“Come in,” Alana replied to the soft knock on her door. Quickly, she wiped away the tears rolling down her face. Saying goodbye to Drew was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do, but it was necessary.
“Are you okay?”
Alana sat straight. “I’m fine.”
Cadence sat across from her desk, reached over and put her hand over Alana’s.
Alana hoped Cadence hadn’t felt the slight tremble in her hand. She was far from okay. She’d just told Drew to leave her alone. She’d come to love him in a way that she didn’t know was possible. Now she questioned her actions. Then she thought about Jade’s voice on the phone when she called and all the speculation that action generated. Her heart and mind had been flipping and flopping for days now. She justified her actions and then questioned them almost immediately.
Alana hadn’t bothered telling Drew about the call because she assumed he’d deny any kind of betrayal. Maybe she should have been more adamant and insisted that Drew not work with Jade at all, but it wouldn’t have been fair for her insecurities to cost him potential opportunities. Drew didn’t like the fact that she had taken Gary on for a client, but he respected her decision anyway. They thought Gary had been good for business, even though he was such a difficult client.
It was over now. Hopefully Drew wouldn’t push the issue too much. Walking away was painful enough. Knowing he was leaving later that night made her appreciate his impending distance.
Cadence continued holding Alana’s hand in silence, letting her wrestle with her emotions without interruption, just like a friend does.
“Aren’t you glad that Gary finally listened to us and decided to settle the case?” Cadence asked, breaking the silence. “He flushed his chances of winning down the toilet when he lost it in the courtroom.”
“This will be best for all of us.” Alana welcomed the change of subject, but it was hard to think of anything else. She was livid when Jade answered Drew’s phone and had been angry ever since.
What Alana didn’t expect was to almost fall apart when she saw Drew. When she looked into his face, she felt wounded and wanted answers to questions she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She couldn’t trust herself to speak more than a few words at a time lest she break down right in front of him and she couldn’t do that—especially not at work.
Listening to him leave ripped her apart emotionally. She couldn’t bring herself to actually watch him walk out of her life. Now, she questioned herself again. Should she have given him a chance to tell his side? He didn’t look like he was there to apologize. When she came out of the office, he had seemed his usual self. Alana decided an apology wouldn’t have made a difference. She still needed to go for her own sake. Dating so soon after her breakup with James wasn’t smart.
Worst of all, Drew had the nerve to look impossibly handsome. Memories of the time they’d spent together inundated her mind. She remembered his kisses, his touch, the way he made love to her as if he adored her. Ma belle. She could still hear him whispering that in her ear. She could see the sun setting as they floated in that hot air balloon. She’d fallen for the new Drew and now she couldn’t eject him from her system. She didn’t know what it was that she felt for him. All she knew was that it was far more intense than anything she’d ever felt for any man.
Cadence rubbed the back of her hand, bringing Alana back to the present.
“He said he’s leaving tonight for Spain.”
“Okay.” Alana had made a decision and was going to stick with it. The last thing she was going to do was run after him.
“I almost forgot. He left this for you.” Cadence handed Alana a jewelry box and flowers.
Alana took the box and dropped it in her purse. She’d look at it later. “I’m going to be fine, Cadence.”
“Can I throw in my few cents?”
Alana raised a brow at her. “If I say no, will you listen?”
“Nah.”
“Go ahead.” Alana sat back and braced herself for her friend’s honesty. She was sure it was coming.
“No matter how scared you may be, you can’t outrun your own heart.”
Alana sighed.
“Trust me, I know.” Cadence got up. “Why don’t you go home for the rest of the day? I can handle anything that comes up in the next few hours. You could use the rest.”
“This is one time that I have to agree with you about needing rest.”
Cadence rounded Alana’s desk and hugged her.
* * *
Alana’s own home didn’t seem as warm when she got there. In the kitchen, she sat on a stool with her elbows on the countertop. She rested her head in her hands. A few moments later, she walked to the refrigerator, opened it and scanned the shelves. Closing it again, she decided she wasn’t hungry. She went to the den and the remote was on top of the couch pillow, where Drew always left it. Had she even watched TV since they’d become estranged?
She questioned her decision to come home. At work, there were more distractions and fewer reminders of Drew. She went to her study and turned on her laptop. The icon for the language app stared back at her—mocking her. Drew had purchased the program for her so that she would learn French in preparation for their next visit to his chateau. He promised to bring her in June when the lavender fields were in full bloom. In the short time that they’d become exclusive, Drew had embedded himself in her life in so many ways. He hardly spent time at his home in Brooklyn. He stayed at her house when he wasn’t visiting his parents. She felt the void his absence left in her home. She’d lived alone for years but never had she felt lonely—until now.
Alana checked her purse for her cell to make sure she didn’t miss any calls. She felt the gift box that Cadence said Drew had left for her when she dug in the bag for the phone. Curiosity won her over and she opened it. She inhaled.
The diamond earrings and matching pendant were exquisite. Was that an apology gift? The card fell to the floor when she pulled out the pendant. When she leaned over to pick it up, she noticed there was writing on it. She read the words—Don’t give up on us. I’m working on making you love me. Love Drew—and she nearly dropped the box. Her eyes watered. She squeezed them shut to hold back another stream of tears. It was too late now.