Page 143 of Doctorshipped
But like the ghost of Christmas yet to come, Shannon keeps prodding me to read on. So I do.
“It’s always sunny before the storm.”
“Choose realism. Choose realism? That’s not Jayme.”
I think of all the times she challenged my cynicism, right here, in this office.
“She’s broken, Grant. And you have to fix this. You have to.” Now Shannon is begging me. As if I don’t want to fix this. It’s the only thing I want.
I pick up another and read it. “Love is not the answer. A second order of shrimp and rice just might be.”
Love. Does Jayme love me?
I read the fortune over again. If she’s saying love is not the answer it means she has loved and she thinks it’s not the answer for her.
In the strangest turn of events since Margot showing up out of nowhere, I find myself hoping for the both of us. Jayme may not believe love is the answer. But, I know it is. It has to be. My love alone wouldn’t be enough, but our love for one another. It can be.
My eyes meet Shannon’s. “I want to fix this, Shannon. I’d give anything to have her back.”
“Anything?”
“Anything. And I know what I need to do.”
“What are you going to do?”
I’m not proud. I’ll grovel. I’ll enlist her friends. I’ll rally the whole town if I need to. I’ll do whatever it takes.
“I’m going to do my best to fix this. Or, I’m going to die trying. I have a plan. But, I might need your help.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Shannon smiles. “You’ve got all our help. But, let me tell you right now, and what I’m about to say applies from now going forward. If you ever hurt her like this again, Laura said she’ll make you sing soprano. And that might only be the start of your problems.”
I’m not sure what that phrase actually means, but I believe Shannon. If anyone could make a man sing soprano, it’s Laura.
“I won’t ever make her hurt like this again,” I promise.
“Then count us in. And Grant?”
“Yes?”
“Jayme doesn’t really want space. The space between the two of you is killing her. She wants you. But only if you make the changes you need to make. Time and space alone will only solidify your breakup. And trust me, she might be hurting now, but she’ll bounce back eventually. She’ll move on. You’ll lose her. So, if she matters to you like you say she does, then you will do whatever it takes. My personal fave would be to see you use this time to win her back.”
I nod.
Shannon leaves and I sweep the misfortune cookie sayings into my trash can. Then I begin making phone calls, starting with a call I never thought I’d ever make—to Ella Mae.
43
JAYME
I’m climbing into my car on Tuesday to go work a few hours at the flower mart. Fall arrangement orders have increased this week, which makes me think of the vase I smashed on Grant’s floor. All paths in my mind seem to travel back to him somehow.
Ella Mae sent me another text telling me to check my follower count just before I walked out the door. She’s sending prompts to check my account daily this week. The numbers have been growing exponentially every day. And the weird thing is we’ve only been posting quotes from the books, or random vampire “facts.” Well, Ella Mae has been posting.
I was ready to throw in the towel on social media after my breakup with Grant, but Ella Mae wouldn’t hear of it. So, I officially hired her as what’s called a social media manager. My agent is thrilled. I pay Ella Mae in baked goods and a small monthly stipend. She said she’s doing fine with sponsorship and ad revenue from her own accounts. She doesn’t need my money right now, but she loves my cookies and muffins.
I joked if this whole author gig doesn’t work out, I’ll start a baked goods business. She told me I’d do no such thing because I’m going to be the next Bram Stoker. The fact that she knew who Bram Stoker was impressed me.
“Bram Stoker didn’t have to amass followers on social media,” I had pouted to her.
