by Vivi Holt
His eyes shifted from her face to the café doorway and narrowed sharply. She followed his gaze and gasped when she saw John standing there. His hands were curled into fists at his sides, his eyes wide, and his mouth hung ajar.
John fled from the café without a word.
Eve’s heart leapt into her throat. “Brad, I’m sorry. I have to go after him.”
Then she ran.
Chapter 22
“John, wait!” Eve’s voice called out behind him.
John grimaced, then turned to face her. He’d give her a chance to explain, but from what he’d seen, it would make no difference. She’d made her choice, and she’d kissed Brad.
His eyes followed her movements as she caught up to him at a run. She was breathing hard when she stopped in front of him and looked as though she wanted to embrace him. Instead, she held back and stood with her hands on her hips, puffing, her gaze fixed on his face.
He exhaled slowly. “What? What is it, Eve?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“You didn’t just kiss your ex-boyfriend?”
Her nose wrinkled. “He kissed me.”
John arched an eyebrow. “Semantics.”
“No, it’s not. Listen, things are over between Brad and me. They’ve been over for years, he just doesn’t believe me when I tell him that. He wants more than friendship, but I told him I didn’t share his feelings.”
“Before or after the kiss?” His voice was harsh, cold. He knew it hurt her by the way her face blanched at his words, but he didn’t care. She’d wounded him far more than he could ever wound her. She didn’t feel the same way for him that he did for her—finally that much was abundantly clear to him.
“After. Look, I’m sorry. There’s just been a lot to deal with. Coming home after all this time, losing Dad, seeing everyone again, visiting my old workplace.” She sighed and combed fingers through her blonde hair. It hung down her back like a waterfall and he wished he could run his fingers through it, wished he could press his lips to hers the way he’d seen Brad do. But she didn’t want that. Didn’t want him.
“I understand.”
“Jamie had just offered me a job, and I ran into Brad again outside the same café where we’d fought earlier…”
His brow furrowed. “Jamie offered you a job?”
“Yes, she wants me to come back and run her kitchen.”
“Are you going to do it?”
“I don’t know…” Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment.
His heart grew cold. “You should.”
Her eyes flew open. “What? What do you mean?”
“You should take the job. It’s a good opportunity for you. Right?”
Her voice wavered. “Right. A good opportunity…but…”
“But nothing. You should do it. Look, I have to get back to Atlanta. The office has descended into chaos without me, I can’t take off any more time. Everything’s booked, and I have the car with me, so…”
She blinked. “So, I guess I’ll see you later then.”
“Yeah.”
He stood there a moment in the silence, willing her to say something, anything, to get him to stay. But she didn’t. She balanced on one leg and scuffed the toe of her other foot against the pavement, her cheeks flushed. She didn’t meet his gaze.
“Wait,” she said.
His breath caught in his throat. She played with the fingers on her left hand, then held out a fist toward him. His heart fell.
“Thanks.” He took the two rings she offered him and shoved them into his jeans pocket. Then, with a rush, he kissed her on the cheek dashed away down the street.
“Bye, John,” she called after him.
His tongue clung to the roof of his mouth. He couldn’t respond. With pulse racing and hands clammy, he climbed into the car and ordered the driver to take him back to her mother’s house.
It was over.
And it was for the best. When he’d heard her talk about the restaurant opportunity — a chance for her to stay with her family — he knew he couldn’t stand in the way of that. It made sense for her to live in Brisbane, to work in a restaurant she loved, to build her career. Their arrangement wasn’t enough for her. She should have more. And by walking away, he’d given her that.
How could it be over? It’d happened so quickly. This morning everything was fine. Their relationship was defined: an arrangement, companionship. A marriage of convenience for both parties. True, he’d wanted more. He’d planned on raising the subject once they were back in Atlanta together, the funeral behind them. So many times he’d tried to start a conversation about their future together, but something had always interrupted or distracted them. But now she wasn’t coming back. He’d be returning alone, and the thought left a lump wedged in his throat.
Eve lay on the bed in her childhood bedroom and stared up at the ceiling. She held a juggling ball in one hand, and two in the other. With unhurried movements, she threw them one by one into the air, catching them again only to hurtle them up once more.
She dropped one, grunted, then gasped as all three came plummeting down, landing on the bedspread around her. The last ball landed with a soft thud on her chest.
“You still playin’ that game?” Sally leaned against the bedroom door frame, arms crossed over her chest.
Eve sat up and straightened her hair. “I guess. I haven’t done it in years. Apparently, it’s not like riding a bike.” She chuckled.
“You okay?” Sally wandered over and sat beside her.
“Not really. John and I just broke up.”
“Oh wow, I’m so sorry. You two seemed so good together. I’m sure you’ll work it out.” Sally looped an arm around Eve’s back.
Eve sighed loudly. “Brad and I met for coffee…”
“You what?” Sally’s arm fell from Eve’s shoulders, and her voice rose with alarm.
“Don’t worry, I’ve moved on. The past is officially behind me.”
Sally crossed her arms, stood up, and paced the length of the room. “Are you sure?” She eyed her sister carefully.
Eve's eyebrows arched high. “Yes, I’m sure. Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you, even if you did sleep with my boyfriend and destroy my life.”
Sally’s nostrils flared. “I told you I was sorry for that…”
“I know. I’ve forgiven you for it.”
Sally stopped her pacing for a moment to look Eve in the eye. “I mean it. If I could go back in time…”
“But you can’t.”
“I know I can’t.”
Silence drifted between them like an iceberg in a cold ocean.
“It ruined everything…I ruined everything,” whispered Sally.
“You didn’t destroy my relationship with Brad, he did that. You weren’t the first or the last, you just hurt the most.”
A look of pain darted across Sally’s face. Then it was gone. “He never wanted me, you know. He didn’t call me back…I waited. I loved him. All those years the two of you were together, I wished it were me.”
Eve’s eyes widened. Was that true? How could she have missed it? She stood with a grunt and walked over to her sister, throwing her arms around her in an embrace. “I’m sorry. He’s a real jerk.”
Sally laughed, then sniffled against Eve’s shoulder. “He sure is.”
“Forget him. You can do better.”
Sally rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and sniffled again. “You think so?”
“I know so.” Eve smiled through a veil of tears.
“Are you going to leave again? We miss you around here.” Sally’s watery eyes were wide and earnest.
“I think I’ll stick around for now,” replied Eve, her heart heavy.
John stepped out of the elevator and into the silent apartment. Hector had picked him up from the airport and would bring up his luggage, but after that John would be all alone.
The condo had never felt so empty.
When he’d bought the place, the v
iew had really sold him. It was spectacular. But now, in the dead of night, all he could see was the sprinkle of lights from a few skyscrapers in the distance, and apartment buildings surrounding his.
He was so alone.
In the kitchen, he threw his briefcase down on the counter and searched the refrigerator for something to drink. Finding tomato juice, he poured himself a tall glass and leaned against the cabinets to sip it. The liquid was cold, refreshing with a dash of spice, but it couldn’t quench the thirst within.
He missed Eve. Missed her so much his entire being quivered with the emotion of it.
There was nothing to be done about it. She had made her choice. The last thing in the world he wanted was for her to stay with him out of obligation. He’d make sure the lawyers took care of their contract. She’d broken the deal they’d made but he didn’t care. Not anymore. If she were here, he’d want it to be on her own terms. In fact, he’d have ended the contract even if she hadn’t chosen to stay behind.
It was pointless having a piece of paper define what they could be to one another.
They didn’t love each other, and no document could change that.
His stomach clenched into a knot as the cold beverage pooled inside it. He grimaced and took another sip. He cared for her, she didn’t care for him. And after everything they’d been through together, if she didn’t see something in him to love, he couldn’t make her.
He returned the tomato juice box to the fridge and padded to the bedroom, glass in hand.
It was late and he was hopelessly jet-lagged. Tomorrow was Monday, and he planned to be in the office bright and early to get a handle on things. Still, he couldn’t summon any enthusiasm about it. There seemed to be no point to it anymore: all the working, striving, takeovers, and construction. No point to anything really.
He stripped off his clothes and stepped into a scalding hot shower, enjoying the feeling of the water against his skin as it washed away the stink of the long plane journey.
By the time he was dressed in a pair of boxer shorts, he could barely keep his eyes open. As he collapsed onto the bed, an image of Eve walking away from him on the street flitted across his mind’s eye. She was gone from his life forever.
The next morning, the intercom buzzed as dawn broke over the city. John struggled to the side of the bed and thumped the button where it sat on the wall.
“What?”
“Well, aren’t you pleasant in the morning?” Kenny’s voice chirped through the receiver.
John grunted and pushed his face into the nearest pillow.
“Care to join me for a run?”
It was the last thing in the world he wanted to do. All he needed right now was sleep. He was exhausted, it felt like he hadn’t slept for days. But he also knew now that he was awake, he’d never get back to sleep. And a run might help him clear the cobwebs out of his thoughts, and Eve out of his system.
“Sure. Be with you in five.”
He swung his legs to the ground, shook the sleep from his head and hurried to dress in running shorts and a tank top with a sweatshirt pulled over it. By the time he had his shoes and socks on, he was wide awake.
He and Kenny pounded the pavement on the walking path in the park nearby in a steady rhythm, their shoes slapping against the firm surface.
“Want to talk about it?” asked Kenny, watching him closely out of the corner of one eye.
“Nope,” replied John.
“Fine.”
“She ended things.”
“Who, Eve?” Kenny’s voice betrayed his concern.
“Yep. She’s home in Australia.”
“She’ll come back,” assured Kenny with a quick nod of his head.
“No, she won’t.”
“Why don’t you go after her?”
John’s eyes narrowed. “She doesn’t want me to.”
Kenny shrugged. “Maybe she does.”
John shucked his sweatshirt without slowing his pace and balled it up between his hands. It was over. He knew that. There was no point living with false hope. The sooner he accepted reality the sooner he could move on with his life.
Chapter 23
The bustle and noise of the kitchen did little to soothe Eve’s nerves. It was two months since her father’s death, and her first week in the Mosey kitchen. So far, she’d managed to burn herself, her sous chef, and the pumpkin soup. It was almost as though she’d forgotten how to work in a kitchen.
She lifted a ladle to her lips and sipped at the French onion soup currently bubbling away on the stove top. It tasted perfect. At least she’d gotten one thing right this week.
By the end of the night her feet ached, her head ached, her stomach was clenched tight with hunger pangs and she felt as though she had more to learn than she could possibly absorb in her lifetime. But she knew it would just take some time.
“How’s it going?” asked Jamie, as Eve spooned the remnants of the French onion soup into a bowl and used a spatula to lift a grilled cheese sandwich from the griddle.
She turned off the griddle then set the bowl and plate on a small table at one end of the kitchen with a sigh. “It’s going well. I think I managed not to burn anyone or anything tonight.” She smiled wryly and sank into a chair. “Sorry, do you want some soup or cheese toast?”
Jamie shook her head. “No thanks. I ate earlier. Why are you eating so late? Has everyone else gone home?”
“I wanted to make sure everything was cleaned up and put away. And yes, they all left about a half hour ago.”
“Well, don’t wear yourself out. Running a kitchen is a marathon, not a sprint.” Jamie winked then waved a hand. “I’m off. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye…Oh, Jamie?”
Jamie poked her head back through the doorway that led to the parking lot out back. “Yes?”
“I know I’ve only just started, but I was hoping for some time off to go back to Atlanta and pack up my things.”
Jamie nodded. “That’s a good idea. Just let me know when. I can cover for you.”
“I will, thanks. Bye.”
As Eve spooned soup into her mouth, her thoughts spun in a jumble inside her head. She was going back to Atlanta. What would she find there? She’d tried calling John a few times since he left, just to check on him, to make sure he’d gotten home okay. But he hadn’t answered or returned her calls. He was angry, no doubt. And she didn’t blame him.
They’d had an agreement, and she’d broken it by staying in Brisbane. True, he’d been the one to walk away, but she’d chosen to remain behind. Chosen her career over her relationship. Again. The twelve months wasn’t up, and already she’d abandoned him. Hadn’t fought to keep what they had. Her throat tightened.
Still, she was sure she’d done the right thing. She’d begun to feel things for him that weren’t part of the contract. He’d been so kind, thoughtful, and considerate. How could she ignore that? But then, there were things she couldn’t just push aside, like the way he’d treated Petra in Atlanta or the way he’d overreacted to her kiss with Brad. Not to mention the fact that he’d cheated on past girlfriends.
She groaned and let her head fall into her hands, getting soup on her cheek from the spoon she still held. She picked up a napkin and wiped herself clean before returning the spoon to the bowl.
She’d fly to Atlanta and pack up her things to bring back home with her. And if they had a chance to talk while she was there, maybe they could clear some things up, part as friends.
That decided, she picked up the sandwich and took a bite, as a smile drifted across her face. Cheese pulled in strings as she tugged the sandwich away from her mouth, and her taste buds tingled with pleasure.
Eve had only brought a carry-on with her since she expected the trip to be a short one. Besides, she still hadn’t bought anything in Australia. She hadn’t had much free time since she decided to stay. Every spare moment had gone into working on the menu at the restaurant and getting everything set up there.
With one
hand raised to block the glare of the sun from her eyes, she signaled a cab. There wasn’t a car waiting for her because she hadn’t told John she was coming. She hoped the surprise would be a good one, though maybe the staff wouldn’t even let her into the building.
When she arrived at the condo, the concierge welcomed her warmly and she rode the elevator up to the top floor without an issue. Upstairs, Josie greeted her with a quick embrace and the flash of a smile, unusually exuberant for her normally reticent nature.
It seemed John hadn’t told any of the staff that she wasn’t coming back. They welcomed her after her three-month absence as though nothing was amiss.
She set her bag in her room and sat on the bed with a huff. It felt good to be back, even if it was only for a little while. She had a few hours before John was due to come home. That gave her time to take a shower and pack her things. It’d be awkward to pack up while he was there. Still, it would be nice to take a swim first.
Before they’d headed to Brisbane, she’d taken up swimming laps in the eternity pool that overlooked the city outside the living room. It was always the most refreshing part of her day and she missed it. There was something so special about swimming up to the edge of a glass wall and looking out over the cityscape.
She changed quickly into a swimsuit and wandered out to the pool. The heat of the day slapped her in the face as she opened the door to step out onto the narrow deck. Summer had arrived in Atlanta, and the humidity brought an immediate line of sweat to her brow. Soon, beads of sweat ran down the center of her back. She sat on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water for a few moments. The blue of her bikini matched the hue of the water, and she admired the way the sun glinted off the small ripples made by her feet.
It was a shame she couldn’t live here. She’d enjoyed her time in Atlanta. No, she’d loved it. Even though she remembered times of boredom and the restlessness that came with not knowing where she was going, it was only now that she could look back and see how much she’d grown and changed because of it. She was more mature, certain of who she was, less dependent upon success as seen through the eyes of those around her and more interested in finding her own path to joy.