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It’s an odd feeling and makes me disoriented. I don’t miss Jared. I miss my life, I miss coming home and being greeted with a kiss. I miss cooking dinner and watching our TV show on the couch. I miss getting ready for bed and being cradled in the safety of his arms like he would chase away the bad dreams.
But I hate him. The thought of kissing him makes me sick. The thought of him holding me while I sleep makes me want to run. And the thought of stepping into the house I created from the ground up, full of memories, makes my heart ache.
I only just hear the soft knock before my door is thrown open. There are only a few people in the company that Nancy would let through without prior approval, but I hadn’t expected Nathaniel Holloway. While his family owns our entire PR company, he and his brother are usually heading up the New York location.
“What are you doing way over here?” I ask, standing to give him a hug. He kisses my cheek before settling into the chair in front of my desk.
His usual cocky smirk is firmly in place. “My annual beach trip to try to convince our favorite marketing executive to move back with me.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think I could ever live in the city. Just driving occasionally into Los Angeles gives me hives.”
Nate gives me a mocking frown. “And here I am hoping it will finally come true with a certain development.” His hesitant tone has my mood dropping again.
Staying silent for a moment, I shouldn’t be surprised the news has already made it back to him. Nate and his brother Derek take great pride in knowing everything before anyone else. It’s why our company produces some of the most successful publicists and their clients.
“Love the new hair, by the way,” he adds.
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine… Just adjusting. But I can’t leave my friends and family.”
“One day,” he taunts before sighing. “Let me know if you need any time off, okay? Enjoy yourself, have a day to do whatever that bastard never let you.”
Grimacing, I fix the papers in front of me and adjust the position of my stapler. My eyes water a bit, and I swipe a finger under my lid to catch any tears. “It’s odd. Being on the other side now. I think my mother is the only person who ever liked him, and I was just blind.”
Nate’s lips pull up in one corner and he shrugs. “Well, your mother is one of a kind. And we thank the stars for that.”
I press my tongue against the back of my teeth to stop the laugh and scrunch my nose at him. “What are you really doing here?”
“Meeting our new client, he’s a big football star. They suspect he'll be a number one draft pick,” Nate says.
Ah, sports. That isn’t my division, which is why I wasn’t informed of Nate’s visit. Though Mark down the hall probably will make an offhand comment about Nate stopping by my office first.
“Well, I hope he’s scandal-free for at least a year.”
“Only a year?”
I smirk. “I don’t want you to get bored.”
Nate shakes his head. “Probably hand him off to a junior publicist if he seems like a non-issue.”
“To your princess? I’m sure she’s elated to have the office to herself.”
He runs his tongue along his bottom lip as he smiles at me. “She would have your balls for calling her a princess.”
“No, she likes me better than you,” I say, teasing him.
Nate stands, clearing his throat. Jasmine is his one weak spot, and the only person who doesn’t know is her. He comes to my desk, tapping his knuckles on it as he stares down with genuine concern.
“I wasn’t joking. Take the time you need.”
My chest warms. “Thanks.”
Once Nate leaves, I turn back to my computer and finish inputting Jared and Amber’s emails and phone numbers into every sign-up I can find for cruises, vacation giveaways and time-share seminars. I pause, tilting my head as I stare at the screen and debate if I should add their address for religious consultants to visit.
***
“You can’t go in there!” Nancy’s screech comes seconds before my door is flung open for the second time today and my ex-fiancé storms in.
I raise an eyebrow, leaning into my chair as he barrels toward my desk. Nancy hurries in after him, her phone clutched tight in her hand, and I’m sure she’s seconds away from alerting security.
