I felt so relieved. Maybe my stupid Cat Ryder mistakes were finally going to stay in the past where they belonged. “Can I drive you to the airport?” It was the least I could do.
“Thanks, that would be great.”
We walked back to my condo, and Jeremy didn’t bitch about the weather this time. He was quiet. We went up, and he collected his luggage. He hugged Laird goodbye. Laird whined, as though he knew this was the last time he’d see Jeremy. Great. Even my dog was sad. I showed Jeremy where I’d parked my Volvo, and he stowed his bags in the back. After I closed the tailgate, I turned to give Jeremy a smile, and he pulled me into a hug. It was a friendly hug, and when he pulled back and kissed me, I didn’t object. He was saying goodbye, and I realized this might be the last time I ever saw him. I kissed him back.
He pulled away slightly and held my face between his hands. We looked at each other for a long moment, and then I gave him a tentative smile as my eyes filled with tears. We were each other’s realest connection to Jace and we both knew we were likely saying goodbye to that too.
We didn’t talk much on the way to O’Hare. Jeremy spent most of the drive on the phone, booking a flight home. He found one leaving in a few hours, and I dropped him at the terminal. I didn’t get out of the car, but he leaned in the window and said, “Bye, Cat. If you’re ever in San Francisco, give me a call.”
“I will,” I said, though we both knew I wouldn’t.
Fifteen
Of course I got stuck in traffic on the way home. I kept looking for some sort of accident, but it was the usual gridlock, there for no apparent reason except that everyone wanted to be in the same place at the same time. I was at a complete standstill, and I fumbled for my bag on the passenger seat, thinking to text William that Jeremy was headed home and maybe to ask how his day was going.
I dug in my purse for a good minute, then pulled it into my lap. My phone wasn’t inside. Damn. I remembered setting it on the table while waiting for Jeremy to get his stuff. I must have forgotten to grab it. I’d call William when I got home.
Someone behind me honked impatiently, but we weren’t going anywhere.
Back at my condo more than an hour later, I found my cell sitting right where I’d left it—on the kitchen table. I’d missed two calls, and I pulled up my voicemail, hoping one was from William. But the first was from one of the execs at Fresh Market. As soon as I heard it, I jumped up and down and let out a scream. They’d loved the work I’d done and wanted to book Beckett and me for more of the Fresh for Spring campaign. We’d discuss details later, but they needed to know if I was available.
Of course, I was available! I did a happy dance with Laird, who let out a few excited barks and bounded up and down with me. Then I called Beckett. My enthusiasm dwindled only slightly when he didn’t pick up. I left a message for him to call me right away.
There was a voicemail from my mother too. I was glad I hadn’t had my phone with me when she called. I would have felt obligated to answer, and then I would have had to make a lame attempt to be vague about what I’d been up to since we last talked. I really sucked at lying. My mother could always tell when I was hiding something. I wasn’t ready to explain Napa to her, or who I’d been with, or who I’d just dropped at the airport and why. I mentally kicked myself for being such a bad daughter. I’d call her later and listen attentively. I didn’t want to be surprised when she ended up in Tahiti or the French Riviera with her latest rich boyfriend.
I didn’t have a voicemail from William, but I had a text.
In meetings all day. Miss you, beautiful girl.
I smiled, my insides turning a little mushy. Maybe he was over last night’s disappointment and really wasn’t angry with me. Even though I freaked out before and after, I had to admit that during, things had been pretty spectacular. And thank God Jeremy hadn’t mentioned that he’d heard us, though I was still sure he had. I’d bet me calling out William’s name at the height of ecstasy was what finally clued him in that his chances with me were zero. I texted William back.
Miss you too. XOXO
My heart was still thumping happily. Between Jeremy leaving, Fresh Market, and getting back on track with my stormy-eyed, hotter-than-hell boyfriend, it was turning out to be a banner day.
I kept myself busy with work for a while then fielded a call from Emmy Schmidt at Hutch Morrison’s office. We set up a time and date for my meeting with Hutch, and once again, I immediately wanted to share the great news with Beckett. But what was with the silent treatment? I checked my phone and he still hadn’t responded to my earlier call.