Chapter 12 William
I can’t say how many times I replayed the conversation that happened on Christmas Eve.
I couldn’t remember ever telling Kit that she should casually date other men, and if I could travel back in time, I would tell myself to shut the fuck up, because Kit Campbell was the most amazing thing that ever almost happened to me, and watching Kit date other people was hell on earth.
The worst part was that Kit was perfectly happy dating other people.
Apparently, the amazing New Year’s Eve dancing, kissing, and near sex had primed Kit perfectly to go out and find someone else.
Normally, I wouldn’t have been deterred by this.
I would have made a harder play to get with Kit again.
But the reality was, I needed things to stay relatively uneventful between the two of us because I needed Kit to sell her land to Braithway these outfits will be appropriate, and you will be woefully underdressed and potentially under-showered for it,” Meredith scoffed. “We’re not going slumming with you, my friend.”
Addison stepped forward. “Do you have a button-down here you can change into?”
I did, and with a little more pushing, Addison was able to convince me to go into my office bathroom, splash some water on my face, and put on the emergency white shirt I kept at the office.
Addison picked Nikolai’s Roof, an upscale downtown restaurant on the thirtieth floor of an Atlanta high-rise.
It was a stark contrast to The Pub in Creekstone.
The white tablecloth restaurant was known for its panoramic view of Atlanta.
Meredith ordered a bottle for the table as well as starters, but waved the waiter away when they suggested the caviar menu. “This is an old friends dinner. No need.”
Addison and I ignored Meredith. We were both used to her take-charge-no-bullshit persona.
“So, tell me,” Addison started. “Meredith tells me you’ve been living in that tiny town, Creekstone, since December. How has that been?”
“Honestly, better than I would have expected,” I said taking a sip of water. The waiter appeared with the wine and commenced pouring each of us a glass. I nodded as he set mine in front of me. “Thank you.”
“Seems like land acquisitions have slowed down. What’s the status of that last parcel by the river?” Meredith asked.
“Owned by two relatives. One relative has assured me she is interested in selling, but the holdout is the other relative. It hasn’t been a hard no, and I’m working on it.”
“This is boring.” Addison said with a pout. “Have you dated anyone since you moved to Georgia?”
I ran my hand through my hair and shoved my hand in my pocket. “Eh, not really.”
Meredith’s eyebrows raised, and a huge smile broke out across Addison’s face. She leaned forward. “I know that look. That’s the look of a man interested in someone. Tell me all about her.”
I shrugged with a chuckle. “There’s nothing to tell.
I’ve just been spending a lot of time with one of the women I live with.
She’s the librarian there in town. She’s very dedicated to Creekstone.
She is very cute, but she’s not interested in anything serious, and honestly, she doesn’t seem that interested in me. ”
“Impossible,” Meredith announced. “You’re what every straight woman wants.
You’re incredibly handsome, wealthy, and at the top of your industry.
You’re smart, funny, and come from humble enough beginnings that you’re not entitled—you don’t take people for granted.
Of course she wants to date you. Unless…
” Meredith paused and narrowed her eyes, “What did you do?”
Addison interjected. “I agree that you’re a catch, so why wouldn’t she want to date you?”
I sighed. “Two things. First, I was a little too honest about how I’m not known for committing to the women I get involved with.
So, I think Kit saw that as a big red flag.
And the second thing is that Kit doesn’t like what I do for a living.
She doesn’t want Creekstone to change. So, she just sees me as a friend. ”
Meredith’s eyes went wide and she nearly choked on her wine. “William, are you kidding me? Kit? As in Katherine Campbell?”
Addison looked back and forth between us. “Who’s Kit? Who’s Katherine?”
I took a deep breath. I was about to get it from Meredith.
“Have you lost your mind?” Meredith ignored Addison. She ran both her hands through her hair in frustration.
“Listen,” I said putting out my hand. “Nothing has happened. We aren’t involved. We’re just friends. I can close this deal.”
“William, I can’t even keep up with the long list of women you’ve dated.
There have been ballerinas, models, schoolteachers, lawyers, doctors, strippers, and now, a librarian.
And none of them are your friends anymore because you break all their hearts.
It’s your pattern. And if you get involved with this woman, and she refuses to sell you that riverfront property, you can kiss that fucking CEO job goodbye. ”
Addison’s jaw dropped. She leaned forward and said, “The plot thickens, my dear William. Have you two kissed?”
“Just on New Year’s Eve. We got caught up in the moment.”
“Holy shit. We’re screwed,” Meredith said, running her hand over her face, then dropping her hand on the table in such a way that the dishes clattered.
“Baby, you’re getting all worked up and assuming the absolute worst,” Addison said, rubbing her hand over Meredith’s. “Use your steps, baby.”
Meredith’s nostrils flared as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She kept her eyes locked in on me in a way that let me know that if Addison hadn’t been there, she would have thrown the crabcake in my face. I tried not to laugh. Addison nodded encouragingly. “See? That’s so much better.”
“Meredith, listen.” I smoothed the tablecloth in front of me. “Kit is the one who rebuffed me. If she wanted to get with me, she could have. I have been there this whole time. She goes on a date with a different guy almost every week, and she tells me about it. She just sees me as a friend.”