Page 13 of We Thought We Knew It All
“Wait, really? Huh, didn’t expect that.”
“I sort of moved.”
She started laughing, and I wanted to reach through the phone and slap her. “Bet Dylan loves that.”
“I’ll bet Dylan doesn’t care.” I paused. “Jamie’s here.”
“Here we go.” I could practically hear her smile. “Dylan is a douche-canoe anyway. You only married him because you got preggers.”
“That is so not true.”
“If only he knew that Jacks was possibly-”
“Morgan,” I warned.
“Fine. I miss you, girly. But this is perfect, really. I promised the parentals that I’d come home for Christmas. At least I’ll get to see you.”
“Can’t wait.”
I said goodbye and hung up, feeling no better than before. Walking toward the door, I tossed my full sandwich in the trash and left the place behind.
* * *
Daniels Law wasacross town in the more recently renovated downtown area. Gulf city was small, so downtown consisted of a handful of streets lined with Italian style, one-story buildings that were home to upscale restaurants and boutiques.
Perfectly manicured gardens lined the sidewalks, surrounding sculptures by local artists. I’d never liked that part of town, instead preferring the scrubbier area we’d called home. This place just seemed so… old. It was always teeming with tourists and snowbirds who’d come south to find some warmth.
I pulled into the office building behind the shopping district, observing the suit-clad men and women who came and went. I always wondered how they survived the Florida summers with that dress code. The weather was starting to cool off now, but nowhere near enough to get me into a pair of pants.
I was wearing a tailored pair of white shorts - after Labor Day, I know - and a yellow silk shirt. My hair was swept up off my neck in a high ponytail and gold hoops hung from my ears. Yes, it was a far cry from the surfer wear that had been my go to once upon a time.
I rubbed my ring finger, trying to turn a ring that was no longer there. A habit. One that seemed impossible to break. It was a feeling - that something should be there. Not really Dylan’s ring… just something.
Slamming my car door behind me, I trudged up to the building, feeling suddenly under dressed despite the designer clothes a personal assistant had picked out for me. That’s right, personal assistant. My publisher’s idea afterEmmahit the New York Times bestseller list. She’d wanted to prepare me for interviews I had no intention of doing. The book was a sensation. Great. Wonderful. Fabulous. It could speak for itself. I didn’t see why I had to. Just the thought of it sent my nerves into overdrive.
By the time I reached Jay’s suite of offices, I was humming with nervous energy.
“Ms.…” His assistant paused.
“McCoy,” I said helpfully.
“Yes.” The woman finally looked up, seeing me for the first time. Scanning me, she nodded in approval. “Mr. Daniels has to step into a meeting in a few minutes.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “I only need one of those minutes.”
“Tessa.” Amber walked into the room, a reprimand firm in her eyes. “Callie is always welcome to Mr. Daniels’ time.”
Amber tugged on my arm and I followed her down the hall. “Jay doesn’t really have a meeting.” She leaned close. “I have Tessa saying that to keep his schedule clear. I told him not to come back in to work today, but does he listen to his wife?”
“That bad?”
“Worse.”
When we stepped inside Jay’s office, he had stacks of papers in front of him on the desk, his fingers picking through them rapidly. He didn’t look up when Amber cleared her throat, so she did it again.
“What?” he snapped.
“Callie came to see you.”
