He’s silent for a long minute. “Does Avery want you to stay in New York?”
“Um. Kind of. She said it would be ideal. She likes to collaborate in a hands-on way.” I take a deep breath. “But Avery will understand if I have a prior commitment. So what did you decide about Archie?” I ask, my throat tight. “Because I won’t stay if you’re keeping the house and still need me. I won’t quit before my job is done. And, there’s...there’s our final week.”
He’s silent for a moment. “No,” he finally says. “We don’t need you. And I don’t want you to come back. You need to stay in New York. I don’t want you to worry about Archie or the house. Or me. Not when you have the biggest opportunity of your career. This is what you’ve always wanted. You need to focus on that.”
“So that’s it, then? You decided to sell?” Pain lances through me. While logically, I knew this was the way it would end eventually, I wished deep down that Ryder would change his mind. That he would choose his love for a dog and an old cliffside mansion over freedom. And maybe even choose me.
“I’m still finalizing things. I’ll tell you everything. But now isn’t the time. I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone. And you need to focus on this opportunity.”
I swallow. I know his answer is the best thing for my potential career. I should be thrilled that I’m free to take this job. Instead, sadness weighs me down.
I clear my throat over the hot lump in it. “What about my things?” I ask. “I didn’t pack anything with me.”
“I’ll have them delivered anywhere you need.”
“Oh. Okay,” I say, thinking. This is all happening so fast. One moment, I’m with him, and the next, I’m in New York talkingabout shipping my things. “Maybe I can store everything at Chase’s apartment in Tribeca. I’ll text you the address.”
“Is that where you’ll be staying?”
“No. Avery has a huge apartment downstairs for guests and collaborators. She wants me to stay there. And before you can worry about security, it’s no issue. She’s got a team twenty-four seven.”
I can feel the tears building. I tell myself I’m being silly. It’s not like I’m never going to see Ryder again. He’s still friends with Chase. He’s been in my life for a decade. He’ll still be around.
I was ridiculous to imagine that sex with Ryder would make me lose my feelings for him. It just made me fall impossibly harder. Me, always with the poor choices. At least I’m consistent.
“We didn’t get our final week,” I say in a wavering voice. I suck in a deep breath. “But we were always meant to be temporary, right? You’re supposed to launch our break up at the Music Awards, which is next week. And I’m heading to London to pet sit.” I wipe a tear away.
“Why are you still pet-sitting? You’ve just designed a dress for the most famous woman on the planet. And now you’re collaborating with her.”
“I made a commitment to Mrs. Landry and I can’t break it. Her daughter is counting on me. I’d leave her in a really bad position if I bail. In the past, I’ve quit too often. I need to prove to myself that I can stick with things. Plus, I need the job. This opportunity with Avery has been amazing, but I don’t have any other clients. Not yet. Pet sitting will give me a place to stay and money coming in while I figure out how to establish a design business.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “You know this isn’t goodbye.” His voice is tight with an emotion I can’t name.
I nod. And then realize he can’t see me. “I know. You can always call me. If you need anything.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Daisy. We’ll talk. And I want our final week too. More.”
“I’ll be here,” I whisper into the phone.
I hang up before I change my mind. Before I lose all my resolve and tell him I’m returning to Rockhaven. But I wouldn’t beg him for another week. And I wouldn’t beg him for a little more. I’d beg him for forever.
Falling in love with a rock star was super stupid.
I’mon the floor of Avery’s closet room adjusting a hem when I find out my entire life is going to change.
“So,” Avery says casually.
“Don’t move,” I scold. I’m doing a last fitting for the dark-blue gown.
“It’s only been three days, and you’re already bossing me around. Usually, it takes at least a week for that to happen,” Avery says.
“Please, everyone falls all over themselves around you. And I do as well. But only in secret.”
“That’s why I like you.” Avery grins. “And also, I like you because you design to-die-for dresses. Which is why I have something to tell you.”
“I love it when people have something to tell me.”
“I’m wearing this dress to the after-party.”
