I don’t want to crowd you.
You won’t. I want to see you. And I need to close this file. With everything going on, I forgot.
I’ll be there closer to four, he said.Do you want food, or do you want to order takeout later?
Takeout. Are you sure you’re okay with us staying with you?
He had offered the night before when Lana was texting him. I didn’t want him suggesting it out of pity. We could have stayed at the hotel. Although the truth was, I missed him. And even as tired as I was, I knew I didn’t have to be ‘on’ with him any more than I needed to be with Lana.
Of course. I like having Lana around.
Is Lana with you?
She’s gone to take some things to your storage unit and checking out of the hotel.
What did she drive?
I let her take my Jeep.
I almost laughed.I hope you didn’t want that back in one piece.
It’s time for an upgrade, anyway.
There was a pause in which I stared at the screen, unsure what to say. So much had happened just over the last 48 hours… I wasn’t sure I had taken it all in.
Are you sure you’re okay?Gavin asked.
No, I answered.But I know I will be.
I set the phone down and tried to finish some work, but the damn thing kept ringing. I was ready to throw it across the room, get a burner phone and only give my closest friends the number.
I looked at it one more time, intending to message Gavin, Lana, and Ezzie and let them know to call Jasmine and have her put them through to my work phone if they needed me, but the name on the screen caught my eye.
Hey, Chloe.
It was John, Tyler’s father.
I leaned back in my chair and sighed as I opened up the text thread.
I heard, and I’m sorry, he said.But I’m mostly sad that you won’t be at family gatherings in the future to keep me company. You were a breath of fresh air these last few years. If you ever need anything, anything at all, call me. I don’t care if you’re with my son or someone else. You deserve real happiness, and I hope you find it.
I had to clench my teeth as emotion swelled behind my eyes.Thank you, was all I could manage back.
Anything, Chloe, he said.I mean it.
I know you do, I said.Thank you again for everything.
Anytime.
Three texts later, and I had Jasmine lock my phone away in her desk. I put in headphones, pulled up a playlist on my computer, and closed my door. I was determined to bury myself so far into work that I lost track of time.
Thank fuck, it worked.
My eyes were nearly crossing by the afternoon. Jasmine only disrupted me twice to bring coffee, even though I hadn’t asked. I didn’t even realize it was quitting time until she knocked on my door to let me know she was leaving for the day.
I had so many missed calls and texts. I barely knew where to start.
Three soft knocks sounded on my door, and I looked up to find Gavin standing there.
