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Milo chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure we can do that.”
I nodded and slouched back to the table, stabbing my salad.
“You’re going to be okay with Ophelia here, right?” Madeline asked, her eyes stinging like daggers.
“Yes, of course, we’re all adults.” I nodded, not even believing myself.
The moment that Ophelia would be back in my life I’d be a dead man.
I slowly trudged back into the apartment alone. Milo had given me his truck and house key and told me to enjoy the solitude. Honestly, that was exactly the opposite of what I wanted.
I had gotten used to Holly running around and asking me questions about Seattle, having me read random stories to her at night and just simply having life in the apartment. I had lived alone for so long in Seattle that coming here felt weird at first, but I was able to squeeze myself right in. Sure, I was mooching off Milo, and most likely overstaying my welcome, but the bigger part of me told me I wasn’t. That Milo would take me anytime, no matter what.
I grabbed a beer from the fridge and went to sit on the couch. I had worn down the cushions a bit since sleeping on it. It was a lot softer than I remember it being. Popping open the can, I made a mental note to myself to buy him and Madeline a replacement once I was rich again.
Again.
Yeah, right. That will most likely never happen.
Since the settlement, finding a job had been the hardest task. The one place that was willing to hire me on the spot was Home Depot. I grabbed that orange apron and ran out the door. Nothing against those who work there. It’s honest work, but going from finance to retail, that's just something my brain wouldn’t be able to wrap around.
I needed to figure out how to get back to where I was. How to climb that ladder and rid myself of this horrible black mark that was placed there after my settlement trial.
However, no matter how I looked at it, there was only one way to do things.
From the ground up.
I needed a plan. The last time I had a plan was in college, and we all saw how that ended up. Jobless, depressed, homeless, and sipping beer from my best friend's fridge.
I only had a few months to get myself together enough to find my own place once Milo’s lease was up and he moved in with Madeline. A few months to find a job, get car insurance, find an apartment and be the best man to my best friend on his wedding day.
And see and talk to Ophelia on a daily basis.
Well. . . shit.
How in the world was I supposed to try to fix my life with her around? I took a sip of my beer and let my thoughts get the better of me.
You could give her the silent treatment. You could tell Madeline that you would only talk to her during the rehearsal and the wedding, nothing more. You could tell her you still love her and letting her go was the biggest mistake of your entire life.
I let out a loud groan, filling the empty apartment. I truly was a dead man.
Chapter Six
-Ophelia-
Iwatched as Portland, Oregon came closer and closer from my window seat. I may not have been born here, but Portland was home. The city sparkled as the plane descended, and I could feel the butterflies rising in my stomach—that was until I looked in the cabin and saw Carter a few seats ahead of me.
How that man managed to get on the same flight as me rattled my bones. I told JoAnn that I wanted a few days with Madeline before we began designing her dress and pulling all the loose strings together, but Carter was certain he needed to be there for everything. He wanted to follow me around and take photos, uploading everything to the new account, which already had over one thousand followers. After arguing, he finally agreed to sit this night out. Madeline was here for me, and he would take a taxi to the hotel. I had his contact information. I would be in touch with him when I needed him.
The plane finally landed, and I instantly took my phone from airplane mode.
Ophelia: Landed!
Madeline: I’m here! Jamie and I are at baggage claim!
Ophelia:What’s for dinner? I'm starving.
I grabbed my carry on and tucked my phone in the side pocket. I watched as Carter stood and began to step down the small aisle. I followed suit, a few people behind him, knowing he was most likely going to be waiting for me once we were off the jetway. My phone buzzed in my bag, rattling my shoulder, as I took each step off the plane and finally into the warm air of the Portland airport.
