Chapter 27
Rochelle hugs me when I hand her my resignation.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“I need to go home and just mope for a while.”
Her smile is faint. “I get it. I’m sure Garrett will give you a glowing reference.”
I swallow hard. This job—working for this company—has been everything I wanted. It’s not just about Deacon; it’s about the friendships I’ve made here and the fact that I enjoyed the work.
But here I’m surrounded by memories that threaten to drown me.
“Thank you so much for everything. I’m sorry things have turned out this way.”
“I told Deacon he’d better not do anything to mess this up.” She sighs. “I wish he’d listened.”
I shrug. “I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now. What he did has been devastating, but I can’t help but worry too. I’m missing something.”
She gives my forearm a squeeze. “Well, if you ever need anything and I can help, please let me know. I’ll be giving him a piece of my mind when he shows up.”
“I’m sure you will.” That makes me smile. I knew she’d have my back.
“Just leave your swipe cards with reception on the way out. They’ll get them to me.”
Nodding, I turn to leave. “I will. Thanks, Rochelle.”
I take a deep breath before I make my way to the elevator and up to the executive floor. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the butterflies I do now—probably the day I interviewed.
After making my way down the corridor, I stop before the closed door. We were supposed to be gone for a month, so the offices had been closed with Deacon’s teams temporarily reporting to Victor.
I swallow hard and slide my swipe card, unlocking the door. There’s no point in closing it behind me—I won’t be here long. Once I grab the few things I have in the office, I’ll get out of here.
After walking to my desk—what used to be my desk—I place the small box I’ve brought with me on it and circle around it.
There are a couple of photos of Deacon and I, and I place them in the box before opening the drawer.
The second week Deacon and I were dating, he bought me a coffee mug. At the time, I thought it was cute. Now I’m not so sure.
It’s plain white with black writing on it that says Best Girlfriend Ever.
Was that ever true? Did he ever think that?
Until I know why he left, there are so many unanswered questions in my head.
I place it in the box, along with the spare tampons and the odd bits of makeup.
“I was hoping I’d see you before you left.”
Mallory walks in the door. Her smile is pained, and this whole thing must be awkward. Deacon’s swanned off and left the deserted girlfriend to face the friends.
“I’m so sorry,” Mallory says.
“It’s not your fault.”
With a shake of her head, she leans against the desk. “I know, but I still think there’s so much that we don’t know. Something happened to Deacon. And it must have been something big for him to walk away from you.”
Tears well in my eyes. “I don’t know. Everyone keeps telling me how much he loved me, but the man I fell in love with wouldn’t leave like that.”
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my bag.
Frowning at the notification, I swipe up. Why would Adeline Walsh be tagging me on Instagram?
My throat tightens as I open the app.
She’s in Paris—at least her location says she is. And there’s a string of people tagged in the photos. The pictures themselves are from a club. She’s dancing and drinking, and when I reach the last photo, I gasp.
Deacon’s squinting—I assume because of the flash—but he’s right there with Adeline’s hand on his shoulder. She’s beaming her million-watt smile at the camera.
“Pippa? What’s wrong?” Mallory asks.
I slam my hand to my mouth, biting down on it to trying to stop the tears that threaten to fall.
She rounds the desk, her eyes full of concern as she pulls my phone from my hand.
The photo’s still on the screen.
Concern turns to anger, and before I know it, she’s throwing the phone on the office couch and wrapping her arms around me.
“I’m going to kill that bitch,” she whispers. “Not sure if it’ll be before or after I kill Deacon.”
I bark out a laugh. “No need for extremes.”
Mallory lets me go. “None of this is fair, Pippa. You did nothing to deserve this.” She chews on her bottom lip. “I bet anything Deacon still didn’t touch Adeline. He wasn’t interested in her before you. Adeline was just too thick to realise that.”
Shaking my head, I let out a snort. “She’s not stupid. She’s devious—I’ll give her that.” Sighing, I move away and turn to the window. “I know Deacon wasn’t interested in her. He had plenty of time before me to be with her, and he wasn’t. Plus, if he wanted to hurt me with this photo, he would have been the one to send it.”
She grips my upper arms. “I’m glad you see it that way. I don’t know what’s going on in Deacon’s head—he’s not replying to any of our messages. But I have zero doubt he loves you. Something happened the night before the wedding. I’m convinced of it. I just don’t know what.”
I nod, and she rubs my arms. “When he comes back, I’ll sit him down and talk to him. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Blinking back tears, I nod again. “I’m not sure that’s enough.”
Mallory sighs. “I’m sure it’s not. He’s a moron.”
“Thank you for caring.”
Garrett strolls into the room. His warm smile puts me at ease and without hesitation, he wraps his arms around me.
“Are you sure leaving is what you want?” he asks.
“I don’t see how I can stay,” I croak.
He places a kiss on the top of my head. “Any time you need a job, call me. If not here, I have contacts who would be lucky to have you working for them.”
Mallory retrieves my phone from the couch before handing it to me. “Do yourself a favour and block her. She’s stirring up trouble. We’ll get to the bottom of this—I promise.”
“The bottom of what?” Garrett flicks a confused look between Mallory and me.
“We’ll talk later.” Mallory pats him on the arm, and he gives her a tight nod.
“Thank you for everything. Both of you. I should get going.”
“Do you need a hand carrying your things?” Lucas appears in the doorway, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I’d almost forgotten he was with me. Deacon’s friends are one thing but having my brother here with me is everything.
“I’ll be fine. I don’t have much.”
“I didn’t realise you were here, Lucas.” Mallory’s smile lights up the room, and I meet Garrett’s bemused gaze as she beams that smile right at my brother.
“Uh, yeah. I’m helping Pippa get her stuff moved home.”
“We should go for a drink before you go.” She shifts her gaze to me, and I swallow down a laugh.
I turn my head toward Lucas. He’s fighting a smile.
“We’re only here for a couple of nights, but that’d be great,” Lucas says. “I’ll call you?”
“I’ll wait for your call.”
Grinning, I pick up my box of belongings and make my way toward the door.
“Come on, Romeo,” I murmur. “Let’s get out of here.”
He shoots me a side-eye before reaching for the box. “What? I like Mallory.”
“Pretty sure she likes you too.”
As we reach the elevator, I press the button and he turns toward me. “You think?”
“She just asked you out.”
He scrunches his nose. “I thought that was an invitation for both of us.”
The doors open and we step in. “She didn’t ask me out for a drink before you arrived.”
He’s quiet on the way down, and once we reach the car, my mood falls. “There’s a photo of Deacon on Instagram in Paris with another woman.”
“What the hell?” He slides the box onto the back seat. Since he got here, he’s commandeered my car. I don’t have the heart to force the issue.
I climb into the passenger seat, and once he’s seated, he grabs my hand and gives it a quick squeeze. “He’s an idiot. But you already know my opinion on it.”
“He didn’t post it. She did. And she tagged me in it.”
Lucas frowns. “That’s plain weird.”
“Is it? Or is it a message that he’s ignoring me because he’s with her?”
He lets out a sigh. “I don’t know. If things weren’t so messed up between us, I might have a better insight into Deacon’s thoughts. But I don’t. He never would have acted like this when we were younger—I was the flaky one.”
After starting the car, he drives out into the traffic.
It’s a quiet ride back to my flat. I resist the urge to keep looking at that picture for clues. I’m not sure what I’ll think I’ll find, but I’m after anything to put my mind at rest.
At least I know he’s still alive and in one piece.
It might be small, but when we get home, Lucas carries my box of things into the living room before placing it on the coffee table. We’re surrounded by boxes—all that’s left is the furniture.
Tomorrow the moving company will come and pick up everything before taking it to storage in Gisborne.
“You should text Mallory and see if she wants to go for drinks with you tonight,” I say.
“Tonight?” Lucas’s brows knit. “You trying to get rid of me?”
I let out a sigh. “I need to go and get my things from Deacon’s place.”
Lucas reaches out and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Are you sure you don’t want company?”
Shaking my head, I use my other hand to pat his. “No, I’d prefer to do this alone.”
“Pippa—”
“He broke my heart, Lucas, but I still love him. This is my last chance to say goodbye.” I force a smile. “Text Mallory. If I can’t get my love story, then I’ll live vicariously through you two.”
He chuckles. “You’re still a hopeless romantic.”
“Always. Go do it. Why are you hanging out with your baby sister and not the hot woman who’s definitely interested in you?” This time, I don’t have to force myself to smile. The idea of my brother at least getting his happy-ever-after fills my heart with joy.
His time with Elise messed him up. He also struggled with trust—just like Deacon. But Mallory’s a good person, and I know she’d be good to him.
I’m not expecting him to skip off into the sunset with her but going out with her for drinks can’t hurt. Besides, I do need to sort out Deacon’s apartment by myself.
I don’t want an audience for this.
* * *
After Lucas leaves in his Uber, I get in the car and make the drive to Deacon’s place.
This is tough. A part of me wants to say to hell with my things and just leave them there as a reminder, but I’m not sure he’ll care.
When I get there, I grab the moving boxes from the boot and carry them to the door. For the last time, I slide my key into the lock and take a deep breath before pushing the door open.
Deacon’s apartment feels the same as it always did. It’s warm and welcoming when its owner is cold and heartless.
This was more like my home than my own apartment.
I slide the keys off my keyring and drop them gently on the kitchen island. They make a clink as they land, and even that simple act leaves me feeling lost. After a moment’s hesitation, I follow with my engagement ring. My finger feels bare the second it’s off, but there’s no point in leaving it on.
Running my fingers across the back of the couch, I take in every little thing I can. This place has so many memories—all of them good.
Why, Deacon?
Maybe coming here alone was a mistake. But I can’t call Lucas now—he’s at drinks with Mallory, and he deserves something good to happen to him.
I’ve only made it as far as the living room.
There isn’t a huge amount of stuff for me to take. I have some things in the bathroom and the bedroom, and I brought a couple of boxes just in case I needed them.
But the thought of going into the bedroom makes my stomach twist.
I force myself toward the door.
The bedroom’s quiet, the bed made and the room spick and span as it was the way we left it. Deacon teased me about making the bed with clean sheets before we left, but I told him that we’d be grateful when we got back.
Returning to the front door, I retrieve one of the boxes and go back to the bedroom. One by one, I open drawers, pulling out the clothing I’ve left here over the past few months. I’m so glad I hadn’t made the final move in before the wedding. This is the last place I’d want to be spending hours packing up.
I press on, emptying out the bedside cabinet, pausing only to look at the photo on Deacon’s side. It’s another of the photos from the night of the product launch. Deacon’s arms are around me, and I’m smiling so wide it makes my face ache even now.
He can keep it. He can come home and see my face beside his bed, and I hope it hurts.
When I’m done packing in the bedroom, I head into the bathroom. It doesn’t take long to retrieve my things, and then I’m touring the rest of the apartment searching for anything else.
It’s not fair. I loved this apartment so much. Sure, it’s not my wedding-cake house with the white picket fence, but it’s where we fell in love.
No. Where I fell in love. Lord only knows what Deacon was up to.
After packing the boxes in the car, I return for one last look before I lock the door and walk away.
I’m not leaving a note. He didn’t have the decency to even leave a note for me when he left.
Now maybe the healing can begin.