Chapter 21
Adrienne
I’m useless today. Completely, shamelessly useless.
My inbox is full, the clock on the wall says it’s somehow already after three, and all I’ve done is smile at my computer screen like a lovesick idiot.
Every spreadsheet I’ve opened turns into a daydream about Scotty.
His laugh, his hands, the way he looked at me last night when he handed me the locket.
I drop my pen and lean back in my chair, grinning like a fool. If anyone walks by my office right now, they’ll know exactly what kind of night I had.
It’s silly, Scotty, thinking I didn’t want people to know that I’m no longer single.
Because I want to tell someone. About us.
About how it feels different this time. But the girls would dissect it, tease it, twist it into something it’s not ready to be.
And Axel, God, he’d go nuclear. I’m not sure he’s recovered from Sunday, and the last thing I want to do is poke a bear.
Celeste, though… she’d listen. She’d know what questions to ask without making me feel stupid for asking them back. I slide the locket into my palm and close my fist around it.
Yeah. Celeste.
I shut my laptop, grab my coat, and sling my bag over my shoulder. I never leave work early. In fact, most days, I’m here a lot longer than eight hours.
Celeste’s house isn’t far, so I take the long route. Right now, I need that time. To think. To breathe. It’ll be nice to talk to someone who won’t make me feel like a lovesick idiot for falling for the one man who swore he couldn’t give me more.
The road winds past the edge of town, the Colorado sun almost blinding. My fingers drum in time with the pop song on the radio. I’m lost in thought, enjoying my last few minutes to gather my thoughts when the radio is interrupted by a call from Axel. I sigh, thumb hovering before I hit answer.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Where are you?” His tone is too casual. Which means he’s already suspicious.
“Left early,” I say lightly. “I had to run a few errands for Mom and Dad’s anniversary. You know, last-minute stuff.”
A pause. “What kind of errands?”
I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see it. “Relax, I’m picking up the cake you were supposed to get, remember? Someone has to be responsible in this family.”
He grunts. “Funny, because Amelia texted me twenty minutes ago. Said she already picked it up.”
My grip tightens on the steering wheel. Well shit. “Well, maybe I’m getting candles, Axel. Balloons. Confetti. Does it matter?”
“It does when you lie.”
“Excuse me?”
He exhales loudly through the phone like his patience is starting to fray. “I’m not even going to bother with the triplet thing. Where are you really going?”
I stare at the road ahead, annoyed at how perceptive he can be at times. “Why do you care?”
“Because every time you start dodging questions, it means something’s going on. So tell me, Adrienne, what is it this time? Sneaking off to Scotty’s for an afterno—”
“Oh, Jesus Axel, I’m going to Celeste’s, okay? I need to talk to her about a job opportunity she offered me. The second the words leave my mouth, I panic.
Shit.
“Job opportunity?” Axel repeats, voice suddenly sharp. “Since when? Where?”
I scramble. “It’s nothing. Her old firm in L.A. reached out. Celeste mentioned she might recommend me. I’m just… considering it. That’s all.”
The line goes quiet. So quiet it’s worse than yelling. Finally, he mutters, “Considering leaving? And you didn’t think to tell me? Does Aiden know?”
I press my lips together, staring at the blur of pines outside the window. “No. It’s not a big deal. I promised Au—”
“It’s a big deal to us. To the family. We’ll talk later—at the party.”
And just like that, he hangs up. The silence in the car feels heavier than before. My throat burns. I toss my phone back into the cup holder and blink hard, forcing my shoulders straight. It’s fine. He’ll cool off. He always does.
By the time I turn into Celeste’s drive, my pulse has finally started to slow, but my stomach still twists. I shouldn’t have snapped at Axel. I shouldn’t have said anything about the job. But it’s too late now.
For as long as I can remember, Celeste has always kept her and Drake's house looking like it belongs on the cover of a garden magazine. The wrap-around porch is dotted with a colorful array of hanging plants along the top, and the railing is lined with an equal number of flower baskets.
When she opens the door, her brow lifts in surprise. “Adrienne? What a lovely surprise. A second later, her smile fades and her brows furrow. “But what’s wrong, honey? What are you doing here in the middle of a workday?”
“Damn, am I that predictable?” I laugh, already knowing I am. It’s a well-known and documented fact that I’m married to my job. “I, um… needed a break,” I say, stepping inside. The scent of vanilla and coffee hits me instantly. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
She waves me off. “You could never interrupt. Sit.”
I sink onto one of the kitchen stools while she pours two mugs from the French press.
She slides one toward me and leans against the counter, waiting.
Celeste has always been like that. She doesn’t pry.
She just listens until you can’t keep the words in anymore.
I guess that’s why she’s one of the best attorneys I’ve ever seen.
“I think I might be losing my mind,” I finally say, wrapping my hands around the mug. “Between work, the anniversary party, the LA thing, and…” I swallow hard. “Scotty.”
Her brows lift, but she doesn’t interrupt.
“I don’t even know where to start. One second, I’m sure I know what I want, and the next, I’m terrified of wanting too much. And now I’ve got Axel acting like I’m committing treason for even thinking about L.A.”
Celeste smiles faintly. “Your brother’s protective. It’s a Slade trait.”
I laugh under my breath. “He acts like I’m twelve.”
She sips her coffee, eyes kind. “You didn’t drive out here just to vent about Axel.”
“No.” My voice drops. “I think I’m in love with Scotty.”
There. It’s out. The words hang between us, raw and terrifying.
Celeste doesn’t flinch. “And that scares you?”
“Of course it does. He’s… everything I shouldn’t want.
My brother’s best friend, who is also the town manwhore?
” She laughs and shakes her head. “He doesn’t play games, but he doesn’t promise things either.
I know we’re both scared of ruining things between us, but it’s like, come on, you have to risk something at some point. And then there’s the job offer—”
“You’re afraid you can’t have both,” she finishes softly.
I nod, throat tight. “Every time I picture leaving, my chest hurts. But every time I picture staying, I feel like I’m letting go of something I’ve worked my whole life for.”
For a long moment, the only sound is the ticking of the clock above the sink. Then Celeste sets her cup down. “You know, there was a time I swore I’d leave Colorado for good.”
I blink. “You?”
She smiles, wistful. “Oh, yes. You know I’d just come here from L.A.
to help the family get the brewery back on its feet.
I told myself it was temporary; hell, my firm said it was temporary, just a year or so to get it stable before I went back to my real life.
My apartment lease was waiting; my old firm kept a spot open. And then there was Drake.”
Her eyes soften, that familiar warmth threading through her voice.
“He was CEO then. And much like Scotty, he was stubborn as ever. He was completely married to the business, swore he’d never leave Colorado again, jaded from love.
” She laughs to herself at the memory, making me smile, imagining the two of them at my age.
“We fought constantly about it. I wanted him to come with me, to take the leap. But Drake doesn’t leap. He plants.”
I smile faintly. “So what changed?”
Celeste’s lips curve. “I told him I was leaving. I thought I meant it at the time. I also thought I wanted my old life back. But what I really wanted was for him to risk something for me. To show me I wasn’t the only one willing to bend.
” Her gaze meets mine. “And he did. He chased me down. Told me I was the one thing he wasn’t willing to lose. ”
My throat tightens. “That sounds like a movie.”
She laughs softly. “It was messy and unnecessarily complicated, but it was worth it. But my point is, that’s what love is sometimes, Adrienne, it’s a risk.
Not because it’s easy, but because it matters.
” She reaches across the counter, fingers brushing mine.
“I’m not saying you should make Scotty chase you through an airport.
But if he’s worth what you think he is, then he’ll risk something too.
The question is whether you will. You’ve said a lot to me about how unsure you are about next steps, whether that’s in your career or your relationship, the main thing you need to know is what you really want. ”
The lump in my throat grows thick. “After Keegan, I promised myself I’d never say yes to the wrong man, or the wrong life. I’d rather face heartbreak than compromise who I am.”
Celeste nods. “Then that promise might be exactly what saves you this time. All you can do is be honest with yourself and with Scotty about what you want, what would make you happy. If that means him following you to L.A. to pursue this job, or it means long distance, or you staying here… just give him a chance to hear it all first. Don’t make a decision for him like I did with Drake. ”
I sit there, quiet, her words sinking deep. It’s not about running or staying. It’s about choosing—really choosing.
Celeste glances at the clock and pushes off the counter. “You’d better get going if you’re still playing hostess tonight.”
I groan, standing. “Don’t remind me. If the caterer messes up the order again, I might actually take that job in L.A. just for the peace and quiet.”