Which made this all the more frustrating. She knew me better than anyone, yet here she was, telling me she didn’t know how she felt about me, throwing this back in my face.
How did I get it all so wrong?
I finally spit out, “It’s not like your last relationship sets the gold standard.” If I had been thinking at all, I would never have let those words past my lips, but I wasn’t thinking. I was angry. I was furious.
Audrey’s head shot up, and her expression was as pained as I’d ever seen it. Guilt and anger were all I could see, and there was a perverse sort of pleasure at knowing I’d landed a blow. That I wasn’t the only one hurting right now.
Because I knew this was the end, and right now, I was standing by and watching it happen in real-time, like a spectator at an accident.
We stood at an impasse, neither of us speaking for a long time.
Then with a broken voice, she said, “You’re right.”
I said nothing as I watched the door shut behind her.
32
Audrey
When I returned to work the next day, all thoughts of Jackson were locked away, hidden to preserve my sanity. There would be time to fall apart later. It was the only way I was going to make it through without crying.
I felt raw, exposed, un-contained. Like my broken heart was beating outside of my chest for everyone to see. Emotions pouring in and out of me like a battle of the tides.
There wasn’t even time right now to question whether I’d done the right thing by walking out. More than anything, I felt horrible about everything I’d said, knowing I hurt Jackson with careless deflections.
My first hint that something was off was finding my office empty. I’d grown used to seeing Winnie and Jet squatting in here, waiting eagerly for the jobs I gave them.
I dropped my coat and bag on my desk and was on my way to David’s office when I found the two missing interns sitting with him in the conference room. More surprising to me was that the MacMillan’s were seated across from them.
Shock rushed through me, rooting me in place.
The MacMillan’s never traveled to the city. Ever.
What the hell did it mean that they were here now, and why the hell were they laughing with Winnie and Jet like old school chums?
And why was I just standing out here like an idiot?
I walked into the room without another thought. “Hi, sorry, did we have a meeting?”
“Audrey, fantastic! Sit down. We’ve got great news.”
Jeff corrected her. “Actually, it was terrible news that we’re hoping is good news.”
Julie patted his arm. “It’s all going to work out, Jeff.”
“Absolutely, Audrey will make sure of it.” David smiled at me.
I looked around warily, “Anyone want to fill me in?”
I was surprised when Winnie took over. “We received a call yesterday after you’d left. The hire company double-booked half of our order for the launch and couldn’t provide us with all the chairs and tables we needed. Jet,” she gestured, “saw your notes on using some pieces of furniture that Jeff had made in the past as showpieces at the event, and I thought, why not use it to replace the half of the furniture we don’t have!”
“And we love the idea, Audrey” Julia was so happy; it was almost painful not to be able to return it.
Even Jeff looked pleased. “Made a few calls to some friends on the way up here after David mentioned it, and we’ll have more than enough on loan for the night to fix your issue.”
Your issue.
My issue, they meant.
