Page 104 of Ten Rules for Faking It
“This has been a little unconventional. The waiting was hard. I’m excited to see what’s next. I know there are no guarantees or anything, but I’ve always thought if you go with your gut, just follow your heart, it’ll lead you where you’re meant to be. No guarantees. But no regrets that way either.”
The waiter appeared with a basket of bread. “To start,” he said, smiling at them.
When he left, Everly’s breathing evened out. This steady, sweet, charming man could be her one. He was real. They liked each other. They had something they could truly build on. Life came down to choices. Making one and sticking with it. No regrets.
[35]
Chris pressed End on his phone and tossed it on his bed. His father wasn’t taking his calls. There was so much anger and frustration vibrating off his skin, Chris wouldn’t be surprised if his father could feel it all the way across the country.
Linking his fingers behind his head, he paced the length of his bedroom. When he’d arrived in California, his life had been a perfectly organized entity. Like a Jenga tower before someone took it apart. Over the course of the last year, the more time he spent with Everly, the more the pieces disappeared. Now, he felt like he was one breath away from the entire thing crumbling.
It wasn’t just Everly either. His father had gone behind his back, emailing the advertising company to inform them their doors were being shut. He had no goddamn right. But he had the power and wielded it how he saw fit.
Chris had made a decision before telling Everly how he felt. He wanted to stay. Talking with Noah had confirmed it. He’d planned to tell his father he needed more time here until he could figure out the best approach.
Now, there was no point in having that conversation. Everly was out on her date with her bachelor of choice, she’d shot him down because of something he’d done when he was barely an adult, and his father was dangling his career in front of him like everything was a big, stupid game.
One where he lost everything.
He lowered his hands. “Stop.” If Noah were here, instead of out on a date—how did that guy find a social life so fast?—he’d be telling Chris to knock off the pity party and figure shit out.
“Nothing to figure out. Everly’s too scared to take a chance. Dad will rake you over the coals until he feels you’ve earned your place back, then it’ll be business as usual.” At least, once that happened, he’d be in New York rather than here, watching Everly build her perfectly structured life on her divorce-free foundation.
Damn, he was mad. Which beat the hurt he’d been feeling since he left her house. He left his room and went to the kitchen to grab a beer.
Dressed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, he leaned against the counter, his entire body weary, popped the top, and took a long swallow. He set it down and sighed. He and Everly had been avoiding each other for days. There was no way he believed she was sick the last two days, so today he’d made sure to show up after her spot was finished. He could do that for a couple of more months while he trained Mari to take over as station manager. He had a meeting with her and Mason tomorrow to offer her the promotion. She’d earned it and would do a good job. If his father would return his damn calls, he’d be able to tell him he was heading home sooner than expected.
The idea of being face-to-face with his father turned his stomach. The ad company had been dissolved behind Chris’s back. Would his life always be like this? What other option did he have? In the back of his Everly-addled brain, he’d thought she’d want him. He’d stay, run the station, prove to his father that it was worth the time, money, and effort.
When he heard the buzzer for his apartment, he felt relief. Maybe Noah’s date hadn’t gone well. Sure, he should wish his brother well, but right now, he’d rather hang out with him. If for no other reason, to get out of his own damn head. Chris pulled the door open, leaned on the jamb, waiting for the elevator to arrive.
The elevator door slid open, and whatever smart-ass comment Chris was going to make to his brother died in his throat. Everly walked toward him, dressed in a pale blue dress that cinched at her waist and flared out after that. Her hair was up, off her face but in a way he’d never seen. It was like one of those updos women did where it looked easy but probably took several engineers to orchestrate. Her makeup was soft and striking. Her shoulders were stiff, her gaze laser focused on him. She looked like she was on a mission.She’s breathtaking.
She stopped in front of him, and even in her black sling-back heels—damn, those were sexy—she only came up to his shoulders.
Her gaze nearly scorched him. She poked him in the shoulder. “I don’t want it to be you. I have a list of reasons why it shouldn’t be.”
She unzipped her purse, reaching in to pull out a folded piece of paper. Even as he scrambled to form words, his throat impossibly dry, she slapped what he guessed was the list, against his chest.
She returned her eyes to his. He could freaking drown in them. Why the hell did he feel so much for this woman?
Around the dryness, he mumbled, “I don’t need your list, Everly. You were more than clear the other night. I’m not likely to forget all your reasons anytime soon.”
Still, he reached for the paper and scrunched it in his fist. She smelled like vanilla. He wanted to lower his head, bury his nose in her neck to breathe her in endlessly.She made her choice.
“I went out with Owen tonight.”
His heart skidded to a stop. There it was. Her choice. Why did she feel the need to ram it down his throat? Hadn’t he taken it well? He’d wanted to grab her and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe. Instead, he’d left. Let her make her damn decisions even if he knew it was wrong for both of them.
“I know that. I hope it was perfect.” Regardless of how madhe was at her for not taking a chance on them, he wanted her to have what she wanted. If she was happy, it was enough.
Everly looked down. Chris curled the fingers of his other hand into his palm so he didn’t reach out to touch her. To lift her chin.
She looked up again, her eyes bright. Wet. “It was.” She tilted her head to the side. Chris felt like she’d ripped his skin off his body. His heart slammed up against the wall of his chest.
Awesome.“That’s great. I’m happy for you.” His words came out like gravel sliding over a metal grate. It wasn’t a lie. Not completely. He was happy at least one of them could pretend this was the best thing.
You’re leaving. You won’t have to stick around to watch her fall in love.
