Page 114 of Wild Love
“I have to go to work,” she says, voice small and broken. I’m gutted. I can’t believe I screwed this up so epically.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fuck this up for you. I just wanted you to know how much I want this.” I hug her to my chest. I will fix this somehow. “Everything is going to be okay. You’ll see.”
36
Dakota
Everything is not okay.
I take a seat in Blythe’s office, stomach clenching and acid rising in my throat. Reese and Quinn both texted, along with Reagan, Sienna, and Ginny. I’m blowing up. And Johnny thought no one would know? Seriously?
“Katherine will be here soon, but I wanted to talk to you first and get ahead of it. I can’t tell you how much I despise prying into my intern’s lives, but the news that Johnny Maverick is off the market is big news. Made bigger by the fact these red shoes look a lot like yours.” She glances down. I wore them today because not wearing them made me feel too guilty.
“We’re together,” I confirm. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Katherine will want you and Johnny to sign a form disclosing the relationship, and I can work with you both to draft a statement if you’d like, but I’m afraid I will have to reassign you to another department. I can make some calls, but it’s the last week. What do you want to do?”
“I can’t imagine working for anyone but you. This summer has been amazing.”
“You’re talented and hardworking. You’ll be okay.” But it doesn’t feel okay. This was my chance to prove myself, and all I did was become an urban legend like Crissy before me.
I think about Johnny’s advice, tell her we’re married. The thing is, Blythe has become my role model. I respect her, and I can’t bear to see the disappointment on her face that I would expect if I told her I got married in a hush-hush ceremony drunk off my ass. All I have to do is picture my dad’s reaction, and I feel like the lowest human alive.
Besides, she’d probably still have to reassign me.
“I think I want to go home,” I say and mean it. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
She stands and hugs me. “It was my absolute pleasure. Stay in touch, Dakota.”
I have to suffer through an awkward exit interview with Katherine, and then I walk out of the Wildcats office for good.
As I get on the elevator at the apartment building, I bite back angry tears, ready to unload on Johnny, but I know it isn’t him I’m angry with. This is all on me. I should have told Blythe weeks ago.
I go up to the eleventh floor, and by the time I get there, I realize all I really want is for Johnny to hold me and tell me everything is going to be okay again. I don’t believe it, but I still want to hear it. I want to live in our summer of fun just a little longer.
But he isn’t home, and I can’t bear to be here without him, so I get back in the elevator, not sure where I’m going but not wanting to be alone.
When the elevator stops, Declan and Leo are waiting inside. I wipe my tears and step into the small space.
“Hey, Dakota,” Leo says in his soft, deep voice. Both guys give me a nervous once-over.
I wave, not trusting myself to speak.
I clench my jaw in the silence of the ride, willing myself not to cry. I almost make it too, but when the doors open on the first floor, I can’t move.
“Everything okay?” Leo’s voice is laced with hesitant concern.
“Yes. Fine,” I say, but the words end on a sob, and I burst into tears.
He rests a big hand on my shoulder and lets me cry. The three of us ride the elevator together. Me crying harder with every passing second, Leo trying to comfort me, and Declan pressing the close button and barking “take the stairs” to anyone else trying to get on.
I fucked up. I fucked up so badly. Johnny may have dealt the final blow, but I put us in this position. Me and Johnny Maverick? We don’t make any sense. We’re too different.
When we get to the first floor a second time, neither guy gets off. I hold up my hand to stop the doors from closing. “Thank you. I’m good now.”
They still don’t make a move to get off the elevator. “Are you sure?” Leo asks. “Do you want me to call Johnny?”
“No,” I say quickly and shake my head. “No. I’m okay. Thanks, guys.”
