But then she saw Nissy, sitting regally in her window, watching the world with big eyes. Josh stood just in front of her window, his hands in his pockets, his expression back to stoic and withdrawn.
A bird sang somewhere in the distance, and she didn’t know what kind of bird it was, but he would. Their eyes met, and she didn’t hesitate or stop to think, or try to do what was right or expected. She ripped open the door, flung her glasses on the seat beside her, and ran to him.
He caught her out of the air and lifted her high into his arms and laughed. God. Helaughed. Genuine and free and full of delight. She cradled his face in her hands and bowed her head to kiss him. There in the sunlight, surrounded by the scent of sunshine on green leaves. And he kissed her back like she was rain on a summer’s day, and he was dying of thirst.
And when he finally set her down, he held her a moment longer. He pressed his cheek against her hair and whispered so softly she didn’t think she was meant to hear him. “I’ll miss you, Ellie. More than you could know.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ellie’s Londonoffices were in an airy old warehouse with big windows and high ceilings. She’d worked closely with an amazing designer to create a techy-steampunk hybrid full of rich jewel-toned fabrics, exposed copper piping, old leather-bound books on cluttered shelves, and antique maps of London on the brick walls.
There was a battered brown leather sofa at reception, every available space was filled with a jungle of leafy plants, and a massive wrought iron clock oversaw it all. But if a visitor looked closely, they would soon see that it was threaded through with elegantly designed technology. And it was all cutting-edge; from the biometric entry to the voice-activated, customizable drinks machine, to the solar panels providing nearly all the energy.
Usually, Ellie stepped inside with a spark of pride and awe, a deep-seated gratitude for this magical place. Usually, it reminded her that she was part of something special. But not this time. This time, she was frazzled from the stressful drive, anxious about seeing Vic, and Josh’s last whispered words played on repeat in her head.
Within seconds of opening the door, Sally looked up from the reception desk and saw her. Then the madness really began.Everyone poured out of offices and meeting rooms to greet her, hug her, and see how she was recovering. There were only twenty of them all together, so everyone knew everyone, and over time, they’d become a kind of family. People joined and stayed.
For the first time since seeing that e-mail, Ellie felt her shoulders soften. She should have come back earlier. She had needed this. This feeling of belonging. The excitement of working with talented people to create something wonderful.
But then she saw Vic. Standing apart. Always the most elegant person in the room. Victoria’s hair was styled into a perfect spiky bun, and her designer skirt landed just above her knees to reveal her long legs. She had folded her arms over her chest, watching the excitement with a frown. And Ellie’s sense of belonging slowly dissolved.
Vic was her best friend… but she was also the only person who looked like she’d rather Ellie was somewhere else. Somewhere far away.
Ellie finished chatting and finally faced Victoria as the last of the designers took their leave. Neither of them spoke as they strode toward Ellie’s office and settled at the glass table beneath the window. She considered sitting at her desk and letting Vic sit across from her, giving herself space and authority—armor to protect the vulnerable softness she was struggling to hide—but it felt petty. This conversation was going to be hard enough.
Ellie looked at her friend for a long moment, noting the dark rings under her eyes, the fine lines bracketing her mouth. She looked like she’d been eating badly. As if things had been tough for her. And for the first time since learning about the new server room, Ellie felt concern threading through her anger. She reached out to settle her hand on Victoria’s arm. “What happened, Vic? Talk to me.”
Vic leaned back, away from her touch. “Nothing happened. I made a decision for the business.”
Ellie pulled her hand back and straightened. “You made a decision you knew I wouldn’t like.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed, her face setting into the expression Ellie had seen multiple times over the years—stubborn pride and defensiveness. “You left me in charge.”
Ellie dragged in a breath. She hadn’tleft. She’d been catapulted into a nightmare. She raised an eyebrow, and Vic had the grace to look guilty.
“You know what I mean,” Vic muttered.
Did she? Ellie wasn’t sure. Still, it didn’t really matter why she hadn’t been there. “That isn’t the point. I couldn’t be here, and I trusted you to represent me while I was gone.”
Vic winced, the expression fleeting and almost unnoticeable unless you knew Vic well. Which Ellie did. But Vic still didn’t back down. “You expected me to do what was best. And I did.”
“I expected you to do what was best for the company.” Ellie’s voice started to rise, and she forced it back to calmness. She leaned forward against the table, ignoring the headache creeping up to hammer at her temples. “Selling is not best for the game, for the people who work here, or even for our players. It’s not good for me—and you know, better than anyone, my opinion on this. It’s only good for a lot of immediate cash.”
Victoria shook her head. “You don’t really think that, or you would have refused the offer straight away. I have no idea why you’re dragging this out, but it’s painful for everyone.”
Ellie flinched. God. She’d been trying so hard to find a compromise when there really wasn’t one. She’d delayed because she didn’t want to hurt her friend or alienate her father. But clearly that was a mistake. “You’re right; I should have made this decision weeks ago.”
Vic leaned forward, her elbows coming to rest on the table. “Think of what you can do with that cash, Ellie. You could create a whole new game. You could create a whole new life. You wanted to travel…. Do it. You wanted to work less…. Do it. You wanted to find someone; now you can.”
Ellie watched her friend, noting the relief glimmering in her eyes. Vic thought she’d won. And itwasa good list, all things Vic knew Ellie wanted. Things she’d put off for so long that if she’d died on that road, she would have missed them entirely. And perhaps if Vic had come to her in the difficult days when she first came home from hospital, Ellie would have been swayed. But she hadn’t. Ellie had faced those days alone and kept trying. She’d kept getting out of bed, even when it was hard. She’d begun to find herself again. And she’d given the sale all the thought it required. She had done her due diligence, and she was confident in her decision.
In the past, Victoria would have been her biggest cheerleader. But not this time. Why not? That was the real question. Why was Victoria pushing this so hard? “And what would you do withyourcash, Vic?”
“We—” Vic swallowed the word immediately. But it was too late.
Ellie straightened. “Who’s we?”
“I meant to say I—” Vic started, but Ellie cut her off.
