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“Yes, I’m fine. Are you alright?”
Apparently, yet again, my best isn’t enough.
“Oh, yeah.” Struggling to contain all the confusing things I’m feeling in this moment, I let out a big breath hoping it’ll sound more laugh than sob. “I fell when I was running, and I’m a bit bruised. Just being a baby.”
“Ah. Sorry to hear that. Anyway. I apologize for interrupting your holiday, but I was speaking with some people from Canaan Industries just now. I’d really like to get the jump on making recommendations, so I need to go over their numbers. Any chance you could meet me at the office to work up a report?” When I don’t answer immediately, he says, “I’d ask Brad Ross, but I trust you to get it right the first time around.”
I bite my lip. Hard. “Um.” I did take Friday off and haven’t worked the whole weekend. But it’s after eight on a Sunday the day before a holiday. Should I stay here and try to figure things out with Will? Or is it too late for that?
“Are you still there Katherine?”
Roland’s voice seems so far away.
I squeeze my eyes to stop the tears threatening to spill. “Yeah.” I swipe my nose with my sleeve. “Sorry.”
“If you can’t come in?—”
“No. No, I’ll do it. Of course.”
“Lovely. See you in an hour?”
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
“Cheers.”
I hang up and walk slowly back to the front door. Will’s still there, arms now crossed over his chest, his face wiped clean of any emotion.
I just look at him. Not sure for how long. He doesn’t even blink.
“Maybe you’re right.” I fling words over a rising tide of regret. “I really have too much going on at work to be distracted by this”—my hands dogpaddle uselessly—“drama,” I manage. I squeeze the phone still in my hand. “Will. I really liked spending time with you. But I have to follow my dreams too, and I don’t know if I?—”
His hand is up, palm facing me. “Hey, I get it. That’s what I was trying to say. We tried, but this doesn’t add up, the two of us. Or maybe it’s timing. But whatever, I think we should?…” His voice is completely devoid of emotion, which is much more painful to take than his outrage.
Nodding, I will my eyes to stay dry. “Yeah. We probably should.”
He nods too. “Well. I’ll see you.”
“Yep.” I just keep moving my head up and down. “Thanks.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
And he steps out, pulling the door shut behind him.
Eventually, I trudge back to the kitchen and slam the phone back into the charger. Then I find the note Will left on my fridge.
Grabbing the note, I ball it up in my fist, drop my ass into a kitchen chair and drop my heavy head onto my arms. I don’t have a single love letter from Will to remember him by.
Only this.
Kate —
Seriously?
You were mad at me about Callie?
How hypocritical can you be?
