Page 52 of Vow

He hadn’t mentioned it the night before, but her place was terribly empty. All the art and photographs that had lined the walls and given the place a lived-in kind of feel were gone. Nearly all of her furniture had been moved out at one point or another.

It just didn’t feel like Haven’s place.

Andino supposed … he was partly to blame for that.

He stepped into the kitchen before he could think better of it. Grabbing the notepad and pen on the island, he scribbled down one more note for Haven to wake up to. He should leave her with something even if it might piss her off more.

A risk he was willing to take.

Ripping the note off the pad, and he set the yellow piece of paper under the wilting flowers. Another one for her to add to her collection.

I had to go, sorry.

And then, just beneath that, he’d written, We’re real, Haven. —A.M.

Andino didn’t miss the goddamn time staring back at him from the clock on the wall. Hell, he could feel the watch on his wrist ticking down to let him know he was already running late, and by the time he got into the city, he might make it to breakfast by the skin of his fucking teeth.

Jesus.

He gave one last look around Haven’s place, and then slipped out of the kitchen, and the house altogether. Snaps darted ahead, and waited for Andino to open the passenger door of the car before he jumped in.

Andino checked his watch, not that he needed to.

He really was late.

Fuck.

He wished he cared.

• • •

“Where were you?” Dante asked harshly.

Andino didn’t even look up from the phone in his hand. Instead, he opted to answer his lawyer back before his uncle.

We could close anytime, the lawyer had messaged while Andino drove across the city.

No, that wasn’t going to work for him.

Continue to take your time, Andino texted back.

“Are you even listening to me?”

Trying really fucking hard not to roll his eyes, Andino shoved the phone into his pocket, and gave Dante the attention his uncle seemed to want. Standing outside of a restaurant, this wasn’t exactly the best place for the two of them to get into one of their rows together … but hell, if that’s what his boss wanted.

“No, I had something else to handle,” Andino said.

Dante scowled as he glanced down at Snaps. “Where were you? And also, he can’t come in. I don’t care what Lucian says when he’s here, but not today.”

Jesus Christ.

“Pink is coming to get him. Don’t mind my dog. He’s always taken care of.”

Spoiled, really.

Not that it mattered.

Dante let out a noise, and passed Andino a look. “Do you think I am that stupid? That’s twice you didn’t answer my question. Where were you? You’re almost late this morning.”