“Maybe you should stay where you are.”
“I can’t, Amé. Despite the fact that she’s been attacking me and shitting on me these last few years, I spent eighteen years with that woman, and I loved her. I want to see her and make sure she’s okay, and if she’s not . . .”
“You want to say your goodbyes.”
“Exactly.”
“Fine. Just be safe on your drive up.”
“I’m not driving. I want to catch a quick flight up there.”
“Okay. I’ll call Gabriel and see if you can use his helicopter,” she stated, referring to one of my business partners.
“Cool. Shoot me the details when you get them.”
“I will. Where do you need them to pick you up at?”
“Laramie Falls, at the winery and restaurant.”
“Ahh, you’re at your cabin.”
“That’s not for the world to know, Amé.”
“This is me, Ash. Your secret’s safe with me. I’ll get on it right away and send you the details as soon as I have them.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Oh, and another thing. Please avoid the media.”
“I’ll do my best.” I ended the call and turned to see Chanel staring at me. She was so beautiful, turned sideways with her elbow resting on her thigh and her head in her palm.
“Is she okay? What happened?”
I didn’t have to tell her that it was Zoe. She knew. But I did give her the details along with the option to fly to Atlanta with me.
“I think this is something you should do on your own.”
“I would prefer to have you at my side, Chanel.”
“Things are heated right now. It’s bad enough that there are allegations about you and me. I think it might be seen as disrespectful for me to show up by your side. I’m certain that if you were to ask Zoe, her answer might be no.”
I nodded because she was right. I cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. “I don’t want you to feel like I was trying to disrespect you.”
“I know you weren’t. I understand that you just wanted me to feel included and not like you’re running from your lover’s side to be by your ex-wife’s side.”
“Damn.”
She smiled, and it was her turn to cup my face with her hands. “Seriously. Go. It’s like you said, you spent several years with that woman. She deserves to have you there. I’m not worried about you having some last-minute moral debate and going back to her. If you do, . . . then you do. But I trust you to take care of my heart,” she stated before she kissed me sweetly.
I nodded and dialed Shaniece next.
“Hello?”
“Hey, uhm, . . . I need your help.”
“Sure, Ash. Anything.”
“I need a car reserved for tomorrow.”
