I nodded. “That’s right.”
I hadn’t wanted to go back. Hadn’t wanted to risk seeing Cal again. Or worse still—Cal and Alexis together.
“Can you pick up your things tomorrow—say between six and eight in the evening?”
“That’s fine,” I said.
“Goodbye, Preston.” She extended her hand to shake. “I’m disappointed things turned out the way they did, but I wish you luck all the same.”
“Thanks, Renata.”
The door shut behind me, and I loosened my tie as I headed for my car. Traffic sucked, and by the time I arrived at the hospital, the meal I’d picked up was cold. Still, Indy seemed grateful.
“Thanks, Preston,” she said, taking the bag from me.
“How is he?” I asked as we shuffled down the hall toward Sam’s room.
“Better. They removed the breathing tube today. We’re hoping he’ll get to go home soon.”
“That’s great news.”
She paused before we reached his room. “Preston.” She placed her hand on my bicep. “I just want to thank you for all you’ve done. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
I kept my gaze on the linoleum floor. “I just wish there was more I could’ve done.”
I still hadn’t worked up the courage to tell her he’d reached out to me the night…the night when... I swallowed. I didn’t know how to tell her. I didn’t think I could. I felt like if I’d just answered the phone, maybe I could’ve talked Sam out of it.
“You don’t think I wonder the same thing—about myself?” she asked. “It breaks my heart that he feels like life isn’t worth living. And the thought of losing him—” She choked on a sob.
I wrapped my arms around her. “You’re going to get through this.” I squeezed. “You will.”
She nodded. “Thanks to you and your friendship, we will.”
I didn’t think I could feel worse, but somehow, I did. My eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, but it was my heart that felt raw.
“Okay,” Kate said the following afternoon as she placed another box in the trunk. “I think that’s it.”
“Thanks. And thanks for coming with me.” I took one last glance at the house, surprised by how dark it was. Alexis’s car wasn’t in the driveway, and I was pretty sure no one was home. Where were they?
“Don’t worry about it.” She patted me on the back before climbing in the passenger seat.
“So…” she said as we drove across town. “You want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I turned up the radio, wanting some background noise other than the road. She was quiet for the rest of the drive home.
When we got back to the apartment, I kicked off my shoes and flopped down on the couch. I switched on the TV, and HGTV immediately came on. Ugh. I wasn’t in the mood for Christina on the Coast. Anything but watching her and Ant and the—
“Hey, hey, hey,” Hunter said when he emerged from the bathroom.
I whipped my head around to face him. “What are you doing here?”
“Kate told me you were moping.”
I narrowed my eyes, glancing between the two of them. “I can’t believe you told him I was moping,” I said to Kate. “Traitor.”
“Well, aren’t you?” She shrugged, brushing her blond hair over her shoulder.
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the TV. “No.”
“Puh-lease.” She plopped down on the couch next to me. “I know moping when I see it. And you, good sir, are moping.”
“Have to agree.” Hunter took a seat on the chair next to the couch. “Now, out with it. I didn’t fly all the way from New York to watch you shuffle around in your pajamas, watching Christina and Ant with sad, puppy-dog eyes.”
“Please tell me that’s not the only reason you flew here.”
Kate’s cell phone rang, and she disappeared to her room. Or Hunter’s room. Whatever.
“You’re special, but not that special.” He grinned. “I have other news, but let’s hear yours first, starting with why you punched Cal.”
I groaned. “You saw the video?”
“I think everyone and their mom saw the video.” Hunter chuckled. He quickly sobered when he saw my scowl. “So…”
“Fine,” I huffed. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I said, before launching into the story.
I told him about Sam. About Sophia’s broken arm. And when I got to the part about the party and what Cal had said, he was livid.
“You’re fucking kidding me.” He stood and started pacing. I shook my head, wishing I were joking. “I cannot believe that…that dick.”
“He’s a real piece of work,” I said.
“And the fact that Alexis sided with him over you…” He clenched his fists, his feet pounding the floor with every step.
“What was she supposed to do? He’s Sophia’s dad. I punched him.” Still, that didn’t lessen the sting of it. Time and time again, Alexis had chosen herself over us. Had preferred to pretend our relationship didn’t exist rather than own up to her feelings.
“Fuck that. She should’ve given you a chance to explain—for not picking up Sophia and for the fight.”
“Whatever.” I shrugged. I knew he was right, but I just didn’t give a fuck. “It doesn’t matter now.”
None of it mattered. I’d nearly lost Sam. I’d lost my job. I was going to have to apply to defer my degree—again. And that was if they’d even let me. But worse than all that was the fact that I’d lost Sophia and Alexis. I was officially done.
“The hell it doesn’t.” Hunter grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. “Preston, man. You have not come this far to give up now.”
“What does it even matter?”
He took a seat on the couch next to me. “Look at me.”
I turned to look at him, but my expression was blank. I felt numb, empty, void.
“Listen up,” he demanded in a stern tone. “You are important. You matter. And the work you want to do—counseling cancer patients, kids—that matters. The world needs more people like you, Preston. And I did not shave my head, I did not sit at your bedside, missing out on all those college parties, for you to give up now.”
I rolled my eyes, smiling despite myself. “You’ve more than made up for it since then—fucking every girl in LA.”
“And that’s another thing I want to talk to you about.”
“Your manwhoring ways?” I asked.
“Yes. I believe we have a bet to settle.” He sat a little taller, and I tried to determine what he was up to. “Kate,” he called. “Can you come out here?”
She returned to the living room. “Yeah. What’s up?”
“I have something to tell you—both of you.”
“Okay,” I said, drawing out the word.
Kate cocked her hip to the side, placing her hand on it. “This better be good. I was texting with one of the guys from school, and I’m hoping he’s going to finally ask me out.”
“Who? That Damien guy?”
She nodded, her long ponytail swaying from the movement.
Hunter shook his head. “I hate to break it to you, sis, but you’ve been friends for two years. If he wanted to ask you out, he would’ve already made a move.”
When I saw her smile fall, I elbowed Hunter in the side.
“What?” He shrugged. “Don’t waste your time on someone who’s not all in—that goes for both of you.”
“Are you done insulting me now?” Kate asked.
“I wasn’t trying to insult you,” he said, and her expression softened. “I’m trying to help you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He turned back to me. “Okay. Where was I? We got the New York office up and running. Which means, I’m moving back to LA full time.”
“Who’s going to run the New York office?” I asked.
“Toby. He’s more connected in that region, and I realized how much I missed LA.”
“You mean—how much you missed us,” Kate teased.
“That too,” Hunter agreed. “I have a few more weeks left in New York, but then I’ll be back. So…we’re going to need to figure out a new living situation.”
“I can move out,” Kate said. “It’s no big deal.”
“Like I said,” Hunter said, not agreeing to anything. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Actually…” I stared at the floor, unwilling to meet his eyes. “Since I lost my job, I’m probably going to move back home.”
“Like hell, you are.” Even without looking, I could feel his eyes boring into mine. “And that brings me to my third point—our bet.”
“What about our bet?”
He arched a brow. “I believe you remember the terms.”
I nodded. “Yes, though it doesn’t really matter now. Alexis and I are no longer dating.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” He pointed his finger at me. “Always so quick to assume you won.”
“Didn’t I?”
“You…did not.”
I stared at him, slack-jawed. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, there’s no way that you—Hunter the manwhore Pruitt—lasted an entire month without sex.”
“Shocking as it is,” Kate said. “He did. He called or texted every night to confirm he was sleeping alone.”
I shook my head. “And we’re just going to take his word for it? He could have totally had a quickie in the bathroom—”
“Eww. Gross,” Kate said.
“Or he could’ve fucked a girl in the elevator,” I added with a shrug. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Kate waved her hands before her, screwed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Please stop. This is my brother we’re talking about. I really, really do not want to know these things about him.”
Hunter chuckled. “I won the bet, which means—”
“No.” I stared him down. “Absolutely not. I will not let you pay my tuition.”
“First of all, I want to. And second, you can think of it as a loan if you want. I’m investing in your future, in you. Because I believe in you.”
“Aww.” Kate held a hand over her heart. “You guys are too adorable. Bromance!”
“Shut up,” we both snapped at the same time.
“Whatever. I’m out.” She turned and headed for the door.
Hunter vanished to his room, returning a moment later with a blank check. “How much do you need?”
“I can’t… I’m not going to accept it.”
“You can, and you will. It’s time to finish your damn degree. Eight years is long enough.”
I blew out a breath, knowing he wasn’t going to give up. He’d been offering for years, and now… Now, I was almost desperate enough to take him up on it.
“I will accept it on certain conditions.”
He smirked, leaning his hip against the counter. “I’m not sure you understand how negotiation works. You’re not really in a position to bargain.”
“First,” I said, ignoring him. “I want you to have your attorney draw up a contract.”
“Fine.”
“Second, this is a loan. I will pay you back.”
“But—”
“No.” On this point, I would not waver. “You agree that this is a loan, or I will shred the check.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. Geez.”
“And third…”
“There’s more?”
“Third,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathed. “I mean, you’re welcome, man.”
We laughed, and he slapped me on the back. “Let’s go out and celebrate.”
“Celebrate what? The fact that my life is falling apart?”
“Celebrate the fact that you’re alive. And, well, let’s not forget the fact that you’re now my bitch.”
“I am not your bitch.” I stopped and turned to face him. “That is not going in the contract.”
“Oh, come on, man.” He turned me in the direction of my bedroom and draped his arm over my shoulder. “You love it. And that,” he said in a more serious tone, “was not the right answer. Going forward, you shall address me as ‘Sir.’”
I laughed, but only to hide the pain. I could remember a time when Alexis jokingly said, “Yes, sir.” And before I could stop it, I was flooded with a million other memories. Cuddling in the hammock. Sneaking kisses in the pantry. Whispering so Sophia wouldn’t hear us.
“Hey…” Hunter paused. “You okay? You know I’m just teasing, right?”
“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “Take me out and get me drunk…Sir.”
“That’s more like it.” He grinned.
I had a feeling alcohol would help at least for a little while, but I knew nothing would numb the pain of losing Alexis. I missed her—her and Sophia. And I didn’t think any amount of alcohol or time would heal that wound.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I was sitting on one of the lounge chairs, working on my laptop, when I realized that Sophia was quiet—too quiet. I straightened, my pulse quickening as my eyes darted around the pool. I let out a breath when I spotted her at the edge. She had her arms folded, one cheek resting on them so she was facing the pool house. It had been a few days since her party, a few days since Preston had left, and there was no denying she was in a funk.
“I’m almost done,” I said, typing out a response to an email. “And then we can go grab some lunch and do some back-to-school shopping.” I tried to infuse my voice with excitement, when all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and hide under the covers.
“Okay,” she sighed.
I read through the email one more time before hitting Send. I shut my laptop and set it aside.
“Soph, are you not excited about starting school?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I guess.”
“You aren’t excited about meeting your new teacher and seeing Brooklyn every day?” I asked, knowing how much she’d been looking forward to it all summer. “You’ll get to show off your new backpack, your new cast.” I raised my eyebrows, knowing how much she loved the mermaid design Kate had painted.
Sophia was quiet a moment before she lifted her head and looked at me. Her hair was slicked away from her face, the water reflecting back on her blue eyes, making them seem even more brilliant. “Who’s going to get me ready in the morning and take me to school? Who will pick me up?”
“I will.” I smiled. “At least, until we find another nanny.”
“I don’t want another nanny.” She pouted. “I want Preston.”
She’d taken the news that Gabby wasn’t coming back remarkably well. She’d accepted the fact that Cal had to leave in stride. But Preston…she seemed to struggle the most with the fact that he was gone.
I didn’t blame her. I was struggling with it too. I missed him; I ached for him. And though I told myself our relationship had come to its natural end, I couldn’t help but want more. Even if I was still mad at him for punching Sophia’s dad in the middle of her birthday party.
“Well,” I sighed. “Preston can’t come back because he hit someone. And it’s not okay to hit anyone, especially not a member of our family.”
She furrowed her brows. “Yeah, but…what if? Well, I thought it was okay if you were defending yourself.”
“Yes,” I said. “An exception can be made for self-defense.”
“What if Preston was defending himself?”
Huh. I hadn’t really considered that option. I’d just been so upset. So shocked. I couldn’t see past my emotions for any acceptable reason to justify his behavior. All I knew was that he’d punched Cal in the middle of Sophia’s birthday party, in front of all our friends.
“What if he was defending himself, and…and he said he was sorry? Could he come back then?” Sophia pleaded.
“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to promise something I wasn’t sure I could deliver.
Who knew what his excuse would be, or if it would justify his actions? All I knew was that he deserved a chance to explain. That was…i
f he even wanted to talk to me.
“Preston might be working with another family this fall,” I said, hating the thought.
I would be happy for him, of course. I knew he needed the money, but still…the idea of him moving on… Without me? Without us? I hated how we’d left things. What if I never saw him again?
“Call him, Mommy. Please call him. You have to try.”
“I wish it were that simple,” I said, needing more time to think it over.
“Hello,” Lauren called from the gate.
“Hey,” I said, relieved for the interruption. “Come in.”
“What are you girls up to?” She took a seat next to me, looking stylish in her turquoise dress and cork wedges.
“Well, we were thinking lunch and then some back-to-school shopping. Want to join?”
“Girl, you know it. If it’s okay with Sophia,” she said, turning to Sophia.
Sophia’s eyes were wide, and she nodded her head quickly, causing some of her hair to fall over her face. “Yes, please.”
“Soph,” I said. “Why don’t you get ready, and then we can go.”
She hopped out of the pool, drying off before disappearing inside the house.
Lauren glanced at the doors one more time before leaning forward. “So…?”
“So…?” I asked, mimicking her tone and inflection.
“Please tell me you took the test.”
I shook my head. “I haven’t even had time to buy a test, let alone take it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Girl. This is classic Denial 101. The sooner you know, the more options you have.”
“There really is only one option for me. If I’m pregnant…” Just saying the words aloud was enough to make my heart race and my skin heat. “If I am, I’m keeping the baby.”
She squealed, taking my hands in hers. “Can I do the nursery?”
“Oh my god. We don’t even know if I’m having a baby.”
“But still…can I decorate it?” I appreciated her enthusiasm. I wished I could share in it. My life was too much of a mess at the moment to be cause for celebration.
“Of course.”
“What about Preston?” she asked.
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