Chapter 23 Cru
CRU
Instead of going straight to the airport, I asked the driver to take me to the harbor. I sat in a bar, looking out over the water, waiting, hoping, and praying my phone would ring and Daphne would ask me to come back.
After a couple of hours, I knew two things: she wasn’t going to call, and if I kept drinking, I’d never be allowed on a plane.
I ordered food, switched from bourbon to water, then called another car service.
While I waited, I booked a flight to the States.
I was able to get a seat on one that left later tonight.
Rather than stopping in Sydney, I’d travel through Manila.
With the layover, it would take me over twenty-four hours to get home.
But time didn’t matter. I was leaving behind the woman I’d loved most of my life.
Nothing mattered now. Nothing ever would again.
Instead of asking anyone to pick me up, I took a car service from the San Luis Obispo airport home. When I arrived, I paid the driver and walked into a house I no longer wanted to live in.
Unable to bear the idea of lying on either bed where Daphne and I had made love, I went up to the third floor and locked the door behind me when I reached the top of the landing.
I hadn’t allowed myself to cry since I broke down while still with Daphne.
Now, there was nothing to stop me. I could cry for days, and no one would even know I was here.
When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside and someone was banging on the locked door.
“Go away!” I shouted.
“Open the door, Cru.”
Rather than my brother’s, who I’d expected it to be, the voice coming from the opposite side was that of my best friend, Beau. The last person in the world I wanted to talk to right now.
“I’ll break it down if you don’t unlock it.”
I’d tell him to fuck off, but I knew Beau would follow through with his threat, and then I’d have to replace a broken door at the same time as finding a way to heal my broken heart.
I flipped the lock and sat on the sofa with my arms folded.
“Why are you back?” he demanded before telling me I looked like shit.
“You can leave,” I responded without looking up at him.
“Why aren’t you in Australia?” he shouted.
“None of your fucking business,” I yelled back.
“Where’s Daphne?”
This time, I didn’t bother answering. “Why are you here?” I asked instead.
He sat in one of the chairs that faced me. “We all are.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Bit called a meeting, asking Los Caballeros to help out.”
I scrubbed my face. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do you really think he’d let you leave without bringing in reinforcements?”
“Let me leave? He and the rest of the crew threatened to go on strike if I didn’t.”
Beau laughed.
“It isn’t funny, asshole.”
He got up and went into the small kitchen, opening and closing doors. “Don’t you have anything to drink?”
“I came up here to be left alone, not to entertain.”
“Come on. Let’s go.”
I cocked my head and looked up at him. “You go.”
“If I do, you’ll probably lock the door again.”
“You got that right.”
He walked over, sat in the chair, and stared at me, but didn’t say anything.
“What?”
He shook his head.
“You’re a dick.” I got up and went into the bedroom. The asshole followed me.
“What happened with Daphne?”
“I already told you it’s none of your business.”
“No, you said that when I asked why you weren’t in Australia.”
“Ditto.”
“I suppose I could just call her and ask.”
“She’ll tell you as much as I have.” I put the pillow over my face.
“I take it the engagement is off?”
I moved the pillow. “Were there any knives in the drawers out there?”
“Why?”
“Stab me. It’ll have the same effect.”
“So why are you here?”
“I asked Daphne if she wanted to be my wife. She responded she didn’t see how it would be possible since our lives were on opposite sides of the world.”
His eyes scrunched. “That doesn’t sound like her.”
I glared at him. “Fuck off, Beau.”
“Why can’t you trade off? It couldn’t be more ideal, really. The seasons are opposite. You could be there in our winter, and she could be here in hers.”
“Because Daphne isn’t a winemaker when she’s there. She’s the acting CEO of a huge conglomerate.”
He nodded. “My dad said it isn’t looking good. She—they—may lose Cullen House.”
“When she told me she feared that may happen, she didn’t give me the chance to respond before asking if I thought she was being melodramatic.”
He sighed and looked at the wall behind me.
“What?”
“I used to say that to her.”
“Well, that’s fair. She got mad at me for something you used to say. Nice.”
“So, you left?”
“Obviously, or I wouldn’t be here.”
“I’m tired of your dickish attitude. You can stop now. I’m only trying to help.”
“Why?”
Beau leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Because I love both of you. Because you belong together, and I can’t believe that you, of all people, would give up so easily.”
“She gave me no choice.” I slumped onto the sofa and shut my eyes. “Would you just go away and leave me alone?”
“What was the last thing she said to you?”
“Again, it’s none of your business.”
He raised a brow, and his nostrils flared. “Just tell me.”
“She said the ring I gave her was in her bedroom and she’d go and get it. I told her I didn’t want it.”
“Then what?”
“I left.”
“This is the part I don’t get. You knew things here were taken care of. You could’ve stayed and tried to work things out.”
“Why? I can’t leave Los Cab. She can’t leave Cullen House. She was right to say it can’t work.”
“Cru, how much money do you have?”
I opened my eyes and raised my head. “I don’t know.”
“Millions?”
I shrugged.
“Billions?”
“Maybe not plural.”
“You could buy a plane and hire a pilot. Or Daphne could. She’s probably worth more than you are. You could fly to Australia as much as you wanted and vice versa, at least until she’s able to work things out with Cullen House. Or until her dad is well enough to return himself.”
I shook my head. “He’s not good, Beau. He can hardly speak.”
“That’s what my father said.”
“I love Daphne. I’ve never loved anyone else and doubt that I ever will, but I can’t do what you’re suggesting, Beau. I can’t be away from Los Cab on a regular basis. I can’t live part of the year in Australia.”
He stood and walked to the door. “Then, you don’t really love her.”
I stood too. “That’s bullshit. Just because you couldn’t commit—”
“Stop right there.” He stalked over to me. “I did commit. I gave up my life in California to be with Sam in New York. Maybe you’re right that I never committed to Daphne, but I never felt for her the way I do for Sam.”
“Congratulations. You’re the bigger man. Now, leave.”
To my surprise, that’s exactly what he did.
His words, however, stuck with me. Maybe I could do what he’d suggested and look into getting a plane.
On the other hand, once the harvest was over, I could buy a one-way ticket like I had before.
Only this time, I wouldn’t leave until I convinced Daphne I loved her and would do anything to be with her.