the UK was. ”
“I think we’d do better in Spain, personally, but Germany’s a smart choice too.” Miles’s entirely too loud ringtone blasts from his shirt pocket. He squints at the screen as he brings it to his face. “This is about tomorrow. I’ll be right back.”
Marla’s mouth is moving before he even steps away. “You’ve been to Germany, right, Trevor?” she asks as if she doesn’t already know the answer. Rage buzzes in my ears. This ploy she’s using for interaction is bullshit.
I nod curtly and slip my phone out of my pocket.
“Yup. Been to France too… Excuse me. I have to check this.” There’s nothing on the screen but a thumbs-up text from Hunter, confirming he can check in on Willa at the studio over the next couple of days.
I open it anyway, acting like I’ve just received a message from on hi gh.
If it gets me out of her direct line of questioning, I have no qualms about faking it.
A text from Willa buzzes through during my charade.
Willa
You sent my sister over here to babysit me?
Trevor
Nope. Just to make sure you weren’t climbing anymore ladders.
Willa
It was a damn step stool!
Me
Same diff.
Willa
She showed up with bags, Tre…
And she won’t shut up.
And now Hunter’s texting me
Me
Just go to bed early, Gem.
Willa
Call off your hounds, Jones.
Me
Nope
I can’t help but chuckle at her outrage. Ashlie said she’d check in on her tonight, but turning it into a sister sleepover makes me feel a little more at ease. If something happens, Willa won’t be alone.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
My spine snaps rigidly at her voice. I’m about ready to stalk off to my hotel room, dinner order be damned.
The last strand of patience I have is stretched so tightly, it’s threatening to snap.
When I look at Marla, she has an easy smile on her face, and it catches me off guard.
“Completely,” I say before clearing my throat, eyes dropping back to my phone.
“Good. I’m happy you’re happy, Trevor. I—” Marla stops mid-sentence, and I look at her again as her well wishes filter through my annoyance.
“I’m sorry. About everything. I know that’s not even close to making things right, and I’ve been trying to give you space like you asked.
But I just really feel like I owe you this apology.
I treated you horribly. You didn’t deserve anything I put you through.
I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, and I’m not looking to give any excuses.
I just want you to know that I’m sorry, and I’m genuinely so happy you’re happy. ”
Nodding slowly, I accept her words for what they are, but I’m unwilling to give her an inch.
I could say thank you back, but what’s the point?
It would only get her hopes up that we can be friendly.
I appreciate the apology, but it doesn’t change anything.
It might feel a little better on the inside, hearing her take the responsibility she refused to take before.
Other than that, I have no interest in revisiting it or establishing an amicable environment with her.
It’s in the past, and she needs to leave it there.
The waiter’s upturned palm carrying sizzling plates arranged on a tray prompts me to sit up straighter and flash him a friendly smile.
He doesn’t know how welcome his interruption is.
Just as he sets the last plate on the table, Miles slides back into his chair, and I’m spared from having to address Marla for the rest of the night.
Willa’s video chat is connecting before I even lock my hotel room door.
She answers with a sleepy yawn, her phone positioned so I can see her body stretched out on the bed, on my pillow, in my T-shirt.
My empty arms ache. I should be next to her .
Not here , and definitely not now . “Were you asleep? ”
“No.” She yawns again. “Close though. I was waiting up for your call. How was dinner with your ex?” Willa’s eyebrows wiggle playfully, and the ache in my arms shoots to my chest.
“The best.” I roll my eyes, and she laughs at my sarcastic tone. “It was fine. She apologized for everything.”
“And now you’re getting back together so you can have all her Trevy babies.”
“The fuck I am.” I chuckle, a grimace scrolling down my face. “I’m taken.”
“Damn right.” Her yawn eats up the last word.
“I love you, Gem. I’m gonna let you get to sleep.”
“Love you too…” Her mouth sets in a scowl as her hand rubs the side of her belly.
“You okay?” I try to keep the panic out of my voice, but she clocks it just the same.
“I’m fine, Tre.” She scrunches her nose and rubs her stomach again. “She’s just really active tonight. I’m okay.”
“I hate this.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“Love you.”
“Tre?”
“Yeah, I’ll stay on while you fall asleep.”
Willa snuggles up to my pillow and gives me one last sleepy smile as she closes her eyes.
She’s out within minutes, but I plug in my phone and stay on the video chat, just watching her.
I take it all in—the way her lips part while the heavy breath of deep sleep pushes through them, the curled shadow of her eyelashes on her cheekbones, the peaceful expression on her face.
All of it tears my heart to guilty shreds from not being home.
I fall asleep to the soft sounds of her breathing, and when my alarm goes off in the morning, she’s still sleeping peacefully on the screen.