The floor fell out from under me as I comprehended what he said. That didn’t make sense.
“What do you mean?” I asked, convinced he wasn’t saying what I thought he was.
“The fact that you’re willing to walk away from a case like this, a case that could define your career, tells me all I need to know. I don’t need someone like that on my team.”
My arms dropped, limp and numb, at my sides. “You’re not firing me.”
“No?”
His voice was so cold that I shivered.
“Because I’m pretty sure I am.”
I shook my head. “No.” It felt like the world was coming to an abrupt stop. My heart pounded in my ears. “You can’t do that.” I took a step toward him. “Preston, please—”
He scoffed and drew back. “Don’t. You’ve made your decision, Carpenter. I would’ve fought for you, but if you want nothing to do with me, I’m not going to waste my time.”
My head kept shaking side to side in denial. “Preston,” I whispered, feeling pathetic and small and as powerless as I’ve ever felt in my entire life. “I—I’m sorry.”
Through the shock and panic, I couldn’t make the apology sound convincing. Preston watched me intently, like he was waiting for something. His nose was starting to swell.
This had to be a joke. Some sick game he was playing with me. He couldn’t be firing me right now. Not after everything.
“There has to be…something else that I can do.” I sounded every ounce as desperate as I felt.
“No.” Preston sneered. “I don’t want you anymore.”
My veins went hot and cold all at once at the malice in his tone.
He headed for the door and he left, shattering my world in his wake.
I stared after Preston for a long moment, my heart racing so fast I thought I might vomit. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, trying to understand what had happened. Eventually, I forced myself to move.
I couldn’t be still any longer.
My gaze darted around the empty room, wild and unfocused, searching for something—anything—to ground me. I reached for my brother’s watch, touched the smooth surface, but it didn’t help. The space around me felt smaller, the air too thick to breathe. I couldn’t be in here another moment.
I grabbed my purse and rushed for the door, my pulse pounding as I stumbled down the stairs.
I paused in the foyer. No one was around, but I heard noise coming from the kitchen—pots clattering, Raleigh’s easy laughter, and Hailey’s little voice singing show tunes. She was Graham’s niece who often spent time here when her dad was working.
Beneath it all, was Graham’s deep, steady tone threading through everything.
My attention locked onto the archway that led to that cozy, light-filled kitchen. No one could see me standing there, but part of me longed to go in—to sit at the table and eat dinner with a family like the Ramseys. I took a step forward, but a sharp pang hit my chest as Preston’s angry face flashed in my mind.
I don’t want you anymore.
I swallowed back the bitter taste rising in my throat. No one had ever really wanted me. I didn’t belong there in that lovely kitchen with a real family.
I turned on my heel and slipped out the front door quietly, making sure no one heard me go.
19
Graham
Itwaslate,butI couldn’t focus. I’d been sitting at home, in my favorite reading chair, trying to relax, but the words of the book in front of me might’ve been in another language for how much I comprehended.
This had been happening a lot since Quinn came into my life. My reading volume had gone way down because of it.
