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I turned to look at him, hands on the back of the chair I’d just occupied. The look on Reed’s face went straight to my heart. The guy obviously loved his daughter, and who could blame him? I loved her too.
“Take care of her,” Reed said. “If you don’t, I’ll kick your ass.”
7
HARLEY
The condo was empty when I stepped inside. All that remained was a note on the whiteboard we kept near the door.
Gone to The Dick was written in Taylor’s writing. “The Dick” was what we called Whiskey Dick Bar. Beneath Taylor’s note, Carly had written, You’d better not beat us back here.
I rolled my eyes and closed the door behind me. It was for the best that I had the place to myself. The rideshare driver had to endure my relentless sobbing on the five-minute drive here. At least I could spare my roommates.
I headed straight to the freezer. I yanked the door open, pulling out the emergency pint of ice cream. As single women, living in the city, we never knew when we were going to have a reason to grieve. It could be job-related or it could have to do with dating. Nine times out of ten, it had to do with dating.
I tossed the lid on the counter, grabbed a spoon, and headed to the sofa, pulling the big, soft throw blanket from the back of the couch. There was something comforting about snuggling beneath it in the wintertime.
I stared at the Christmas tree the three of us had put up a couple of days ago. The glow from the lights blurred as my eyes filled with tears once again. The way-too-cheery opening notes of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” rang through the condo.
My phone ringer. I’d left my phone in the pocket of my coat, which I’d tossed on the chair on my way to the kitchen. Whoever was calling could just go to voicemail. It was probably either Nic or my dad, trying to make me feel better about the drama that had just happened. I wasn’t interested.
“I’m an idiot,” I said to nobody in particular.
We needed a pet. A fish or a turtle at least. Something I could talk to when no one else was around.
I’d slept with my future boss, thinking it was love. I laughed at the thought, dipping the spoon into the creamy caramel-chocolate chip concoction. I was nothing but a quick lay to him. That’s all I’d ever be.
I slid a generous spoonful of ice cream into my mouth and closed my eyes, trying to savor the flavors. I tasted nothing. Great. I couldn’t even enjoy my favorite dessert.
Sighing, I shoved the spoon back into the ice cream and set it on the coffee table. Then I sat back and stared at the tree. How long until I got my happiness back? Hopefully soon. I didn’t want this to spoil my entire Christmas.
I’d quit the job. I’d let Nic know there was no way I could work for him. Over time, maybe I’d forget the love I thought I’d seen in his eyes when he looked at me, but seeing him every day in the office would not get me there. Probably ever.
A crisp ding-dong, followed by the sound of dogs barking, alerted me that someone was at the door. Carly had chosen that doorbell, saying it would scare off burglars. Nobody with any sense would believe that prerecorded sound was actual dogs, but it was fun, so we’d gone along with it.
I tossed the blanket aside and shuffled my way to the door. I’d stepped out of my high heels at some point. I had no idea when. The whole evening was a blur at this point.
The last time I’d taken this walk, Nic had been standing in the entryway. He’d had that look in his eyes that made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. How many other women had he given that look? Maybe that was part of his charm. He made a woman feel like the only girl in the world…until he was done with her.
I’ve been so naïve then. So innocent. It was a silly thought, considering it had been less than an hour ago, but it flashed through my mind, anyway.
I stopped at the door, realizing my phone was still in my coat pocket. The doorbell camera I needed to see who was outside was only accessible by phone app. We didn’t have a peephole—something I’d pointed out would be a bad thing if the doorbell camera ever failed.
“Who is it?” I called out.
“Me.”
That was Nic’s voice. Only then did I realize I hadn’t stopped to question who would be at the door at this hour. Nobody ever stopped by unannounced, and any visitor would have to be on the list to get past security.
But Nic would be on the list. He’d been put on the list earlier that day. If the security guard had questioned why he and I would leave together and return separately, it hadn’t stopped him from letting Nic by.
“I’m fine,” I said. He was just coming to check on me, no doubt. He was worried I was upset. “You can go home.”
There was clear emotion in my voice, no matter how tough I tried to sound. I didn’t want him to know I’d been crying, but it didn’t matter. He’d go on with his life and forget he’d ever met me soon enough.
“I’m not leaving until you open this door,” he said. “We need to talk.”
“I don’t need to talk to you,” I said. “I get it.”
