I hadn’t given Harold a definitive answer. I had asked to have until the end of the year. Taya was already a yes.
I swiveled around and stared out the window. My office had almost as much square footage as Autumn’s house, only it was a completely open floor plan. I had all the light I wanted streaming in, but when the sun went down, the rays turned neon.
I’d done nothing but notice how different this city was. It was like when I’d first arrived for college, only the city didn’t seem like the reprieve it had been back then.
Had Dad moved to senior housing? Had he bought new furniture with all the money he’d gotten, or had he hauled the threadbare couch and recliner? Was he making friends instead of watching TV by himself after eating a sandwich?
Worrying about Dad took my mind off Autumn.
How was she doing? Did she miss me? Would she change her mind?
Judging by my quiet phone—no. She was sticking to her decision.
My chest ached. I rubbed the center. I should get some heartburn medicine. This acid would eat my esophagus away if this kept up.
It’s not reflux, jackass.
I scrubbed my hands down my face. No one else was talking to me, but I fought with myself all damn day. I needed to focus on work.
The renovations for the parking garage were a go and we were balls deep in logistics. I was overwhelmed and grateful for it. The work kept me rooted to my office. I didn’t need to see the sophisticated holiday decorations lining the halls and businesses in Silver.
No fucking thank you.
I loosened my tie—the damn thing was strangling me—and opened my email. A new message sat at the top. The sender: Canyon Legal.
My stomach bottomed out. What the fuck was this?
My mouth went dry as I read the email. Autumn had hired a company to track down a copy of the divorce papers I’d had drawn up. All they needed was a signature from each of us and for the court to sign off. Then I’d be single.
Fire flamed across my skin and burned under my collar. She’d told me to and I hadn’t. So she’d done it. She’d made the first move.
She was willing to move on from me. Like everyone else.
Except they didn’t, asshole. Dad tried calling and connecting for years.
And he’d done it before he’d sobered up.
Autumn hadn’t reached out.
You don’t want to be that guy, Gideon.
I’m no closer to knowing the real reason why you don’t want kids than when I first asked.
You only gave me a part of you, and that’s what I can’t stand for.
I hadn’t given her a reason to run after me. All she knew of me was that I lived for myself and no one else.
Percival’s your legacy, Gideon.
No, it wasn’t. I never should’ve had that pressure on my shoulders. The insidious thought had stolen my life. It’d built up my pride until it was my own worst enemy.
Fuck.
There was a knock on the door. Taya poked her head in. “Can I come in?”
“What do you need?”
She stiffened. I had been keeping my distance because she hadn’t been trying to keep hers.
