Page 75 of When I Fall In Love

“And maybe you can expand into California, once you’re on the west coast and have spied out the market.”

I laugh. “Wouldn’t that just be something for this little start-up?”

Derek stands. “It would be brilliant.”

I get up too and we meet halfway to the door. This time he pulls me into a bear hug with a few slaps on the back.

“You deserve this, Hunter. We’ve all been waiting for you to—I don’t know—just be happy.”

Funny how you can fake being happy, but those who know you best, who’ve known you all your life, can read between the lines of your daily existence.

“Let’s keep this between us for now,” I say. I just tested the waters, but I need to have a firm plan in place before we go public with the news to the rest of the employees. “I don’t want to rock the boat quite yet.”

“Of course I will.” Derek gives me a last hard squeeze, then holds me at arm’s length. “All you two need is to be together for it to work out. You’ll see.”

“Yeah, probably.” Hopefully.

“Weekend plans?” Derek asks as he takes the last two steps to my office door.

“I hope this isn’t too last minute for you… but if I fly to San Francisco for the next two weeks, will you be okay to—”

“Yes! Just go already!” He smiles. “If it all blows up, you’ll be the first to know.”

I walk out with him into the corridor, laughing. “Thank you. One last thing.”

“Yes?”

“Any chance you could ask Jessie if she has Beth’s home address on file? I know it’s probably confidential, but just in case Beth can’t answer my messages, being in a hearing and so on.”

“I’ll ask her and forward it to you if she has it.”

“Thank you.”

When he gets to his own office door, he turns back to me and waves me off. “Go!”

“Okay!” I drag my fingers through my hair, feeling as light as a feather. Derek disappears into his office, and I glance up the corridor in the other direction. It’s empty. The perfect moment to make my quiet escape. I only return to my office to grab my jacket, car keys and phone.

Without looking back, I walk into the reception, ignoring Britt, not even sure if she’s at her desk, continue down the stairs and out into the cool fall air, heading away from Ashleigh Lake Organic Ice Cream and Dairy and everything that’s been holding me back for years.

38

BETH

I’m stuck in a bar just after eight on a Friday night. For most people this would be a great place to be. I need to show my face but right now it’s the last place on the planet where I want to spend another minute.

We’re celebrating because we won the hearing, and the merger will go ahead. Hurray… or not. I plaster on a fake smile and turn towards Jana where she’s positively glowing. Yes, this win will do her and the company good—as for me, this win is the straw that’s breaking the camel’s back.

For a moment I dig in my purse for my phone. There’s been no word from Hunter, and I haven’t messaged him since yesterday. Maybe that’s the bigger issue here. I have too much on my mind and sitting in a hearing did nothing to untangle the traffic jam in my head. I don’t want to be here because I want to be with him. Except that he is on the other side of the country. I need to talk to him, rather urgently, but it isn’t going to happen in some rowdy bar. Never mind that it’s past eleven o’clock on his side and for all I know he’s already in bed. It’s not as if he’s had an easy week either.

“I’m going home,” I say over the noise as I lean toward Jana, making sure she can hear me.

“Already? But we just got here.”

“Yes.” Most people are still on their first drink, that’s how fast I want to bail out of here.

“Come on, Beth. This is a victory, please stay.”

I shake my head and reach for her hand. “Yes, congrats, you did well.”

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