Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
THEO
Iwake up to a letter. Just a letter. Not her. I don’t even know who drove her to the airport. It could be Christine, or it could be a driver. How am I supposed to know? Whenever I brought up the topic, she shut it down with soft kisses, and I didn’t have a complaint.
Anything to stay close to her, even if it was only a night.
Texting her is always an option, but it doesn’t feel like one I should give in to. Evie wants space, and I can give that to her—even if I hope we find our way back to each other.
I pick up the letter from her pillow and hold it close to my chest, inhaling slowly. Her scent is still here. It’s sweet, not like bubblegum and cotton candy, but blueberries and lavender. I’ll never be able to eat a goddamn blueberry without thinking about her.
Working up the courage to open the letter takes several moments of silence.
Theo,
I love you, too. No matter what happens next, I want you to know that. I want it written out explicitly so that you can never let anyone make you doubt the time we spent together.
We always knew this was temporary. I’m going back to school, and you have to stay in the office. My brother would have probably killed us both. It’s not the sweetest ending, but it isn’t entirely bitter.
This was always coming, one way or another. That doesn’t make me love you any less.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll see each other soon.
I’m sorry for not giving a two-week notice.
Love always,
Evie.
I don’t want a two-week notice. This isn’t about work anymore.
For the first time in my adult life, I have something—someone—that isn’t just about work.
Fuck the office. Fuck my schedule. I want her, and I want her right now.
Here. With me. She belongs in my arms. We haven’t been able to sleep together in days, not since Christine arrived, but this is the first morning I crave her presence. I need to know she’s here.
We had one last night together, one night with her form curled up against mine, and she’s gone.
Wandering around the cabin makes that pretty damn clear. The pastries are the only thing she left in her wake, and when I take a bite of one, it doesn’t taste as sweet anymore. It’s bland in my mouth—no fault of hers.
Anxiety and panic threaten to grip me, pulling me under their control with wretched claws. Will anything ever taste sweet again?
“Is she gone?” Christine asks from her bedroom doorway.
She’s already perfectly pulled together in a leather jacket and ironed pants. Her hair is on top of her head, slicked back and tight. Nothing about her has ever upset me before, but seeing her act so casually, as if she wasn’t the one to push Evie away…
My blood boils.
“Yeah,” I say through gritted teeth. “She’s gone. Thanks to you.”
Christine sighs. “I think we both know this was for the best. Don’t take your heartbreak out on me.”
“Why shouldn’t I? You did this! We were happy before you butted into our business. You… you told her she was ruining my career. How could you say that to her?”
Her lips pop open. “That is not what I meant. I meant that you are ruining your career.”
I snort. “Does that sound any better? Listen to yourself!”
“It sounds true. If you don’t like the sound of it, you just don’t like hearing the truth. There is not a single thing I can do about that.”
“I loved her.” I choke back a sob.
It’s not like I’m afraid to cry, but crying in front of Christine after everything she’s done to hurt me is another form of torture. She doesn’t deserve to see my tears.
“I know,” she says. “I can see that now.”
Christine can see that I love her, but it isn’t enough. It would never be enough for her or anyone. We were always going to catch scrutiny, and I deserve it, but Evie doesn’t deserve to feel like this. I know her heart is broken, too.
There were tears on the pillow she slept on, and that smile… the smile I love never quite came. It lives in my memories now.
“Do you care?” Venom drips from my words. “Do you actually give a fuck how I feel?”
A side of her lip tugs up at the corner. “Is it too late to say I don’t care about your personal life?”
“A little too late for that, yeah.”
Her expression finally softens. Now, she’s closer to the friend I used to know than the ruthless businessperson she’s become. “Of course, I care. You’ve been lonely for years. I always wanted you to find someone.”
“I haven’t been lonely.”
“You have. You didn’t see it, but I did. Anyone close to you did. Why do you think Everett always tried to help you find a date? I can’t believe he would set you up with his little sister, though…” Her nose curls.
“That’s not exactly what happened.”
“Ah. So, you’re ruining a friendship along with your career.”
Christine may be right, but she shouldn’t say it aloud.
I shake my head. “It didn’t have to ruin anything. You’re the only one making it this big of a deal.”
“Because I’m the only one who knows about it. Aren’t I?” She lifts a brow.
I drop into a kitchen chair and hang my head in my hands. “Yeah. You are. And if I had my way, you wouldn’t know about it. What Evie and I had… it was supposed to be just for me. Just for us. Why can’t I have one thing that doesn’t relate to business?”
She clicks her tongue. “Because it started in the workplace, Theo. You know better.”
“I probably should, but I didn’t. When Evie came around, I lost all my senses. They’re still gone. All I can think about is her.”
“You’ll see her again soon,” she says. “The trip is nearly over.”
I lift my head, glaring. “I won’t. Not only did she quit and fly to another country, but she broke up with me.”
Her lips part. “That wasn’t my intention when speaking with her. I wanted to make sure she was happy with your… arrangement. You know how this looks. You’ve had men fired for less.”
“Yeah. I do.” I let out a choked laugh. “Guess I can’t fault you for that. You were right. How happy can she be if she’s gone? It wasn’t even a conversation. She wouldn’t hear me out.”
“That isn’t why she left, and you know it.” Christine sits down across from me. “I never wanted to get in the way of your relationship. You deserve to be happy.”
“You did get in the way. It doesn’t matter if it’s what you wanted to do.” I wave a hand. “You and I still have to work together, and your face is pissing me off right now. Probably best if we take some space.”
“I’ll leave if that’s what you want.” She crosses her arms and stays in place, looking like we’re at a business meeting, and she’s about to talk business.
“You’re being silly. You and Evie can still be together if that’s what you both want.
Now that she doesn’t work for you, there’s no reason to be apart. ”
“There are a few reasons.” I shake my head, stopping myself from saying anything more. “But I don’t want to talk about them with the person who broke us up, so if you don’t mind…”
My chest is heavy, my eyes prickle, and I don’t want to break down around Christine. It’s clear she’s ready for a day of work, anyway.
“Fine.” She stands, tapping her manicured nails against the wooden table. Christine has been working in the woods for days, but there’s not a speck of dirt under those damn nails. “Keep being silly. Blame me for your problems if that makes you feel better. I know you. The solutions will come next.”
She heads for the door.
“There are no solutions!” I call.
The only answer is the front door closing.
At last, I can break down in peace.