“Butyouwon’t be here.” Dylan’s voice drops.
“I won’t.” I dry swallow as a lump forms in my throat. “But I’m only a phone call or video chat away.”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot over the last couple of hours.”
My pulse begins to pick up. “I’ve thought about you too.”
“You’re such an important part of my life. You have no idea how difficult it was to leave you in Sequoia Valley.”
“Dylan,” I start, my body humming with energy. This is it! This is my opening! It’s now or never. “Hearing you say that means everything to me. You know... this morning there was something else, but I chickened out.”
“Ava?”
I lick my lips. “The truth is I... I... I love you. I have for a long time!”
“What are you talking about?” he sputters.
“You’re one of my best friends. We know one another inside and out.” My heart is hammering so loudly, it’s almost hard to hear. “There’s always been a strong connection between us. Haven’t you felt it?”
“No. I haven’t,” he says slowly.
I freeze and nearly drop the phone. It’s as if somebody has taken an IV of ice water and inserted it into my veins. “No?” I repeat.
“No, not like you’re thinking. You’re a good friend and great business partner, Ava, but that’s all you’ll ever be to me. How do I put this? You’re like... my favorite bossy older sister.”
My mouth opens and closes. I’m at a loss for words. Fat salty tears flow down my cheeks. All these years of waiting and he only sees me as a sister? There’s a crackling sound. My heart is being crushed into a million pieces and tossed into the wind to scatter.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if I were romantically interested in you, we would’ve gotten together a long time ago. I’m not saying this to be insensitive to you, but you’re not my type. You have a lot of great qualities that I’m sure some guy out there would be lucky to find, Ava, but you’re, um, a little too focused on work for me.”
The more he says, the more it stings, like pouring rubbing alcohol over a fresh cut. I wish I’d never opened my mouth. I was better off being leftin the dark.
“Look, Ava, I, um, have a lot of driving to do still. I’ll text you later.”
“OK,” I manage to say.
The phone clicks and all I hear on the other end is an empty dial tone. I drop my phone onto my desk, and my body shakes with sobs.
“Dr. B?” Fernando knocks on my door.
I’d forgotten he was still here. “Just a second,” I say, using the back of my hand to dry my eyes. They’re probably red rimmed and swollen. Maybe in this lighting, Fernando won’t notice.
“Dr. B? Is everything all right?”
Well, that was wishful thinking. Fernando stands in the doorway, his brown eyes are wide with concern. They’re the color of toffee, one of my favorite candies.
“No, but I’ll be fine in a few days.” I sniffle.
He enters the room, pulls a box of tissues from the top of Dylan’s old desk, and hands them to me.
“Thanks.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
I shake my head. “No, I appreciate the offer. I just need some time to let everything settle.” I blow my nose. “That’s a little better.” I take a deep breath, stand on shaky legs, and change the subject. I can’t take any more emotional pain today. “I feel guilty for leaving you alone for so long. Let me finish cleaning the room. That way you and Robin can head home.”
“Actually, I was coming in here to let you know I was done.”
He’s finished? I know I was in my office for a long time, but it couldn’t have been more than an hour.
