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That scares me because I’m afraid to open my heart back up just to have it slashed to ribbons again. And maybe that’s the real issue. That I’m avoiding a conversation with Jackson because either way, whether or not we’re done for good, he has the ability to cause me a great deal of pain. Which is something I’ve spent my adult life shying away from.
It’s a Tuesday and it’s started like every other day: me waking up, checking the Google Doc. Except today there was no message from Jackson. I’ve had to fight with myself not to check again. Needless to say, it hasn’t been a great morning. Has he given up on me? Did I make him wait too long?
Avery comes rushing into the office, clearly flustered. “Hey! I’m so glad you’re here, I need a favor.”
“Okay. What’s up?”
“I have a meeting with the Williamsons at noon, but there’s a problem with the alterations on my dress and I need to go to the boutique so they can do whatever they need to do to make sure it fits. She was mostly speaking in dress lingo, and she seemed kind of panicked and insistent that I needed to come right away. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency. Please, London? I’ll love you forever.”
I honestly don’t have the energy to get mad at her, or tell her again that we need to hire someone else to help us out. I’ve started to put together a list, so I have ammunition for the discussion that definitely has to happen, sooner rather than later. I haven’t been in a place emotionally to stand up to Avery after everything with Jackson. It’s a problem. One I need to deal with. But not right now. “Am I just going over the event details at this point? Can you send me your notes so I can read them over first?”
“Absolutely. They requested to walk through the venue one last time and make sure it’s going to be accessible without any issues. I want them to be reassured that everything will be taken care of.”
“Of course, I completely understand.” And I do, but I’m also aware that they’re chatty, and that going over everything will be time-consuming because they won’t want to miss any of the finer details. Which means I’m going to lose a couple of hours to a meeting I didn’t plan for. And the Etsy projects that are waiting for me at home are going to have to wait a little longer. If things keep going the way they are, I might need to go on hiatus for a week or two so I can get caught up.
“I know it’s not super convenient, but I figured you’d be able to manage it. I’d ask Harley, but this isn’t really her area of expertise.”
“I’ll take care of it. Do you think you’ll be back in time to help set up the ballroom for tomorrow night?”
“I’ll do my best. Hopefully whatever the dress issue is doesn’t end up being a big deal and doesn’t take too long.”
“Right, okay. Well, I guess Harley and I can take care of it if it comes down to it.” I try to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I know the wedding is both stressful and exciting, but it’s eating more of her time rather than less these days. And it’s been three weeks. I shouldn’t feel like my heart is constantly in a meat grinder at this point.
“Thanks, London. I owe you one.” She leans down and gives me a quick hug and then she’s off.
I realize after she’s left that she didn’t, in fact, pull the file for me, so I have to go through Avery’s folders, and she doesn’t use the same labeling and filing system I do. It takes me twenty minutes before I finally manage to locate everything I need. I pull up the information for the meeting, including the list of things I need to cover when I meet with the Williamsons and the map showing the accessibility features in Spark House.
I’ve just finished putting everything together when I catch the clip of heels coming down the hall. Avery never wears heels; they were a rarity before the accident and after it, an impossibility. Harley usually prefers flats unless we have a formal event.
So I’m not surprised when a woman who isn’t my sister appears at the office entrance and knocks.
I push back my chair and round the desk, calling out, “Come on in.”
I’m shocked speechless when I realize it’s Selene.
She gives me a small smile. “Hi, London. I know you weren’t expecting me, but I wondered if you had a moment to talk.”
I don’t know what to do with my hands, so I clasp them behind my back. “I’m not seeing Jackson anymore. I haven’t spoken to him since the charity event.”
