“Scum like Jonathan Fox.” I didn’t even flinch, as that made sense. Or did it? “I need fresh air,” I blurted out as I spun on my heel and bolted out the door, knowing I wasn’t coming back to the office today. I didn’t care if I got fired. That would be a break from my contract, which was exactly what I needed. I had finallygotten my life together with this job. It wasn’t perfect but it was the most money I’d ever made, and it was building my resume. Once again, Graham was ruining my life.
eighteen
Graham
The following morning, I sat in our shared office, waiting for Elinora to arrive at work. Unable to concentrate, my gaze kept sliding to the empty doorway. When she hadn’t arrived by ten, I knew the game she was playing. She was never tardy. She was the gal who was always ten minutes early, if not twenty, and then would proceed to drive around the block five times, trying not to look too eager. I picked up my phone and texted her.
Me: You are late for work.
Elinora: I quit.
Me: Sorry, but you can’t. I’m on my way out for an early lunch. I’ll pick you up.
Elinora: Drop dead.
Me: Excited to work with you, too.
Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I cleared the files from my desk and briskly walked out the door. This was a long shot—winning her back. I knew I didn’t deserve another chance. But,if I couldn’t have her love, I didn’t want anyone else’s. I wasn’t going to let her become my Farewell to Arms.
Once in the parking garage, I walked over to my Maserati and got in, fully remembering that the last time I’d picked her up, I had been driving my old Toyota. It was mind blowing how when I’d had nothing, she had looked at me as if I was everything. I remembered scraping change out of the middle console of my car to be able to buy her a Cherry Coke. Now that I have everything, she glared at me like I was nothing.
I would change her mind.
I punched in the address I’d stolen from her employee file into my GPS and pulled out of my parking spot without even a question about how crazy this made me look. I wasn’t acting out of desperation. I honestly lacked nothing in my life. I’d never had a lack of options for female companionship. I’d always pushed for the unattainable. If it was easy, something everyone could have, I didn’t want it. That included women. I never give up on anything I wanted. I pushed hard. Perhaps too hard. What was the point of that desire if you weren’t willing to fight for it?
Elinora.
Elinora was more than something to chase.
She was everything worth fighting for.
As much as I’d tried to forget her, I couldn’t erase her from my soul. Our souls had been stitched together years ago. My heart thumped rapidly against my chest as I sped to her house. This could very well be the last chance I had. If I didn’t change her mind during these short six months, I doubted I would ever see her again.
I needed her to see how everything in my life was wrong without her. We belonged together. I was finally in a position to give her the life she deserved with everything she’d ever wanted—even more than she’d ever dreamed of. All the love she’d ever desired. We could do anything. Go anywhere. Anything herheart could fathom, and I wouldn’t have a preference, because all I wanted was to do life with her. I’d seen the flickers in her eyes. She still loved me. And I needed to get her to trust me again.
I pulled up in front of the house my GPS had guided me to and texted her.
Me: Outside.
Elinora: Get lost.
Me: Ah, thanks for the invite. Don’t mind if I do come in.
Elinora: You’re not invited in.
Me: You’re on my time.
Elinora: Whatever. I’ll come out, but ONLY so we can settle this.
Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I waited for a minute before she strode out her front door. Her shoulders were back, her hair flowing down in the soft wind, and she wore an all-business expression on her face. With her laptop bag slung over her shoulder and her business-appropriate attire, she certainly appeared ready for work. She opened the door without looking at me, slid in, and buckled. “You’re a jerk,” she muttered, staring forward.
“You have a contract, and without a medical exemption, legal obligation, incarceration, or death, you’re bound to that contract.”
“After all these years, I finally understand how desperate you were to vandalize public property. I’d do anything to go to jail right now.”
“We’ve always had so many things in common,” I teased with a humored inflection, my heart still knocking hard on my chest. I was desperate to wipe the scowl from her face, missing so terribly the days when she’d turn to me and willingly kiss me. I rolled my bottom lip in and bit back the taste I swore stilllingered. It had been ten years since I’d kissed her. I didn’t care if it took me the next ten years to get her to kiss me again. It would be worth it. I pulled forward and softened my voice. “Are you hungry?”
She tsked but didn’t look my way.
