Chapter 9
Annie
Leaving Garrett was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I knew the hurt was going to be bad…
IS bad. I just didn’t think it was going to feel like this—a slow, mind-numbing torture that bypasses the heart and goes straight to the soul.
There’s no mercy or any indication that you, or even life itself, will ever be good again. There will always be a missing link.
In other words, I’m fucking miserable.
Charlotte feels colder, meaner, so much emptier than I remember.
There are no mountains; the fresh scent of pine is nonexistent, just the smell of exhaust fumes, the ruckus of honking horns, blaring sirens, and the constant hum of city life.
I walk to work, numb, ignoring the texts from Elliot, who’s been blowing up my phone since my car arrived in Crystal Falls at five a.m. this morning.
But the only things I can feel are Garrett’s hands on me, his mouth, the sound of his rough laugh, and the way he made me feel like the only woman on the planet.
Every time I close my eyes, I see him, and it hurts.
God, it hurts.
When I walked through the door of my shoebox apartment, it took everything in me to drag myself to the shower, and when I finally did, I stood there until the water ran cold, crying so hard I nearly choked.
Afterward, I laid on my bed naked and soaking wet… for I don’t know how long…staring at the ceiling, clutching a pillow, and whispering Garrett’s name to hear it out loud. I’ve never wanted anyone this bad. I’ve never felt so fucking empty.
But I did what I always do…I got up, got dressed, and kept moving.
I can feel my phone vibrating in my bag, exploding with messages, and I know who it is.
Elliot:
WHERE ARE YOU?
I swear, if you’re late…
Where are the new garment bags, PR kits, checklists?
Annie, answer me now.
God, I hate him. I hate this job. I hate that I left a man who would have burned down the world for me to fetch coffee for a middle-aged toddler in a pink suit.
As soon as I walk into the office, I’m immediately hit by a shitstorm of drama. Models screaming about juice cleanses, assistants running in circles, Elliot perched like a vulture in the center of it all…expensive shoes, too-tight pants, and that condescending tone I know too well.
He clocks me the second I walk in. “Annie! Jesus, what time do you call this? Who let you near the schedule? Do you know how embarrassing it is when the designer’s assistant is late?”
I drop my bag at my desk, not bothering to look at him. “It’s 8:01, Elliot.”
He ignores me, waving a stack of papers in my face. “VIP passes aren’t laminated. Where are the fuchsia suits? Did you confirm the vegan hors d’oeuvres with catering, or is that too much to ask?”
I grit my teeth. “I confirmed yesterday. And the passes are at the printer.”
He claps his hands, a fake smile on his face, his eyes wild. “See? You can be competent when you try.”
Before I can answer, he snaps his fingers. “Coffee. Oat milk, two pumps vanilla, extra hot. And get it right this time, Annie. If you fuck up the milk again, you’ll spend the night sorting receipts.”
I want to scream. Instead, I turn on my heel and head to the café, texting Aubrey because she’s the only person who’ll reply with something that doesn’t make me want to cry.
Me:
Why did I do it? Why did I leave him?
Aubrey:
Because you’re scared, call me if you need to scream.
Back at the office, Elliot’s yelling at someone on the phone. I set his coffee down, and he actually sniffs it before taking a sip.
He grimaces. “It’s too hot. Christ, Annie, can you do anything right?”
Something inside me breaks. “If you want it lukewarm, go to Starbucks.”
Heads snap up. There’s a stunned silence. Elliot stares at me like I just slapped him across his Botox-filled face.
He leans in, voice ice-cold. “You know, for someone who spent a week getting lost in the woods, you have a lot of attitude. Don’t forget you’re utterly replaceable.”
I bite back tears, jaw clenched. “You know what, Elliot? Replace me then. I dare you.”
He blinks, caught off guard by me not cowering from him. “Don’t test me, Annie. Not today.”
I roll my eyes. “God forbid you have to pour your own coffee and talk to a caterer like a human being.”
He turns on his heel. “Get the PR kits sorted. And I want you at the VIP event early. If you’re late, don’t bother coming back.”
I mutter, “Trust me, that’s tempting.” But I grit my teeth and get through the rest of the day, running on nothing but caffeine, counting the hours until it’s over.
By the time I arrive at the event that evening, my nerves are shot. The ballroom is nothing but glitter, noise, and the worst kind of rich people…self-righteous, fake, all teeth and Instagram filters. I hand out passes, paste on a smile, and force myself to breathe.
Elliot is everywhere, a tornado of complaints and empty threats. He shoves a clipboard at me. “Press kits. Missing. Fix it.”
I square my shoulders. “I already…”
He talks over me. “Just fix it, Annie. Jesus. How many times do I have to say it?”
I nod, barely holding it together. I want to run, to scream. Instead, I slip out to the back alley for some air, hands shaking, heart racing.
I’m walking back in, feeling more in control, when Elliot corners me. “You know what? I can’t with you anymore. I should have fired you last month. You’re a walking disaster.”
I stare at him, tears burning, as every ounce of self-control I’d managed to muster outside melts away. “I’m only one person, Elliot. You treat me like shit and expect miracles.”
He gets in my face, pointing a bubble gum, stiletto-tipped finger in my face, voice low and mean. “You’re here because nobody else would hire you. Remember that. You’re nothing without this job.”
My voice shakes, but I don’t back down. “Maybe I would rather be nothing than have to endure another second of your heinous disrespect.”
I hear a ruckus, then the thud of heavy boots on the tile floor.
I know that sound.
My heart stops.
When I move and look at the commotion, I see Garrett moving toward us like a storm; all muscle and that wild look in his eyes. He’s out of place here…towering over everyone, his stare pinning Elliot to the wall.
He growls, “Back away from her. Now.”
Elliot puffs up, all fake smiles and arrogance. “Who the hell are you? Security…”
Garrett steps between us, not even blinking at the phone cameras pointed in his face. “I’m the man who’s done letting you treat Annie like she’s nothing. You talk to her like that again, I’ll show you what nothing feels like.”
The silence is deafening. I can’t breathe.
Elliot tries to act unfazed, but even in his candy-colored, rhinestone-trimmed suit and with his lifted chin, he looks like a yapping dog going against a wolf.
His voice squeaking as he’s grasping at control.
“Annie, don’t be stupid. If you walk out, you’re done. You’ll never work in this city again.”
Garrett steps closer, his large frame swallowing Elliot whole.
His voice is like thunder, eyes blazing, every muscle in his body tight.
“You ever talk to her like that again, I swear to God, you’ll regret it.
You don’t get to threaten the woman I love and get away with it.
As a matter of fact, I don’t even want you saying her name.
She’s worth a hundred of you, and if you ever make her feel like a piece of shit again, I’ll make damn sure it’s the last thing you do as a so-called man. ”
Garrett’s fists clench at his sides. “This is your only warning. Keep your mouth shut about Annie. You don’t own her…you don’t own shit.”
Elliot shrinks, eyes wide, his spine now pressed flat to the wall. No one in the room can doubt who’s in charge now.
Garrett looks at me, voice gentle, soothing my panic.
“Annie. You don’t have to stay here. You don’t have to take this shit anymore.
I’ll be everything you need. Hell, I’ll even move to this miserable city.
I’ll learn to love overpriced coffee and people if it means I get to wake up beside you every day. ”
He’s here. He came for me.
Wait…did he say he loves me?
My heart pounds so hard I think it might explode out of my chest. “Are you serious?” My voice is shaking. “You’d give all that up for me?”
He cups my cheek while his thumb wipes away my tears. “You’re worth it. But I don’t want you miserable. I want you to be happy. God, Annie, I just want you…whatever that looks like.”
I look at Elliot…fuming, lips gone thin, already plotting his next cruel jab. Then, I look at Garrett, who’s standing in front of me, with his heart wide open, raw, and terrified.
“I just… I’m not sure if I can do this, Garrett. I’m scared. I’ve never wanted anything like I want you, and that terrifies me.”
He smiles, looking hopeful, and so goddamn beautiful. “I’m scared too, Annie. I’m scared of being alone again. I’m scared you’ll leave me. But I’d rather risk my heart than never see you again.”
I’m crying, sobbing, and laughing all at once. “Garrett, you barely know me. We literally just met like three days ago…”
“Technically four and a half…but who’s counting.”
“Apparently, you are. I don’t know…this is all too much. I need some time. I just…Please, I need to wrap my head around this. I need to figure shit out.”
He nods, but there’s a wildness in his eyes, something fierce and desperate.
He steps back, hands up in surrender. “Fine. Take your time, Annie. I’ll give you that; it’s going to be hell for me, but I respect you and your wishes.
But don’t think for a second I’m giving up on you…
on us. You’re mine, and I’ll wait as long as it fucking takes.
Even if I have to prove it to you, I’ll show you… I’ll make you see it if I have to.”
Without another word, not even an embrace.
He walks away, his broad shoulders rigid with everything he’s trying not to say.
As the distance grows between us, a cold emptiness washes through me, like he’s taking a vital piece of me with him.
The noise and lights of the party blur and fade; everything that mattered to me before is now meaningless.
All I feel now is the echo of his absence.
I’m empty and hurt, like I’ve been hollowed out from the inside.
I never knew it was possible to miss someone this much while they’re still in the room.
My hands won’t stop shaking. I stand there, eyes burning with tears, until I can’t take it anymore…
I turn and run out of the ballroom, pushing past startled faces, not caring if anyone sees me falling apart.
I find the first empty bathroom I can, slam into a stall, and finally let the tears fall.
Sobs wrack my body. I’m a mess…makeup streaked, shoulders heaving, breath coming in ragged gasps.
I fumble for my phone, hitting call to the only person who I feel is truly a friend and would understand.
Aubrey picks up on the second ring, her voice instantly concerned. “Annie? What’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t know what I’m doing,” I choke out, trying to hold myself together, failing miserably.
“Garrett showed up in Charlotte, Aubrey, at my job. I’m at a work event tonight.
He…how did he even know where I was? You know what, it doesn’t matter.
He came. He stood up to my asshole boss.
He told me he’d move here, or I could move there, whatever I want.
He said he’s not giving up on me, and he meant it.
God, he meant it. He even said he loved me, Aubrey!
What the hell am I supposed to do with that? ”
Aubrey sighs. “He came storming into the diner this morning, Annie. Lost as hell. Half-naked, wearing two different shoes, yelling about you like the world was ending. I had to drag him into the kitchen before he went completely apeshit and caused an even bigger scene. He looked like a crazed madman.”
I cover my mouth, holding back another sob. “Why do I do this to myself? Why do I always run when something feels real?”
There’s a pause, then Aubrey continues, “You know Garrett’s best friend, the one I was telling you about…well, ex-best friend?”
“Yeah.” I sniff.
Aubrey’s voice goes rough, like she’s trying to hold her own emotions together.
“Clint was also my fiancé. When all that shit went down between him and Garrett, he left me, left town, left everything. I promised myself I’d never let anyone in again after that.
It hurt so bad. Do I still feel that way?
No. Because I realized afterward, Clint and I would have never worked.
At the time, I didn’t realize how toxic our relationship was.
He didn’t respect me; he didn’t value me the way Garrett does you, Annie.
Ever since that night at the diner, when you two came in, I knew the moment I saw the way that man looked at you, even when you didn’t notice…
Garrett Hall was head over heels in love. ”
I rest my head against the cool stall, mascara dripping onto my hand.
“Letting yourself love someone, Annie, means risking that they’ll walk out and rip your guts out. But you know what hurts more? Not taking the chance, shutting yourself off, watching someone you care about give up on happiness because they’re too afraid.”
“I’m so fucking scared, Aubrey. What if we wreck each other?”
“What if you don’t?” she says gently. “What if you make each other better? Garrett’s not perfect, but he’s honest. And he’s all in. Trust me, that’s rare as hell.”
I’m breathing hard, feeling the truth in Aubrey’s words, letting all the fear and hope mix together inside me. My phone shakes in my hand. “I think I love him. No, I know I love him.”
“Then what the hell are you still doing in Charlotte?” Aubrey bluntly replies. “Go get your man.”
Before I can answer, the bathroom door bangs open. Elliot storms in, ignoring the “women” sign like it’s beneath him. “Annie! What the fuck do you think you’re doing? You can’t just disappear in the middle of an event! Who’s running the guest list?”
I step out of the stall, face streaked, eyes wild, and I’ve had enough. “You know what, Elliot? Fuck you. I quit. I’m done being your punching bag. Find someone else to fetch your coffee and wipe your ass. I’m out.”
His mouth drops open, but I don’t wait for his response. I shoulder past him and walk out, with Aubrey still on the line.
“You still there?” I ask, my voice shaking with adrenaline.
She laughs. “Hell yeah! Go get him, Annie. Don’t let fear keep you from the best damn thing that’s ever happened to you.”
For the first time in forever, I know exactly what I want.