I don’t know how long we stayed there, but when the tears finally slowed, I picked my head up and found him looking at me with grave concern.
“Do you want to come home with me? Kristin won’t mind. You can stay with us if you want, but I don’t think you should be alone.”
I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I couldn’t go back to my apartment. Everything there reminded me of Preston.
“Could you take me to Hillsboro? I just need to go home tonight.”
Michael nodded. “Yeah. That’s not a problem. And don’t worry about any of this today. You’ve more than passed.”
“What about the article? I’ve fucked that up, too.”
“No, you haven’t. Jason is a college buddy of mine, and he and his husband broke up more than once when they were dating. It will be fine.”
I nodded, suddenly exhausted and emotionally spent.
“Will he be okay?” he asked quietly.
I shrugged, the tears returning unchecked. “He’s really hurt. He’ll go to Alejandro or Stella. Probably not home. My things are there. I should probably warn Alejandro I’m gonna need some more time off.”
“Do you want me to call him?”
“No. I’ll just text him.”
I leaned to the side to get my phone, my body feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds. I opened my phone to send a text to my boss.
Me: I’m going to need a few days off.
Me: I know the timing is probably terrible.
Me: Just need some time.
The tears flooded my eyes as I typed.
Alejandro: Preston?
Me: We’re over.
Alejandro: Take all the time you need.
Me: Thanks
I wiped my face on my sleeve, then picked up my things. “I’m ready to go,” I said to Michael.
He stood and pulled out his keys. “Let’s go.”
I got to my feet and walked out beside him. The chill of the breezy January air reminded me of New York. Hugging my coat tighter around me, Michael slung his arm over my shoulders, and hugged me tighter.
I just wanted Preston. I wanted him to hold me and forgive me. But I knew he wouldn’t. Not after the things he’d said.
“It’s going to work out, Nick. I know it will.”
I wished I could believe him. But I knew Preston. He didn’t forgive and forget.
When we were in the car, I set my GPS for my parents’ house, so I didn’t have to talk. We rode the twenty minutes outside the city in silence while I replayed that ugly scene in my head. I’d never seen him so angry.
Michael let me sit with my thoughts, but when he pulled up outside my childhood home, he spoke for the first time.
“Please call me if you need me. I’ll take all the models and plans to my office.”
