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“Whoa, whoa. Pump the breaks there. I’ve got all the insider info.” Ashlyn sucked the salt off one of her fingers as I continued to glare.
“Spill it. Now, child.”
“First off, Peyton is a chatty little thing. Especially when you get her in a room with Peter. Those two are about two accidental brushes short of combustion, if you know what I mean.”
I glared harder.
“Oh, right. Okay, well, you know how Brady brought Peyton in to cover the Leden liaison position with Grove Communications. Because really, an enormous real estate firm doesn’t need their own marketing group. Not when they have us. Peyton has been doing most of the heavy lifting in the past few weeks. She said that Brady has taken a huge step back and cut a bunch of his hours.”
My mind was instantly whirling. The news about Peyton was no surprise. We’d always planned on taking over most of Leden’s marketing needs with the help of a liaison. It made sense that Brady had set her up to do that. But the hours? The step back? That didn’t seem like Brady. “Why would he do that? I thought he loved his job.”
Ashlyn shrugged, hurrying to cram another chip into her mouth before continuing. “Peyton thinks he’s looking for another job. He’s not been super happy there for a long time. Even Liam admitted that to me before.”
“I had no idea.” I hadn’t. I riffled through my memories of us talking work and then realized we really hadn't much. Especially at the beginning. We’d both been different people inside and outside of work, purposefully avoiding those types of conversations. And for the first time, I found myself regretting it. How much had I missed?
“She also said that he admitted to taking the time to work on himself. He’s seeing a therapist, and stuff like that.” With that confession, Ashlyn reached out and snagged the chips from my now-limp fingers.
“You are joking.”
“I’m not,” Ashlyn squealed, enthusiastically dipping another chip into the salsa.
“Oh my God.”
“I know! Oh my God.” Ashlyn swallowed her mouthful quickly then grinned at me. “Sounds like maybe someone is getting their act together before their baby gets here.”
“Or he’s just having an early midlife crisis?”
“At thirty-four? I doubt it. I think he found something worth changing for.”
Groaning, I flopped over backwards, one hand immediately dropping to support my bump. “Sweet baby Jesus.”
Ashlyn laughed, prodding my leg with her fingers. “I’m sorry to dish out the gossip and run, but I’ve got my appointment with the tailor tonight. Are you going to be okay?”
Wordlessly, I nodded, moving to sit up on my elbows. “I’ll just be here, processing.”
“I bet.” My niece leaned in, pressing her hands to my belly with unveiled affection. “Don’t forget our deal, little one. I get married, andthenyou make your grand entrance.”
I rubbed at the tight skin of my belly. Ashlyn’s wedding date was a full month before my due date. The only thing that would ruin her wedding day was the whale of a bridesmaid that I would be in her wedding photos. “Don’t you worry. I remind him all the time.”
“Good! Alright, I’m out. Enjoy the chips for me.”
“Will do,” I said, my mouth full of the salty goodness as she threw on her shoes and slipped back out my door.
Picking up my phone, I scrolled down to the long line of Brady’s messages. I hadn’t responded to the first few. The rest of my responses had been professional updates about the baby. He’d kept it brief. I’d kept it chilled.
But he was working on himself like I’d asked. I couldn’t help but feel my sad, sore heart give an extra pump of hope. Opening up the text bubble, I let my fingers hover over the keys, unsure of what to say or how to begin.
Minutes later, I still couldn't find the right thing to say. I threw my phone across the blanket, deciding that I could wait until tomorrow to do something.
Brady was making an effort and changing for us. I needed to do the same.
The next morning was surprisingly bright and clear as I drove straight to the office, bypassing my usual coffee stop. I missed caffeine almost as much as wine, and today I could’ve really used it. As soon as I walked through the small reception area in Grove Communications, I spotted Luna. She and I had been in a strange place since our altercation a few weeks ago. Maybe it was that it’d been the first time that Luna ever spoke up against me or the first time I’d had to act like a boss to someone who had been with the company far longer.
Rather than talk about it, we’d just been avoiding each other. And I hated it. I’d always claimed to be an independent, self-sufficient woman. I was running Grove Communications with Ashlyn. I was making it work no matter what.
Luna was the living personification of a gut check, and I had taken it out on her.
“Luna, can we speak in my office?” I asked as I walked by.
