Page 73 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

I look back to the office, where everyone is seemingly getting back to work. “I will too. Mostly.”

I leave his office, my head held high, as I go to my desk and quickly pack up my belongings. Andi helps me, but doesn’t say anything as she carries one of the boxes to my car.

“Call me later?”

“Of course.”

I’m in a haze as I spend the next hour driving to my parents’ house in Rolling Hills as I replay the last hour of my life on repeat.

And each time it finishes, I don’t regret a single second.

Except that I don’t have a job.

And I only have a place to live because Ainsley’s an angel.

Oh, and I’m getting sued.

Still no regrets. All of these are small prices to pay to avoid what would’ve been the biggest mistake of my life.

When I pull into my parents’ driveway, I see my dad sitting on the front porch swing. Does he know? Or is this coincidence?

“Stella?”

Surprise. Good. I can handle that.

“Hey, Dad.”

“What’s wrong?”

I wince a little before telling him an abridged version of the events.

“I might or might not have just told the entire law firm that Duncan likes to be flogged. And why I ran from the wedding. Oh, and I called him a pencil dick and then I quit.”

Dad laughs. “Did you throw in that he’s a cheating asshole?”

“Of course.”

“Do you need a lawyer?”

“Probably.”

He throws his arm around me as he leads me into the house. “That’s my girl.”

21

emmett

One of thebest parts of my job is that every day is a little different, but has enough continuity to keep me sane. Some days I can stay in Nashville and inspect our properties here. Some days I can work from home and check on permits and do any coordination I need to do.

Every Tuesday I drive to Rolling Hills to check on our work down there, which again, I don’t mind. It’s only an hour drive, and I’m promised to get the best coffee and breakfast in Tennessee from Mona’s, which is Charlie’s diner.

Today is Tuesday. Today I was met with a text from Simon on my way into town asking me to meet him for breakfast. Today is the only day I wanted to skip my weekly ritual, because I didn’t want to face my boss and best friend.

He’s going to ask me about Florida. He’s going to ask me about Stella and how she was down there. And I’m going to have to lie. I can’t say that I fucked her brains out and it’s been three days since I’ve been back and I can’t get her out of my damn head.

“He’s alive!”

I chuckle under my breath as Simon waves at me from thebreakfast counter. “Yes, I’m alive. I went on vacation, not on an extended medical leave.”

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