Chapter 1
One MonthEarlier
Icouldn’t helpbut check my phone for the third time that morning. No texts or phone calls. Nothing. It was my first day working in a new city with a new job, so I shot off a message to my husband before stepping out of the apartment withLilly.
“You are seriously going to love it here.” Lilly was gushing once again about the fact that I had landed a job with her at one of Georgia’s smallest but most prestigious publishing companies. “It’s a great company, and Greg is a greatboss.”
“I’m sure he is, Lilly.” I gave her a side glance as I took a sip of the hot tea she’d made me. Lilly had made her admiration for Greg Moran, my new boss, very clear over the lastweek.
“Don’t give me that look!” She bounced across the street next to me, and I knew it was the schoolgirl crush she had on Greg that was making her so excited, not the caffeine in her hand. The girl I grew up with never woke up before noon, even with an alarm clock. “Even if Greg wasn’t my boss, I would still only look, nottouch.”
“Don’t lie to me—I see that sparkle in your eye.” She tried to hide behind her light brown curls, but she turned a shade of pink that matched her blouse. “But don’t worry, I’m not here to crush on the boss. I’m here for thejob.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s not Greg you’ll be crushing on. The one you’ll have to worry about is Max. He is all looks, and even though he’s the owner, he still likes to shop around the office from time to time. He can sniff out new blood like it’s a sport.” The grin on her face made me think I wasn’t the first person she’d had to warn aboutMax.
“Lilly, seriously? You’re talking like you stepped straight out of a romance novel. You know I’m married, maid of honor.” Lilly grabbed my left hand as we came up to the sidewalk in front of The Ink Well. We both stared at the sparkling diamond that had been mounted on my finger for the past three years. Adam and I were college sweethearts, six years and still counting. There were just some things that were meant to lastforever.
“Speaking of husbands, when is Adam finally coming down?” I had already been in Georgia—Atlanta, to be exact—for aweek.
“He should be finishing up his job in California in the next month, but he already started looking for a place here. I told him I would love to be where you’re at, but he’s focused on looking at a house outside thecity.”
“The commute is a bitch, you know that, right?” Her tone was clipped, and I knew she didn’t like the thought of me being further away from her. I knew it wasn’t the best option, I just didn’t know how to tellAdam.
“I know, but to him, nothing can be worse than San Diego traffic.” Oh, how I didn’t miss San Diego traffic. Being in Atlanta was a godsend, and finally getting to work in publishing was a big step up from the previous six years working inretail.
“I swear. Sometimes your husband can be so stubborn.” Lilly pulled open the office building door for me, and I was immediately engulfed by an array of emotions.This is it. No turning backnow.
“Come on, babe.” Lilly had to grab my hand to maneuver me to the elevator. She handed me a visitor’s badge she had picked up from the front desk and pressed the button for the secondfloor.
“I don’t think I’ve said thank you enough for this job. Seriously, Lilly.” We both leaned against the wall, heads butting. It had been years since we had been together this long, and I missed it. We had grown up together, but when Lilly went off to college, a divide set in that we bothhated.
“You know I would do anything for you. I need you as much as you need me.” I smiled to myself because it was so true. I didn’t know what I would ever do without her in mylife.
I looked at my phone one more time. Still nothing. I took a deep breath, putting it back into my purse. I knew Adam would be busy, but I thought he knew how important this was tome.
“You’ll be fine.” I relaxed next to Lilly. She seriously knew me all too well. The elevator dinged, and Lilly all but pushed me towards the HR desk. “When you’re done, come up to Financing on the fourth floor and I’ll introduce you toGreg.”
She winked as she headed towards the stairs. Lilly was a workout freak, and clearly even work wasn’t going to stop her. I was given forms to fill out to set up my new position. I kept flattening my black pencil skirt, even though there were no wrinkles, while filling out each newpaper.
I could dothis.
I could start a new job in a newcity.
I tucked my long, curly brown hair behind my ear and readjusted my black and white polka-dottop.
Once I was done with paperwork, I led myself up to the fourth floor. Rows of cubicles filled the floor. I could see Greg’s office from the elevator and started my way there, until I heard a familiargiggle.
“Alexa, over here!” Lilly’s desk was right in front of Greg’s office and was decorated like it was her home. All the knick-knacks she could find, and anything zebra related. “I’ll introduce you to Greg. He’s been shoved in his office all morning, so maybe he’ll pay us some attentionnow.”
I was more than nervous. What if I wasn’t right for this job? What if I sucked? I may have gone to college to write novels, but I knew that wasn’t what my job was. I was putting those tucked-away math skills to good use. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to write, because I did, but on my downtime. It was more that Adam didn’t see it as a career. If you weren’t physically going in to work, you weren’t actuallyworking.
“Hey, Greg.” Lilly knocked on the door before opening it. Greg looked over his computer screen, his glasses slipping down his nose. His eyes weren’t on me though, but on Lilly. “This isAlexa.”
“Alexa!” He jumped at the sound of my name, almost knocking over his coffee cup. He stayed behind his desk, nervously trying to get himself back together. “It’s so good to finally meet you inperson.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say as the awkwardness set in. Greg still wasn’t looking at me. His hand gripped the cup tightly, and dangled in the air, about to drop one moretime.
“Well, I hope that Lilly showed you to HR already.” It was like I wasn’t even in the room with these two. I looked toward her, but her eyes were everywhere, but on Greg. I tried not togiggle.
