by Mia Faye
“What the hell is going on with you? You never say no to drinks.”
“I’m not saying no. I’m saying some other time.”
Gabriel looked at me like I had just insulted him.
“Okay, man. Enough of this bullshit. This is about Yvette, isn’t it?”
I tried to remember if I had ever talked about Yvette to him, with him, but I came up blank.
“I don’t see what that has to do with—”
“And yet here you are, so distracted you didn’t even notice your shirt is buttoned up wrong.”
“What?”I looked down in panic. It was almost two in the afternoon. If it was true, then I had been going around looking like a madman all day. But my shirt was buttoned up just fine. Gabriel was grinning when I looked back at him.
“And that’s my point exactly. You didn’t even know.”
“What do you want, Gabriel?” I said, a little exasperated. I wasn’t in the mood for his games.
“Just go after her and stop torturing yourself.”
Once again, I tried to think, but I couldn’t remember a single instance where I had shared what happened between Yvette and me with him.
“You know what? Fine.” He got up and straightened his coat. He pointed a long finger at the document and then at me. “Don’t forget to go over this and sign it. I know you two made up and everything, but you can never be too safe.”He turned and walked to the door. He stood there for a moment, then turned and looked at me.“Go after her,” he said, then he gave me a little salute and was gone.
I told myself I was already thinking about it, that Gabriel had simply voiced a thought I had been toying with in the first place. But something about his prompt spurred me into action. There was no real reason for me not to go; it was affecting my ability to work. Among other things. I was almost sure I would be able to let it go if only I could speak to Yvette and hear it directly from her. If she told me to my face that it was over. Not that it had ever really begun. Maybe then I could move on.
Two days. I would drive to Rockford and be back in two days. I would seek her out and speak to her, get things sorted out, and then drive back. I could finalize the work I had today, carry whatever I didn’t, and work on it at the hotel. Or, and a smile snaked across my face when I realized this, I could delegate. It was one of the perks of being a boss.
Once I made up my mind, I found everything falling into place. It was like waking from a stupor, like being reanimated after a long period on ice. I could get the urgent work out of the way and focus on planning the trip.
The drive up to Rockford was more scenic than I had expected. It was a reminder that I didn’t get out as much as I should. But I already knew that. Even before taking over from Wyatt officially, I had been working way too much, so there was never any time for a trip like this.
I loved being out on the road. The wind and the open road were surprisingly pleasant, and I made a mental note to myself to do this more often. I imagined doing this with Yvette, and another pang hit me. I couldn’t really blame myself for it, but the two of us hadn’t gotten out much either in our brief time together. Work and the complicated situation of our fake marriage. And then Wyatt’s death, and that unfortunate incident with Vicki. We had almost run the full course of an entire relationship in a few months. If she would have me, maybe we could drive back together, make a road trip of it. I would love that.
I made an excellent time. It was unusual, having the road almost entirely to myself. But even then, time seemed to fly. I was rushing toward something, someone, so the time seemed to dilate. I was pulling into the city a little over four hours later.
I knew exactly what sort of town Rockford was, even before getting properly acquainted with it. It was one of those tightly knit communities where everyone knew everyone else, and every building looked like it had been around for ages. I had no trouble locating the hotel I had booked online, and I wasn’t surprised in the least to discover that it looked nothing like the ad. Not in a bad way, though. The Bedrock Hotel was billed as a modern-day inn, with sleek, high walls and an open floor plan in the reception area. But its real charm was in the way it managed to retain some of the vintage feels.
I was hoping I could track Yvette down soon, but not so hopeful as to forego booking a room for the night. The portly lady behind the counter peered at me curiously as she asked me how long I was staying, and I shrugged and told her two days. To begin with. Less, ideally, I wanted to add. But she didn’t seem the type for small talk.
I went up to my room and threw my suitcase onto the bed. Then, changing into less restricting clothing, I locked my room and headed out once more. I stopped at the reception desk, figuring I might as well start asking from there.
“Hi, excuse me? I’m looking for a lady by the name Yvette Matthews. I know it’s presumptuous to assume that everyone in town knows everyone else, but…”
The lady shook her head. “I don’t know a Matthews, but you should ask our security guard over by the door. He is good with names and sometimes with faces.”
It turned out he was more than just good. With minimal description, he immediately knew who I was talking about, and even correctly pointed out that ‘Miz Matthews’ had left for the big city a few months ago. He didn’t know much more than that, but he did tell me to try asking at a local restaurant over in the center of town.
“I know she used to hang out with Nancy’s boy. The best shot you have is to look for him.”
I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it had been. Nancy’s boy was definitely Tyler, Yvette’s best friend, and I already had an address for his restaurant.
I decided to forego the car and just walk. It would be more fun seeing the town that way, and there was the slightest chance I could run into Yvette on the street. It was a small town, after all.
Rockford was beautiful. Small, slightly claustrophobic, but it was a perfect place to settle down. It wasn’t too much of a stretch picturing myself buying a house with a large yard, starting a family, living a simple life. I hadn’t even noticed how quiet it was, how peaceful it seemed without the bustle of endless traffic, and people yelling at each other in the streets. From what little Yvette had said of Rockford, she had always sounded slightly ashamed of it, like she couldn’t wait to get out. I didn’t understand that. But then again, my world must have seen just as strange to her at first.
Finding the restaurant wasn’t hard. It was right in the middle of the busiest part of town. The sign blinked up at me from a distance, but once I got up close, I realized the neon lights were off. And, closer still, I saw that the doors were closed. I glared at the sign on the door that read ‘Closed for Renovation,’ and my heart sank like a lead weight.
I was just about to turn and head back when I saw a flash of movement through the glass on the front. I was sure I had imagined it, but I cupped my hands on the glass and squinted into the store all the same. I was just in time to catch a heel as it disappeared into the back. There was someone inside.
I hurriedly walked around the building, looking for the back door. I had to jump over a pile of what appeared to be building materials, navigating past an over-full garbage dumpster, and finally emerging into a narrow street with a small black door.
I walked up to it and gave it a sharp rap.
Maybe I had imagined it, I thought. Maybe the foot I had seen was a trick of the light. Maybe…
I heard the sound of footsteps, and after a loud clink, the heavy metallic door swung toward me, and out stepped the tall, skinny guy I remembered from that fateful day when Yvette moved in across from me. His eyes popped when he saw me. He definitely recognized me. He almost looked frozen like I was the last thing he expected to see at his door. Which was a fair point, actually. Holy shit, I was actually doing this.
“Hi. Tyler, right?”
I extended my hand, and after a brief moment when he continued to stare, I let it fall limp to my side. I thought I heard something thud to the ground behind Tyler. My eyes flitted over his he
ad, but he stepped up and outside the building quickly, closing the door behind him.
“Um, I don’t know if you remember me…”
“Of course, I remember you,” Tyler said, suddenly finding his voice. “You’re Vee’s… boss.”
He couldn’t have been less subtle about it. I saw it in the way he looked at me, in the slight curl of his lip. He knew about Yvette and me. And, apparently, it wasn’t all good things.
“Uh, right. Cameron. Anyway, I was… well, I am… looking for Yvette. I wonder if you might know where she is?”
I saw the hesitation in his eyes. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head as his mind worked. It told me two things; he knew exactly where Yvette was, and he was trying to figure out how not to tell me.
“I haven’t seen Vee since last month,” he eventually declared, throwing a hand to his hip to back up his defiance.
“Well, she left work, so I assumed she would come home.”
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know anything about that. Last I heard from her she was excited about this huge promotion at work, so I doubt she would leave right in the middle of all that.”
“Right.”
“Even if she did, I’m assuming she would want to be left alone.”There was no mistaking the hostility there.
“You’re assuming?”
“Yeah.”
I wasn’t going to get anything from him. That much was clear.“Okay. Thank you, Tyler. If you do hear from her, please tell her to call me. Please.”
Tyler opened his mouth, no doubt to say something scathing and unhelpful. He didn’t get to, though. From behind him came the loud buzzing of a phone, and even though it was immediately silenced, it had definitely happened.
“Looks like my phone is going off again,” Tyler said quickly. “Good luck with Vee.”
He swung the door open and disappeared behind it. I stepped closer and pinned my ear to it, trying to listen in. After about a minute of airy silence, I shrugged and shook my head. Maybe finding Yvette wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.
Chapter 31
Yvette
Tyler found me under a table when he came back.
I had managed to crawl out of the kitchen and back to the dining area, where, for whatever reason, I decided the safest course of action was to get under a table. I kept expecting Cam to barge in and find me there, bent over in a ridiculous position, my dress riding up and exposing my thighs. Not that that would match my embarrassment at being in this position in the first place.
“Well, well, well,” Tyler started to say, but I held a finger up to my lips, indicating that he should shut up. I pointed to the door behind him and then made the shushing gesture again. Don’t speak; he could still be out there.
Tyler nodded, his grin clearly an amused one. He glanced dramatically at his watch and then yawned. After about a minute, he dropped to his knees and slowly crawled under the table to me.
“Do you really think this is necessary?” he whispered.
I shushed him again, but he plowed on nonetheless.
“He’s gone, woman. For Christ’s sake.”
But I didn’t come out. Not until five minutes later, when I was completely sure.
“Surely, this is a bit too much work just to avoid someone,” Tyler said, dusting off his pants as he straightened up. “Isn’t it easier to just tell him to fuck off?”
“Hey, the deal was, no discussing Cam. Remember?”
“Actually, the deal was that I wouldn’t ask questions about him. And I specifically refused to agree to that deal. Besides, it’s not my fault the man just showed up.”
“How did he look?” I asked before I could stop myself.
What was he wearing? What did he smell like? Had he shaved? Was he in casual wear? Khakis? Shorts? Oh my God, Cam in shorts.
“Nope, never mind,” I said quickly, shaking my head.
Tyler’s eyes went wide, as they usually did when juicy gossip was involved.“Oh, he looked wonderful,” he said. “Polo shirt. Fit him like a glove. It was just muscle city up in there, just cords of taut muscle stretching that poor shirt out. Sweatpants. Loose. Comfortable…”
“Stop it,” I said, but my mind was already picturing it. “I meant, what did he want?”
“From the looks of it, you. I mean, you’ve got to hand it to him, Vee. He came all the way out there looking for you. Imagine him running around town, asking people if they knew you. And didn’t you say he took over from your old boss? So he would have had to take a couple of days off work just to make the trip…”
“What is this?” I asked, cutting across him. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Just processing. Anyway, I’m sure you heard. He asked about you; I told him I had no idea. Although I don’t think he believed me. I’ll tell you what, that phone almost gave us away. Was that you?”
“Oh, shit. Yeah. Sorry. That was Cavill. I’m supposed to call him back, give me a minute.”
I grabbed my phone and redialed Cavill’s number. I paced the length of the dining room as the phone rang, my fingers dancing along the edges of the brand new mahogany tables.
“Already busy, eh, Miss Matthews?” Cavill boomed into the phone. I could tell he was smiling.
“I’m so sorry about that. I was just crossing a particularly busy street, and I couldn’t answer the phone.”
“Of course. Safety first. Smart.”
“How are you doing, Mr. Cavill?”
“Oh, I would be much happier if a certain elusive editor were on my team.”
“Patience, sir. All good things and all that.”
“On a serious note. Have you given my offer any more thought?”
I had given it a lot of thought.“I have,” I said. I didn’t mean to be elusive, but I didn’t have a concrete answer for him just yet.
“I’m not trying to put undue pressure on you, Miss Matthews. Far from it. However, I do have a small task for you. Call it a favor. I think it might help you decide.”
“Decide whether to come and work with you or not?”
“Precisely.”
“Okay…?”
“Now, I have been in contact with a very young writer, a woman from Africa who writes wonderfully. I was hoping to convince her to let me publish her manuscript, something she has resisted quite strongly, and for the very reasons I wasn’t completely sold on your pitch to me. Just this morning, however, she agreed to work with me, but on condition that we send back an honest review of her manuscript. Now, I’ve already gone through the work. I won’t sully your experience of it by telling you what I thought of it. But I would very much like to hear your thoughts on it.”
“I’m not sure I have the time, Mr. Cavill. To be completely honest. I’m juggling a few things…”
“Just take a look, okay? That’s all I ask. Read the first page, and if it doesn’t immediately drag you in, then that in itself will be feedback. Read it. That’s all.”
“I’m guessing this is time-sensitive?”
“Well, yes and no. Yes, I would like to have sent something back by the end of the week. No, you’re not to rush, under any circumstances.”
“Hmm.”It was a thoughtful pause, a cross between a sigh and a verbal protest. Cavill seemed to take it as tacit agreement.
“Excellent, Miss Matthews. I’ll send the manuscript over to you right away. Happy reading.”He hung up before I could say anything else.
Not that I knew what that would have been. I trooped back to Tyler, only then remembering that Cam had just come all the way to Rockford and that I still had to deal with that.
“Was that your new boss?” Tyler asked.
“Not my new boss yet,” I said. I sank into the nearest chair and buried my head in my hands. “Yet somehow he’s given me homework.”
“Oh, come on, Vee. This pregnancy has made you slow. How come I know everything you’re going to do, but you don’t seem to?”
“What are you going on about now?”
&n
bsp; “You’re stalling, but it can’t be because you don’t know what you want. You know exactly what you should do, what you’re going to do.”
“And what’s that?”
“The job? Of course, you’re going to take it. It’s what you’ve always wanted to do. And you’d have the autonomy, unlike this headless behemoth you’ve been slaving for.”
“Okay, and what about Cam?”
“Hmm. I’m afraid in order to answer that, I have to ask you a question about Cam, and I’ve just been informed that I’m not allowed to do that.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to know. Moving on quickly, do you know anywhere with good WIFI around here? I need to do this thing for Cavill before I get home; otherwise, I’ll have to deal with it in the morning.”
“Oh, because MY restaurant doesn’t have good WIFI?”
“The renovation is great, Ty, really. But your WIFIis trash, and you know it.”
Tyler scoffed. “You could try this new coffee shop downtown. It’s quiet. Secluded. Perfect place for you.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
I got up and scanned the room for my handbag. It was a good thing I’d brought my laptop. I felt Tyler’s hand on my forearm and looked back down at him.
“Stop stalling,” he said, his expression suddenly serious. “Call him.”
He was right about the restaurant, as Tyler tended to be about these things. It was in a corner of the last street in the downtown area before heading out into the ritzier area of town. It was almost out of place among the bland, all-purpose stores that lined the block; a bright blue splash of color in an otherwise dull street. It stood out without being obnoxious, though. It had a simple sign that read‘Coffee Shop’, and a small blackboard advertising the day’s special (blueberry muffins).
Inside, it was nearly deserted, which somehow increased its appeal for me. I located the most isolated spot in the corner farthest from the door and sat down as a beaming woman danced over to me.
I started to order a coffee, had my periodic reminder that I was pregnant, then asked for lemonade instead. I smiled back at her when she brought it and asked her to keep them coming. Then I pulled out my laptop and logged on to my email.