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My phone rings, and the number is from work. I answer quickly, hoping it’s her but it’s only the human resources department.
Katie sent in her resignation two hours ago.
Now, I realize my “giving her space” idea was stupid. If I want to earn her trust, I need to be showing up every day. Not giving her time to sit around, letting her doubts about us grow louder and louder.
I have to find her. I have to tell Katie that letting her walk away from me was a mistake. One I’ll never let her do again.
* * *
Katie
Lacey and Atlas are taking me out shopping later. I’m looking forward to it more than I’ve ever looked forward to shopping with my mom.
But in the meantime, I want to get some words down. It’s time to say goodbye to Michael and getting this story written is an essential part of that.
So, I settle on Eric’s couch with my laptop and I start writing the scene. Only nothing seems to come out right. I know what’s supposed to happen but it’s not working.
The scene feels forced and after a few minutes of struggling, I close my laptop. I wrote a grand total of fifty words and even then I’m pretty sure I’m going to delete them.
“Maybe the problem is Michael,” Lacey suggests. She’s busy applying makeup for our day out.
“I feel like the words are all stuck inside of me. They want to come out, but I don’t know how to say it all.”
“Maybe it’s because there’s all this unsaid stuff between you and Michael. Think about it. If you saw him one more time, what would you say?”
I whisper, “I love you.” Then I slump my shoulders. “But Lacey, he doesn’t want to hear those words from me.”
“Why not?” She sounds surprised.
I hate having to explain this. “I don’t have anything to offer him. I’m not sexy like my mom. I’m not brave like Kitty. I’m not strong like you.”
Lacey turns to me and puts her hands on my shoulders. “You’re the woman who just walked away from everything she’s known. You’re the woman who wrote a twenty-seven-part series beloved by fans all over the world. You’re the woman who just this week quit her job to chase her dream. That’s definitely sexy, brave, and strong.”
I laugh. “I have been busy lately.”
He was right. Michael was right when he labeled the problem as my insecurities.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I think again about how I left him standing in the hotel. “Do you think he’d want me back?”
“There’s only one way to know.”
11
KATIE
After a quick makeover from Lacey, I change into a sky-blue sundress with a red sash. I’ve never worn this outfit before. I always thought it was too sexy. But today, I want to be flashy. I want to be seen.
When I get to his office, Michael isn’t there. It’s not like him to plan a meeting this early in the day. He prefers to save his best energy for his projects.
I take a seat in the office and drum my feet nervously in my white pumps. The pearls around my neck were a “congratulations” gift I bought myself after my books hit the best-seller charts.
Michael’s temporary assistant offers to get me a coffee, but I shake my head. I’m already so nervous that the last thing I need is caffeine.
Finally, I hear the sound of Michael’s voice outside the door. It’s low and soft, not the normal commanding boom that echoes through the building.
I stand as he enters. I open my mouth to say something only to close it.
He stares at me for a long moment.
