Page 31 of Last First Date

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. "We'll just keep our distance as much as possible. I can handle this. We're professionals. This shit is bound to happen."

Marcy looked doubtful, but she offered a small smile in return. "Alright then. I'm leaving for the day unless you need anything else. I talked with the caterer. I'm going by the party rental store to try and get linens. I don't have a lot of hope, given the fact it's Valentine's. We'll probably have to order from our online vendor."

"Thank you for handling all the heavy lifting," I said. "I will make sure Knox knows you have been a huge asset. You have been busting your butt. I'm so glad we get to work together."

Marcy blushed, her smile growing wider. "Thanks, I appreciate it. You've been doing a lot too. This isn't easy for either of us."

"No, it's not," I agreed. "But we'll manage. We always do."

After Marcy left, the office felt eerily quiet. Usually, I enjoyed the solitude, but tonight it was different. The silence did nothing to quell my unease.

I realized then, more than ever, that Benjamin was a real issue. He brought unwanted trouble and stress that I didn't need. I hated that he was such a dick. This was my chance to shine, and this dude was making it difficult.

14

KNOX

Idropped off my car at home and hopped into the Uber I had called ahead of time to take me to my new favorite watering hole. Things were very slowly smoothing out at work. It still wasn't the ideal scenario, but I felt like the office was coming around. I wasn't about to tell Waverly it was her advice that had helped ease my way into the office.

I walked into the bar and swore I picked up on the scent of stale cigarettes. My buddy Alex saw me and waved. He gestured for me to take a seat. He was busy pouring drinks for some of the other patrons.

"You're back," Alex said.

"I'm back."

"Top shelf whiskey?" he teased.

"Actually, I'll take a light beer. Whatever you have on tap."

"Ah, it's a workday," he said.

"Yes." I nodded.

He filled a glass with a pale amber liquid and put it on one of the cheesy paper coasters in front of me. I took a gulp, relishing the feel of the beer sliding down my throat. The taste wasn't great, but I didn't care.

"How are things in the event-planning world?" Alex asked.

"Getting better, but it's slow going," I replied after a moment of thought. "Not a lot of people are fond of the new guy. Add in the fact I'm the boss's grandson and things get a little dicey. But I have three months. Three months and I'm hoping I can talk to my grandfather about letting me move back to Manhattan."

"Why three months?" he asked.

"Because my grandparents left the country. They are taking a three-month cruise around the world. I am not about to disrupt that. They deserve some peace. I can handle things a while longer."

March seemed like an eternity away, but that was when they would be back. I was hoping with some time away, my grandfather would see I was capable of handling the company. There was no reason for me to stick around. I could do it from Manhattan.

I took a drink and tried to imagine I was back home. If I concentrated really hard, I could smell the exhaust from the thousands of cars packed on the street. The more I thought about my isolation, the harder things got. I was doing everything I could not to think about home.

Alex was pouring drinks, leaving me to my thoughts. I wasn't really in the mood for idle chatter. My mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of work, my grandfather, and despite my better judgment, Waverly.

As I sat there, nursing my beer and staring blankly at the rows of bottles behind the bar, I thought about spring in New York. Summer in the Hamptons. I wanted to get back.

"Knox! Knox Williams! Is that you?"

I looked over my shoulder to see who it was that recognized me.

Benjamin Caldwell.

He grinned, walking toward me with a confident smile and the swagger I remembered from high school.