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“I chatted with Katie. Then Neilson and I had a talk—it helped.”
“Yeah?”
“Neilson’s a surprisingly good listener.”
“I’m glad,” he said softly.
She climbed onto the bed and picked at a stray string on the orange comforter. Neither of them said anything.
“Your mom’s letter is here. I thought you might be missing it, but it’s on the counter.”
“Keep it safe for me, yeah?” His voice muffled a little.
“I can do that.” The thread she pulled on the blanket unraveled.
Normally, aside from her angry tirade this morning, things had been easy between them. Tonight everything was…stilted.
“I checked in with Jeff,” he said. She could practically see him running his hand over his head, like he did when he talked about anything to do with Robbie.
“Any news?”
“Apparently, you beat out grumpy cat and that guy from the beer commercial for top new memes tonight. Jeff’s been following your online fame.”
“Will—”
“No break in the case, but Jeff’s hopeful, given your exposure, it’ll attract Robbie from wherever he’s been the last weeks.”
She didn’t respond. What could she say to that? There was no joy in the idea that Robbie would show up again. She wanted him caught, sure, but not because he would come for her again.
“Do you have meetings tomorrow?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Mmm hmm.” He sounded distracted. Papers rustled in the background over the line.
“I’ll let you get to that then.” She shifted the phone to her other ear.
“Princess?” he asked.
“Hm?”
“See you later alligator.”
She grinned. “After a while, crocodile.”
He chuckled. “I love you.”
Nothing to gain.
Another long interval passed, neither of them saying more. She could tell he was still with her by his breath in the receiver and the subtle background sounds in his hotel room. Could she love him? It didn’t seem possible. No. She’d never opened herself up that way before and she had no idea how to do it now.
“I’m so sorry,” she finally whispered.
She really, really was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
William had managed to condense days of lengthy executive meetings in Colorado Springs down to hours. He still hadn’t quite solved the puzzle of how to keep the merger without putting a bunch of people out of work.
For now, things were stable with the acquisition, and he’d figure it out. But he needed to get home. Sort out the mess with Lucy. He hadn’t handled things well. He’d been pissed. They could sort it out. He knew they could.
