Page 16 of Unraveled

She moved around the desk and pulled Hannah into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry.”

“Me, too,” Hannah replied.

Audrey knew it would be hard for Hannah to move on. She wondered if Hannah would stay at the health center or if she would go somewhere else, too, leaving the bad memories behind. She wouldn’t blame her one bit. Audrey glanced around the office she had used for the past seven years. The walls were now almost bare, everything packed into the boxes they had brought in. It was the first step in moving on and starting fresh.

Pulling away from Hannah, Audrey rested her hands on her shoulders. “What can I do to help?”

Hannah shook her head. “It’ll just take time, I think. Luke’s been amazing. Having him around has been really helpful.”

“You look happy,” Audrey offered, studying her.

Hannah smiled back, her features lit up bright by the joy shining within. “I am. I love him so much. Thank you for your advice.”

Audrey waved away her thanks and propped a hip against the edge of the desk. “You guys are meant to be together. I’m just glad things worked out.”

“Oh, it’s incredible. He’s…” Hannah trailed off and bit her lip.

Audrey suddenly realized why Hannah had veered from her train of thought, and she shook her head adamantly. “Hey, don’t you worry about me. You don’t have to hold back just because of my divorce with Scott. I’m better off without him, and you’re better with Luke. I want to hear everything.”

Hannah shot her a shy smile. “He’s taking another job close to home so he can commute.”

“Home?” Audrey lifted a brow and smirked at Hannah, who blushed profusely.

“We’re staying at my place right now since it’s a little bigger. But the plan is to fix up Luke’s little house and flip it. We’ll see how everything’s going by that point.” She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe then we’ll get a place together.”

Audrey smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”

God only knew where Luke’s work would take them. Ex-military, he now worked for a local security company that he and a friend had started, doing basic security coverage and private investigation work.

Vantage Security was based out of Miami, but the plan was to put an office on each coast in the near future. In the meantime, Luke and the other ops would travel if needed. He could be away for days or weeks, depending on the job, but Audrey had no doubts that he and Hannah would make it work. They both deserved happiness, and she thanked God they had both come to their senses and found what was right in front of them.

She tipped her head toward the door. “Come on, let’s get outta here so you can get home to your man.”

Hannah sent a blazingly bright smile Audrey’s way before turning back to the box in front of her and loading the last few picture frames. Audrey grabbed her purse out of the closet and slung it over her shoulder.

“Seriously, Audrey?”

Audrey turned to meet Hannah’s wry gaze as she held up the small bromeliad that had taken up residence on the window ledge. “What?”

“When was the last time you watered this poor thing?”

“Um…” Audrey’s lips twitched in humor, and she bit back a smile. “Maybe it’s just sleeping.”

“It’s dead.” Hannah rolled her eyes and held the pathetic-looking, brown withered stalk over the trash can. “It’s a good thing you take care of people and not plants.”

The potted plant hit the bottom of the can with a solid thunk, and Audrey couldn’t help but compare it to her marriage: dull and lifeless. The only time she had felt the smallest spark of anything lately was when she was with Carter. He had made her feel… incredible. He had been an attentive lover, treating her as if she was beautiful and perfect.

Maybe if she had gotten out of the house before he had woken, she could have tried to contact him later. Despite her initial discomfort, she really had enjoyed being with him. She didn’t want a boyfriend, but maybe they could have dated casually, seen each other occasionally. She almost felt bad for leaving the way she had—almost—but not after the things he had said.

The memory came flooding back, and anger infused her all over again. No, she was done with that arrogant idiot who thought the whole world revolved around him. She had had that once with Scott, and there was no way she would ever put herself in that same position again.

If she ever married again—and that was a huge if—it was going to be right. The right man, the right time. She wasn’t going to rush into anything ever again, no matter how good a man made her feel. An hour or two in bed wasn’t worth a lifetime of heartache.

She took another glance around the nearly bare office. This was what her life had been reduced to. It was easy to look at the space and see only an empty shell, but a spark of anticipation lit within her, and she now saw a whole new set of possibilities. Though she was leaving this life behind, there were so many opportunities ahead of her. She could go wherever she wanted, do whatever she wanted.

With a small smile, she shook her head and gathered the box on the desk. “All right, all right. No more plants. Now let’s go.”

Hannah followed her to the elevator, and they rode down to the lobby. Hannah glanced over as the door whooshed open. “When’s your last day?”