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He squints. “A whole bottle?”
“Yeah, the whole thing. Red. And two empty wineglasses. Just throw it all on my tab.”
After a moment, he shrugs a shoulder. “All right.”
And that’s what I’ve always liked about Doc.
Not his business to ask questions.
CHAPTER 47
OLIVER
I knock twice on her door and wait. After a few silent moments, I wonder if maybe she’s gone out. To visit her mother, perhaps. Or to restock her fridge. It was bare this weekend, but we made do with delivery and takeout.
As I roll my fist to knock again, I sense movement on the other side. The lock turns, and the door opens on Paige. She’s changed out of her work clothes and sports a pair of flannel pants and a black tank top. No make-up. A messy bun. Clearly, she’s already showered off the stink of this day.
“Hey,” I say.
She nods. “Hi.”
“Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. As it turns out, punching a guy in the face in front of company shareholders isn’t enough to get you sent home early,” I joke. “Corporate, am I right?”
She smiles, but it doesn’t last. “So, you got to keep your job?” she asks.
My chest clenches.
Not fucking fair.
“Yes,” I answer. “I’m on probation, but... yeah, they’re keeping me on.”
“Better than Ian, I guess,” she says.
“They thought so, too, apparently.” I take a breath. “Are you okay?” I ask, though the answer is all over her tortured face.
“Still in shock, I think, but...” She pauses. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
I raise the bottle of wine in my hand. “Can I come in? I brought wine. And wineglasses,” I say, the stems pinched between my fingers.
Paige doesn’t move. “Actually, Oli, I think I need some time to myself for a little while,” she says slowly.
It hurts. It really does.
“Are you sure?” I ask, not wanting to leave.
But she nods. “I’m sure,” she says. “I have some things I need to take care of.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“I don’t think so. Just a little self-care while I... I don’t know, start updating my résumé?”
She breathes a laugh. Warm, but fake.
“I’m going to fix this, Paige,” I say. “I promise.”
“They made their decision, Oliver.”
“I don’t care. I’ll keep fighting it.”
