"Autumn, hello," Jeanne's voice breaks through my carnal thoughts. It's been a mere two months since I heard her voice, but I'd already forgotten it. "Jeanne here. I'm sure you were quite surprised to see my call. I'll cut to the chase. Bill is out. He bought a ranch in Montana and moved his entire family there." I may have forgotten the sound of Jeanne's voice, but I can still pick up her emotions from her tone, and right now I hear disbelief mixed with disgust. "We'd like for you to take his place. VP of Product Marketing. I know you're spending some time in”—she pauses, and it hits me that she's trying to remember where I told her I was going—“out west." A blanket term. That's like telling someone I wentback east. "Call me. We'd love to have you back. We're willing to work with you on a start date, and I have been authorized to double your previous pay."
The voicemail ends, and goosebumps break out onto my arms.
I slide the phone back into my purse as Jeanne’s voice goes round and round my head.
Go back to New York?
Double my pay?
FUCKING VP before thirty! It’s everything I’ve wanted as far as career goals go.
"Everything okay?" Owen asks.
I look at Owen, at his honest, open face. I know what he would say if I told him what Jeanne said. Which is why I can't.
"She was just checking in to see how things are going out here." The fib slides out smoothly.
Owen nods. I can't tell if he believes me, or if he just wants to.
"Let's go." I take his hand and pull him into the belly of the beast.
We spend the next few hours in our version of debauchery. Owen teaches me roulette and craps. I win and lose, then win again. We drink too much and stay up too late.
For a few hours, we pretend we're not here for the saddest reason ever.
Chapter 23
Owen
There area lot of things I never thought I'd do in my life.
Getting back together with Autumn is first on that list. I mean, yeah, I prayed for it until my mouth turned dry, but I never thought it would actually happen. The chasm between us seemed too large to cross.
Second on that list? Writing a prescription for medical marijuana for Autumn's mom.
Check, and check.
It's starting to get painful for Faith, not that she lets it show. Autumn doesn't notice, and for that I'm grateful. Me, on the other hand? It's my job to notice the slightest wince, the longer blinks, the slower movements.
The first two times Faith had cancer, I offered to write her a prescription. She declined my offer, telling me she'd escaped her teenage years without having done it and she didn't plan to start. This time?
Well, she's at the dispensary right now.
I'm sitting in Faith's living room, waiting for her to arrive. I came straight here after work, knowing Autumn was out at dinner with her new friend Livvie. Faith called me earlier in the day, and with a voice that betrayed her exhaustion and embarrassment, she asked me for the last thing I expected.
As I sit on Faith’s couch, my phone dings with a text message from Autumn.
Livvie's running late, I'm waiting at the table. What are you up to?
I stare down at the phone, uncertain how to respond. I don't want to lie, but I want to respect Faith's privacy. If she wants Autumn to know about the prescription, she'll have to be the one to tell her.
I write her back.Relaxing. When do you think you'll be done? Dessert with me?
I could meet her somewhere. Or maybe have her meet me at my place and I'll have her for dessert. She's sweet like sugar, and she tastes divine. Our sex life pretty much picked up where we left it at age eighteen, except this time around both of us have more experience and confidence.
A twinge of guilt sneaks in at my roundabout lie. Sure, I'm relaxing. I just didn't tell herwhere. If we're keeping track, the score is now one to one. I know Autumn didn't tell me whatever her old boss said on that voicemail. The look on her face could not have come from someone just checking in to see how she's doing. There was surprise in her arched eyebrows, then a curve of a pleased smile. Whatever made her feel that way, Autumn didn't want me to know about it.
I decided to let it go that night. We were in Vegas; it wasn't the time or place to push. A small part of me doesn't want to know. My imagination has supplied the answer already anyhow. Something along the lines of big promotion, corner office, and whatever else could be said to lure Autumn back to Manhattan.
