It was another thing I’d learned from Phoebe—not to see everything in black-and-white.
I opened my mouth to reply, but then I heard my phone was buzzing.
I took it out and tried to silence it, then noticed it was Chase. He usually didn’t call without a reason. “I have to take this.”
“By all means,” Jude said.
I answered right away.
“Where the fuck are you?” Chase demanded.
“In a meeting.”
“And you couldn’t let us know?”
Then it hit me. “Shit, I completely forgot I was supposed to come by the inn today.”
“You don’t say. I understand you had important business to settle, but you could have at least kept Phoebe in the loop. She’s worried.”
“About what?” I asked, then grimaced. I never replied to her message. My focus had been completely shot today. “Fuck. I remember. Is she still there?”
“Yeah.”
“Then tell her I’m leaving for the inn right away.”
“You’d better!”
After hanging up, I focused on Jude.
“You need to go,” he stated.
“Yes.”
“The missus is mad at you.”
Before meeting Phoebe, the use of the wordmissuswould have creeped me out, but now I didn’t mind.
“Yeah. I made a blunder. I need to fix it.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. It was great catching up with you tonight, Jude.”
“With you, too, my boy. Have fun. Send my best to Phoebe.”
“I will. And please greet Emma for me.”
He nodded. “She’ll be happy to hear about us making amends.”
“I think so too,” I replied.
I’d had a glass of champagne, but my mind was surprisingly clear. Despite having been exhausted all day, adrenaline was running through my veins right now. Jude and I were on good terms again. Fuck yes! But I couldn’t really enjoy the victory. I was apprehensive about Phoebe. I’d let her down.
I looked at her message before starting the car. Fucking hell, Ishould have reassured her somehow. I vaguely remembered that she’d mentioned it last night too. What had I told her? For the life of me, I couldn’t remember.
This wouldn’t do. My woman had to know that she was my top priority.
I drove at top speed, debating if I should call her on the way. But no, I wanted to talk to her face-to-face, look her in the eyes, watch every expression.
