Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I shake my head and press my cheek hard into his chest. As the tears drip down my face, I tell him, “The mistake was in starting something with Dane in the first place.”
CHAPTER 29
Andrew
My cell phone rings, and it takes me less than a second to process Avril’s ringtone. I snatch it up and connect the call. “About time you called.”
“We’ve talked every day,” she admonishes me with a laugh.
“That’s true, but you’ve never waited this late to call.” I look at my watch and ask her, “It’s what… close to midnight there?”
“The Parisians do like their late-night dinners,” she says followed by a yawn. “It’s hard getting used to it.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been gone just five days,” I tell her as I lean back in my chair and kick my feet up on my desk. “It feels like five years. When are you coming to visit?”
Avril laughs again, and it’s music to my ears. I haven’t heard that much lately. “It will be a few months. But how about you come here to visit? My apartment is lovely and has a lumpy old couch you can sleep on. Oh, and I seem to have adopted a cat. He’s kind of mean tempered and missing half an ear, but he won’t leave and I’m afraid to kick him out now. I named him Clyde.”
“Oh, good God. You’re turning into a cat lady.”
More laughter and I can’t help but grin in response. Fuck, I miss her so bad, but if she’s happy, that’s all that matters.
But without seeing her face, I can’t tell how genuine that laugh is. I need to see her eyes to know the truth.
“Hey,” I say to keep the conversation going. “I ran into Jared yesterday. He needed to get up with you so I gave him your number.”
Avril doesn’t respond. After a few seconds, I have to prod her. “Av… everything okay?”
She gives a little cough and says, “Um… yeah. It’s fine. He called. Apparently, Jamie’s will was read and he left everything to me.”
I let out a low whistle. “Everything?”
“His house, bank accounts, life insurance, and personal effects. The medical practice obviously went to Jared.”
“How does that make you feel?” I venture hesitantly.
“Like shit,” she admits. “I don’t want that stuff. I don’t deserve it. We were over and done with.”
“What are you going to do?”
Avril sighs, and I can feel the weight of her dilemma within it. “I don’t know. Give it to one of the charities he supported? Brain aneurysm research?”
“Both good options,” I reassure her. “But you don’t have to make any snap decisions. Maybe talk to Jared about ideas. You’ll figure it out.”
Another sigh from her this time, and I hear the relief in it. “You always know what to say to boost me up, Drew.”
Apparently not enough to keep her from running off to Paris and leaving her life behind because Dane’s a cowardly jackass.
“So, who did you go out to dinner with tonight? Fabron?” I ask her. I know of his interest in her, and I expected he’d make a move.
Avril snorts. “No, it was just with some people at Révéler. Talking to me about the company to help me decide. And Fabron and I are just friends. Nothing more.”
“Doesn’t have to be that way,” I tell her, not that I want her to be with Fabron, because I don’t. I just don’t want her to give up on the prospect of love.
“Did you not hear I got a cat?” she chides without addressing what I just said. “I don’t need anything more at this time.”
“Don’t give up on love, Av,” I say softly. “Look at everything I’ve been through, and I still believe it exists out there for me.”
She’s silent a moment, but then she says, “It’s still too fresh. It’s going to be a long time before I look for anything.”
The flatness in her voice worries me. “Do you need me to come and hang out with you a bit there? I can totally take some time off work.”
“No, of course not,” she reassures me. “I’m fine. I’ve got my days I’m blue, but I’m sure it will get better.”
“Yes, it will get better,” I say confidently.
“It has to,” she returns almost desperately, and my heart aches for her.
Avril yawns again and says, “I’ve got to get some sleep. Talk tomorrow?”
“Talk tomorrow,” I reply softly. “Love you.”
“Love you back,” she says and then disconnects.
She never asked once about Dane. She hasn’t asked about him during any of our other conversations either.
Which I suppose is fitting, because Dane hasn’t asked about her either. After I handed him her resignation, I watched as he silently read it and then tossed it on his desk. All he said was, “I’ll move Charlie Brent over as interim COO until we can figure out what to do.”