I flip through the papers, my heart sinking more with each page that has her initials in the corner. When I reach the final one and see her signature neatly scribbled on the line, my shoulders deflate.
This is what I wanted.
So why do I feel so shitty?
“Looks like you did it after all,” Daniel says jovially, rising from his chair and skirting around my desk.
In a daze, I stand, and he gives me a short bro-hug before walking over to the wet bar, pouring some scotch into a couple of rocks glasses. Returning to the desk, he hands me one. I take it from him, staring into space as he clinks his glass against mine. But I don’t take a sip. This doesn’t feel like a celebration.
“Oh, fuck.”
I dart my eyes toward Daniel. “What?”
He rakes his analytical gaze over me, scrutinizing me in a way only my best friend could.
“Tell me something, Callum…” He plops back down into his chair, resting his ankle on his opposite knee, completely relaxed.
Then again, he’s always relaxed. It’s why people feel comfortable around him. Why he’s so good at what he does. He’s personable. Approachable. Doesn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder, as I’ve been accused of doing.
“Before Dakota came in, you were telling me that you took my advice and were friendly to Ms. Holley. But then you started saying something else. That you may have…what?”
On a long exhale, I slump into my chair and take a few gulps of the scotch, savoring the warmth as it slides down my throat. “I think I may have gotten to know hertoowell.”
“I see.” It’s silent for a moment while he processes this. “By the forlorn look on your face, I’m guessing it didn’t end all that amicably.”
“It was supposed to. We agreed from the beginning that we’d walk away when my reservation ended. That way, we wouldn’t complicate things.”
Daniel barks out a laugh. “The second you sleep with someone, it gets complicated, despite what you want to believe. Let me guess. She decided she wanted more and you, being who you are, told her you couldn’t, all because of Sadie.”
“I don’t have time for a relationship. Not with this project officially on our plate now.” I swallow hard through the sour taste in my mouth over the idea.
“And if it wasn’t this project, it would be a different one. Or some other excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse. People depend on me.”
“People depend on me, too, yet I found time to date. To fall in love. To get married.”
“I’ve…dated.”
Daniel gives me a skeptical look. “I’m not sure I’d count the occasional one-night stand as dating.”
“I travel a lot.”
“So do I.”
“But I—”
“Listen, Callum,” he interrupts before I can make yet another bullshit argument.
At this point, he’s heard them all.
“I get why you’re the way you are.”
“And howamI?” I ask hesitantly, unsure I want to hear his response.
“Scared.”
“I’m not scared,” I insist, but don’t look directly at him.
