Page 132 of Take It Offline
Why should I get to have Emma when I’ve hurt her so badly?
“Then earn it,” Reese says, and an echo of the old me roars in my chest.
CHAPTER 45
SOMEONE OLD, SOMETHING NEW
EMMA
Ihave to hand it to my mother.
She demanded Violet’s apology in the form of a very generous donation and send-off, and she didn’t back down an inch.
To my everlasting relief, it’s only a small affair. Harvey has shown me the account receipts proving that the costs have already been paid by Logan’s parents. It’s being billed as a “generous thank-you” for all of my parents’ contributions over the years. Honestly, I don’t care what they call it, as long as it doesn’t cost my parents a cent. The champagne is decent, though.
The sun’s turned out in all its glory, as though personally invited. As I soak up every hill and valley, it takes everything in me not to get emotional. The terrace is dressed beautifully, adorned for the last time. Come tomorrow, the house will be under new ownership.
I flag down a fresh glass of Cristal and blink back the tears.
“Heads up,” Ivy whispers behind her glass. “Ex at three o’clock.”
My heart skips a beat, and I don’t even pretend to be subtle about looking. But in the next second, my stomach sinks. It’s not Charlie.
Ivy winces. “Sorry, I should have said it was the other one.”
Logan lifts his chin, trying to catch my eye, but I turn back to the view. It’s all too reminiscent of the last time I was standing here. Of the man who was standing beside me.
This time, instead of Charlie, I have Ivy, and she’s giving me her patented “You know what you want; what are you going to do about it?” look.
“We’re not broken up,” I repeat for the third time. “Charlie’s just being…” Infuriating. Ridiculous. Scared.
“Have you seen him this week?” she asks.
My shoulders fall. “Not even his shadow.” For so long, I couldn’t escape him. But ever since he moved back to Operations, he’s been a ghost.
She squeezes my hand. “He’ll come to his senses. I’m sure of it. You didn’t see the way he looked at you.”
But I did see it. Which is what makes it hurt so much.
I want to call him, ask him how his day went, ask about Reese. I want to storm over to his apartment and lock us inside until he comes to his senses.
Hell, I’d settle for him telling me to go fuck myself if it meant hearing his voice.
Morning, sunshine.
I miss it. I miss him. I kind of want to punch him.
How is it even possible to be this mad at a person I love so much?
Work is awful without him. I can’t even enjoy the peace of Roberts’s absence, because every time I look up, I expect to see Charlie’s sparkling blue eyes, only to find an empty space.
I’ve drafted an email to HR asking for a desk change, but I haven’t sent it. I have no idea how to phrase “I get sad every timeI see the desk of the guy I was sleeping with, and oops, we were meant to disclose that but didn’t, sorry.”
“Where did your parents disappear to?” Ivy asks.
Oh god, for a blissful few minutes, I’d actually forgotten why I came out here. “They are presently saying goodbye to their bedroom. Biblically.”
Ivy’s jaw drops, looking scandalized, which is exactly what I was fifteen minutes ago when I went looking for them. At least she didn’t have to hear it.
