Page 20 of Austen, Edited

Chapter 11

The first few days of classes passed faster than Abby was ready for. She’d already been assigned a couple of papers, and the number of English classes she was taking had gone down by two from previous semesters. After classes, she’d hop on the BC bus that took her down to the other T stops, allowing her to get to the Love, Austen office.

She’d finally finished typing up all the paperwork in the big box by Thursday night, and since she only had one class on Friday morning, she was already in the office by eleven.

“Hey, Abby,” Meg said when she walked into her boss’s office. “You’re here early today.”

“Yeah, that’s just how my schedule works out.” Abby glanced around, seeing the several pictures hung behind Meg’s desk, most of them adventures with Parker. The section of wedding invitations was pretty impressive as well, taking up half the wall. “Wow, that’s how many people you’ve helped find love?”

Meg turned her head in the direction Abby was looking and nodded. “Yep, and soon enough, I’ll get to add my own invitation there.” Meg’s smile lit up her face like it was something she’d been hoping for a long time.

“When are you getting married?” Abby sat on the edge of one of the chairs in front of Meg’s desk.

“December, I hope. We just need to set the actual date. That’s when business here slows down a bit, and we thought that would be the best time to go on a honeymoon. Parker’s new law firm is finally taking off, and he hired another lawyer, so that gives us some flexibility.” Meg paused a moment, her eyes twinkling with mischief when she asked, “How are things going with Mr. Campbell?”

Abby shifted, uncomfortable under her boss’s gaze. “I think he’s doing well. I’ve only texted him a few times because he’s been busy at his father’s office, trying to get things figured out there.”

Meg leaned over her desk. “No, I mean, how are things between the two of you?”

Abby slumped back against the seat, trying to decide how much to share. “They’re awkward. But it’s hard to go back to instant best friends after all that happened.” She paused, and when she saw Meg wanted her to continue, she sighed. “He started dating Hannah during Christmas break of his senior year, my sophomore year. She was home from Princeton, and the three of us started hanging out a lot.”

Abby gulped, trying to keep her emotions even. “I’m not even sure how they became a couple, but Greyson kept inviting me along, and after a few snide whispers from Hannah, basically staking her claim to him, I just stopped hanging out with them. It hurt after all that time of Greyson and I always being together, and I was suddenly alone, or the third wheel. But when he didn’t even call me to talk about leaving for Princeton, that crushed me. I found out from his mother first when I walked over to hang out with him one day. He just confirmed it as a side comment as he packed up his car. I’d always known he wanted to pursue a grad degree, but the fact that he hadn’t asked my advice like he’d done all those times before, I felt betrayed.”

She ran the back of her hand under her nose, sniffing as she worked to hold the tears back. “Sorry, that sounds really lame now that I’ve said it out loud. I’m mad because he didn’t talk to me. Not to mention that he didn’t contact me almost the entire year he was gone.”

Meg shook her head. “Not lame at all. You were used to being his confidante, and all of a sudden you’d been pushed away. I can understand that.”

“Every time I think about that day, I see Greyson’s mom’s face with that smug expression. She told me he was better off with Hannah, that her status would make it easier for her to adapt to the social circles of the Campbells. And then he gave me a quick side hug, of all things, to say goodbye.” She swallowed hard, hoping to rid her throat of the hard mound forming. “Last weekend was the first time we really hugged since Hannah came into the picture, and I want to say I didn’t feel anything, but I’d missed it. Him, I mean.”

Frowning, Meg studied Abby’s face, and then it was as if a light bulb had gone off. “Oh, he’s one ofthoseCampbells. The billionaires?”

Abby nodded, sniffing again. “Yep. Greyson doesn’t act like it at all, even though he’s been given a lot in his life. My uncle would love to have the money they have.”

“What does your uncle do?”

“He owns City Athletics, so he’s got enough money. But millionaire isn’t billionaire status.” Abby tasted the bitterness of her words and shook her head. She’d never quite thought of it like that until she’d said it.

The chime over the door sounded, and both Meg and Abby paused, waiting to see who would walk up to the reception desk. Tiffany had afternoon classes, so she wouldn’t be in at all.

“Hello?” a deep voice called out. A few seconds later, Greyson walked into view, causing Abby’s cheeks to flame. She went over the conversation, making sure she hadn’t said anything about him within the few minutes before he walked in. Letting him know she held a torch for him was not something she wanted to have happen, especially when she wasn’t sure she could trust him about Hannah.

“Hey, you two,” he said, turning to see them in Meg’s office. “I, uh, tweaked some things for your app and wanted to get your approval so far before I continue.”

Meg grinned at him. “You’ve had time to build an app and work for your father? That’s pretty impressive, right, Abby?”

Abby knew what she was trying to do, and her whole body tensed, not wanting to play games right now.

The corner of Greyson’s mouth quirked up, and he leaned against the doorframe, looking so casual and handsome that Abby had to look away, focusing on her nails.

“Well, when your best friend is busy at college, you have to do something to occupy your nights.” His words brought Abby’s glance up to his, his eyes focused on her face causing her stomach to flip.

But he’d called her his best friend, meaning she shouldn’t even feel something for him because she would be forever in the friend zone.

Meg looked between the two of them, finally saying in an exaggerated tone, “I’m swamped here with these emails and organizing the fall event, but Abby can check on it with you. I trust her.”

Snapping her head in Meg’s direction, Abby widened her eyes, pleading for her boss to reconsider. Although she’d thought about Greyson often over the past week, she’d also had plenty to keep her mind occupied past that. But sitting next to him, with how attractive he looked in a button-up shirt and tie, his hair swept to the side, she might have a hard time keeping her heart safe from him.

Abby stood slowly, flashing Meg a frown before turning to Greyson. “Let me grab my notebook.”

She brushed his arm as she passed, wishing she could forget about the static electricity of his touch. If she wasn’t careful, she was heading for another heartbreak, one that she might not make it back from this time.

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