“What? Have her call you?” Edward said, exasperated. “And then what?”
“I do love her,” I said. “And I’m very sorry about lying about the watch.”
“Too late now,” Shirley said tersely as she put Avery’s DVDs into a box.
I wordlessly helped Avery’s friends pack. When I went into the closet to take out her clothes, I pressed my face to her dresses and inhaled her scent. A part of me simply could not comprehend that I was losing her, that Avery would no longer be living here, that we wouldn’t sit on the couch and read together, that we wouldn’t laugh at the interns over dinner together, that we wouldn’t lie in bed together. It just seemed so unfathomably wrong. It was so clear that she was meant to be with me.
But you screwed up.
And that was the gist of it, wasn’t it? I had fucked up, and I’d lost her.
* * *
Weston wassilent on the plane ride to Boston, but he was professional enough not to let the tension be visible when we walked into the Honest Pet Company headquarters.
“Honesty,” the CEO said when we shook hands. “The thing I liked best about your presentation was the pictures of you with your rabbit.” She laughed. “Does he like our food?”
“He does,” I said. Then I remembered—Cesario didn’t live with me anymore. For that matter neither did Avery. I shouldn’t let the CEO think he still did. Lying had cost me my last contract.
“Actually, he’s my ex’s rabbit,” I admitted. “We just broke up. She got custody of him.”
The CEO looked as if she was about to cry. “Oh, I’m so sorry! You look like you really loved that little bunny.”
She gave me a hug. “Pets are very special. Maybe you can open your home to a foster rabbit. There are a lot of bunnies that are abandoned, especially after Easter. Unfortunately, not as many people want a rabbit as want a cat or a dog. Foster homes and forever homes are always needed!”
“You know,” I said, “I had no idea about the issue. I think I will adopt a rabbit.”
She smiled brightly. “My wife runs an animal rescue that operates in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. I’ll send you the contact info.”
* * *
“That went pretty well,”Weston said. He seemed like he was in a better mood after the presentation. “I bet we win that contract.” Our phones went off at the same time.
“Oh hell yeah!” Weston whooped as he scrolled through his email. “They are awarding us the contract.” He slapped me on the back. “You better go adopt like five rabbits.”
I turned to my brother. “I am sorry,” I said.
He wrapped me in a hug. “I’m just glad she didn’t break your heart.”
“No, I did that all on my own.”
Weston narrowed his eyes at me. “You really love her, huh.”
“Yeah, I do.”
68
Avery
Ihugged Cesario to my chest when my friends returned with my stuff from Blade’s condo.
“How was he?” I asked.
“Seriously?” Edward demanded. “He screwed you over, lied to you, cost you your house, and you’re worried about his feelings? You want to know how Blade is? He’s fine. He’s a billionaire. You, however, might be sued or hauled off to jail if you don’t return your grandmother’s jewelry and dress.”
My eyes bugged out. “Fuck! Seriously?”
The jewelry and tiara were fine. I had wrapped them in tissue paper. But the dress was in a bad state. The water had dried, and the dress had wavy brown lines along the hem and train. The gown itself was spattered with mud and dirt.
