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“Natalie, I don't know.I really can't talk.”
I bit my lip hard so that he couldn’t hear the tears in my voice. “Okay. Bye.”
Without so much as a farewell, William hung up, and I stared at my empty phone as if it could tell me what was wrong with him.
I crumpled up the piece of paper I’d been using to sketch a design and hurled it across my too small bedroom. The final designs I had yet to finish glared at me through the computer screen.
A soft knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
A sliver of Jessica’s slight figure appeared in the crack of the door. She gave me a wry smile. “Come here. Luke has something for you.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“Just come."
Whatever it was, Jessica looked like she was barely containing her excitement. I followed her into the kitchen where Luke stood, still dressed in his work clothes. He held a folder in his hands and was beaming at me.
What could he have for me? “What’s up?”
“Natalie, everyone loved the approach you took for the campaign.” Grinning ear to ear, he walked closer. “The creative director leading the bed-and-breakfast campaign wants to hire you as a full-time employee. Here’s the offer she wants to give you.”
Stunned, I took the folder he handed me. Jessica let out a joyous shriek and tackled me.
“You did it! You'llbe working for Pardini Worldwide!”
Luke chuckled. “Well, if she wants to.”
I opened the folder and thumbed through the HR welcome packet, still not quite believing it. A surge of energy burst into my veins, followed by a sickening thought. “Did Will do this?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Ah, no. Like I said, our creative director emailed Will and said she wanted you. You'llget an email, but I thought I’d come in person. Will was supposed to, but he hasn’t been at work lately.”
All the joy I felt at being offered a position at such a great company evaporated into thin air. Luke’s eyes hardened at the mention of his cousin.
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s in a really bad way, Natalie. I think all of this negative press is bringing back a lot of memories from the accident.”
My hand fell to my mouth as I realized the pain he must be going through alone. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked it for messages. Nothing.
“Why hasn’t he called me?”
His eyes wrinkled as he gave me a helpless shrug. “I don’t know.”
He needs me.
I dashed around the apartment, grabbing my keys, purse, and phone. Maybe he was too stubborn to ask for help. I glanced sadly at the packet Luke gave me.
“Thanks a lot, Luke. I wish I didn’t have to leave but I think Will needs me—I’m really excited to start working for Pardini Worldwide.”
He nodded. “I’ll tell them. Carrie will contact you with the details.”
* * *
A group of paparazzi clustered around Will’s apartment, surrounding the stairs that led to his building.
They whirled around to snap photos of me as I walked up the steps. Recognizing me, they screamed my name and the strangeness of having people I’d never met know my name distracted me for a moment. I stopped in front of the door and hesitated. I wanted to see him—I always wanted to see him—but would he want to see me? Would he send me back home?
