Page 94 of Rich Girl
Her question throws me off. “I… What?”
“What would you really leave behind?” Adeline shrugs. “You can buy a nice house anywhere you go. You said he lives fairly close to NYC. They have clubs, art galleries, all the things youenjoy socializing at. You can find charities to support. And you can always visit here whenever you feel like. I would most definitely visit you there.”
I have a hard time processing what she’s encouraging me to do. Not that I never thought about it, because I did, but it just sounded so complicated when it was only in my own head. Now that Adeline said it out loud, it’s not as bad.
“I get what you’re telling me, Addie,” I assure her. “But Ray was clear when he told me we wouldn’t be a good match. I can’t just pick up and leave my life here for an off chance that he would still want me when I get there.”
Adeline starts laughing. “You literally have nothing stopping you here. You don’t have to worry about money. And the most important part is that you love him.”
I stare at her, worrying my bottom lip. I am scared to hope.
“The Hayden Benedict I know does only whatever makes her happy, and to hell with everything else. Are you happy like this?”
“No.”
“There’s your answer then,” Adeline declares, like it is the most normal thing in the world.
I let out a long puff of air, still not sure about anything in my life. My first time meeting Ray, I did it on a whim. It paid off for a while, until it didn’t. If I were to try again, what is the worst thing that could happen?
He could say no.
TWENTY-SIX
Cal Prentice is sittingin my office, with one ankle resting on the opposite knee, looking as relaxed as one could be.
“Evie wants to have a small party this weekend. And she told me to make sure that you’re there.”
I push the keyboard out of the way and place my feet on the desk, making sure they’re not in Cal’s face.
“Nice.” I rock back and forth in my chair. “Any special occasion?”
Cal rolls his eyes. “She thinks you’re sad.”
“What?” That makes me chuckle.
“Apparently she has developed a soft spot for you lately,” Cal continues, his tone of voice dry. Not sure if he’s happy about it or not.
“Aww, I thought she was still embarrassed about the time when I picked you guys up from the lake.”
Cal’s face breaks into a grin. “She still is.”
I smile back, but I’m not feeling it. Seeing him this happy with the woman he obviously loves stirs a new wave of jealousy. The short time I spent with Hayden gave me too much hope that I could have this kind of love with someone.
Another problem is that I am missing Hayden something fierce. Every morning when I wake up, I have to fight the urge to call her, even if it is just to hear her voice. But I know that would just complicate things.
Meanwhile, I am working insane hours to keep my mind off her, trying to come to terms with the fact that she will always be the one who got away.
“I’ll be at your backyard party,” I tell Cal. “But I’m scheduled to be on call, so I might have to take off at a moment’s notice.”
Cal nods and looks away, his attention now on the bottom of his jeans, which he keeps on pulling on.
I drop my feet off the desk, and they land on the floor with a loud thud. He is still not looking at me. I pull the keyboard back into place and bring the computer screen back to life, taking my eyes off him only to enter my password.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll do some paperwork while you sit there quietly,” I tease.
Cal rolls his eyes in annoyance, but it’s not clear if he is annoyed with me or with whatever he’s got going on in his head.
“Evie’s inviting a couple of girls from town,” he finally mutters under his breath. I can barely make out the words.
