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“Don’t worry about it. I’ll call him.” Stevie slides past Ledger. She glowers at me as she passes.
Both Ledger and I spin around and watch as she leaves out the door. When she vanishes, Ledger blows out a breath and scrubs his hand down his face. He storms down the hallway toward the garage. His gaze is on me, but I can’t read his expression. It’s a mix of hurt and betrayal. The only issue is I don’t know how much of that is because of me.
TWENTY-SEVEN
IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING…
Olivia
I help Ledger search for his phone around the shop, his truck, office, and we even drive to his house, but come up empty handed. While he runs to the store to get a new one, I get a bucket of bleach water and clean his office. Jay comes in and helps me scrub all the surfaces.
“You should bleach your dick, too, while you’re at it.” Ledger’s large frame fills the doorway.
“Hey man. Sorry. It didn’t mean anything.” Jay stands to his full height.
“I’m not worried about that. But my office?” The corner of Ledger’s lips tip into a smile as he shoves Jay’s shoulder.
“It wasn’t my idea. I was just a willing participant.” Jay laughs.
“Isn’t that always the case?” After Ledger is done staring Jay down, his gaze meets mine, indifference etched on his face.
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave. I have a car to finish up.” Jay tosses his rag into the bucket and strolls out of the office.
Once we’re alone, I turn to Ledger. “Did you get a new phone?”
“I did.”
Unsure how he feels about me attacking him earlier, I decide to face it head on. I rest my hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry. I made a snap judgement. This is all so hard to navigate.” I pause. “Also, just so we’re clear, we weren’t on a break.”
“A break?” His eyebrows squish together.
“You know what? Nevermind.” I wrap my arms around his waist and press my cheek to his chest. “Can we just go back to how everything was before I ran into Stevie?”
His hands trail up and down my spine. “Yeah. I like that idea.”
* * *
The next day as I’m leaving work, my phone buzzes with a message from my mom. She wants me to pick up and drop off some documents regarding the decor rental for a charity dinner. After I pick up the folder, I make my way to my parents. When I reach their driveway gate, I stop and punch in the code. The wrought iron gate rolls to the side and I drive up the driveway lined with maple trees. The three-story brick house comes into view. I park my SUV on the circular driveway at the front of the house. I grab the paperwork from the passenger seat and hop out. Strolling up to the arched doorway, the smell of freshly cut grass fills my nostrils. On the outside, the house resembles a life people would be envious of, but on the inside, it’s anything but.
Stepping into the expansive open foyer, I’m met with the smooth, white marble floors blending in with the pristine white walls. Growing up in this house, I was never aware of the starkness that surrounded me, until now. It resembles more of a museum than a home. Folder in hand, I make my way down the hallway, past the formal living room that’s never used, and into the open kitchen. My mom’s sitting at the island, her blonde hair wrapped in a bun so tight on the top of her head the Botox doesn’t need to work to keep her face wrinkle free. Phone in hand, she’s scrolling away. I’m sure it’s to find her next vacation destination that won’t include my father. The man who funds the trips, but never goes, sits at the dining room table, reading glasses perched on his nose as he readsThe New York Times.The Wall Street Journallays on the table next in line.
“I have the papers you wanted.” I hold up the manilla envelope before setting it on the counter in front of my mom.
She glances from her screen to the folder in front of her before meeting my gaze. “Thank you, dear. It’s always such a hassle to get back into town.”
“No problem. I was in the area anyway.”
“Have a seat.” She pats the stool next to her. As I pull out the stool and sit, she sets her phone down on the counter. “How have you been?” Before I can answer she switches topics. “I had lunch with Mary, John Callahan’s wife, the surgeon. Well, their son just moved to the area to open a pediatric office. I think you two should go to the Wine on the Water event together. It would look very good if you showed up on his arm for this event, especially since you ran out early during the last one.”
All the socialites in the community attempt to outdo one another with their extravagant charity events. Wine on the Water is my mom’s biggest event of the season. She rents out a giant yacht that parades around the harbor. Mostly it’s just another excuse for people to get drunk and write it off. For charity, of course.
“It’s not my fault there was bad shellfish.” The lie rolls off my tongue. Something I’ve learned from my mom. “Plus, there’s someone else I want to ask.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh yeah, who’s that?”
“My boyfriend, Ledger.”
“Boyfriend?” My mom tilts her head to the side. “You never mentioned a boyfriend.”
