Ella brushes her hair back and smiles at me through the camera. “As Kenzie said before, I started reading the chapters you emailed me when we were on the plane. I may not read as much as you do, but I’ve read enough to know the story you’ve created is damn good. Good enough to publish. Have you considered that Colin wasn’t trying to get you fired, but that he sees what we do and is giving you the opportunity you might not have ever given yourself?”

  My chest feels hollow. Breathing is painful, and my throat burns with emotion while my trembling hands are doing a shit job of holding up the phone.

  A publishing deal? Could Colin have asked Steve to consider making me an offer? I don’t have an agent or any real experience. I’m not even close to ready for the submission process that normally takes years for most authors.

  No, this couldn’t be what that email is about.

  Right?

  The fact that I’m no longer sure makes me want to vomit, and I have no clue what I’m supposed to do with these thoughts now.

  “Take a deep breath, Pipe,” Kenzie says. “We’re right here, and everything is going to be okay. I know Colin should have asked for your permission, but if Steve was threatening to fire both of you, then maybe there was no other choice.”

  I want to argue that there is always another choice, but I can’t. A weariness settles over me, and I decide I can’t do this anymore. I need time to process and think on my own.

  “I love you both, but I need to go, and my phone might be off for a while. I need time to think and process what happened today,” I say wearily.

  Kenzie tilts her head and speaks softly. “You know if you talked to Colin, you’d have more answers.”

  I nod. “I won’t ignore him forever. I just need a day or two.”

  Ella blows me a kiss. “Take whatever time you need, and remember we’re here for you whenever you need us.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper before ending the video chat and dropping my phone on the couch.

  What the hell am I going to do now?

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  THE LAST TIME

  Colin

  Piper’s phone has been off every time I’ve called her, and she hasn’t responded to the few texts I’ve sent. I’m trying not to be pushy, but not knowing if she’s okay is killing me. It was never my intention to hurt her. I only wanted to make things better, yet they’re now worse than they ever were before.

  My phone rings, and I see Steve’s name on the screen. Shit. I’m not ready to talk to him, but if I don’t take the call, I won’t know what he’s going to do.

  “Good morning, Steve,” I answer, but even I can hear the flatness in my voice.

  “Morning, indeed. You haven’t responded to my email. Am I to assume that Piper isn’t interested in my proposal?” he asks.

  It’s time to come clean.

  “Piper doesn’t know about your proposal yet. She’s not exactly speaking to me at the moment, but when I talk to her, I will make sure she knows.”

  His sigh of disappointment is clear, even through the phone. “I had a feeling that might be the case. Do you understand why we no longer allow relationships within the departments? You’ve made quite the situation for yourself, Colin. What do you expect me to do?”

  He isn’t wrong. If I was him, I know what I would do, but I’m hoping he’s a better boss than I would be.

  “I’d expect you to fire me for causing trouble within the workplace, but I’d like to ask for more time. At least enough so that Piper knows what really happened. I don’t want her hurt to pay for my poor decisions.”

  Steve is silent for several beats. “Until the end of today, Colin. That’s all I can offer you. Find a way to salvage this before it gets out of hand for the both of us.”

  A sharp pain shoots through my chest and I close my eyes for a brief moment. I’m not sure there is anything left to “salvage,” but I badly want to hope there is. “Thank you, Steve.”

  “You’ll be in the office soon?” he asks.

  “Yeah. I just need to do something and then I’ll be there,” I say, already knowing I have to figure out a way to get in touch with Piper and explain myself.

  After we hang up, I take a second to consider my options. She won’t answer my calls or texts, so my only other option is to show up at her house. Though, if she doesn’t open the door, that doesn’t help things, either.

  I decide it’s time to put pen to paper and write her a letter. That way I can at least leave it in her mailbox. If she still doesn’t respond in some way, then I’ll solve our problems for her. I’ll quit Alliteration and no longer be the reason she feels like she can’t go to work.

  It’s not something I want to do, but I refuse to hurt Piper any more than I already have. As soon as I find paper, I get to scribbling the words I wanted to tell her last night and ones I hope I get to tell her in person, but this will be better than nothing.

  Piper,

  First, I want to apologize for violating your trust. I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. No matter my reason, I should have put you first and I didn’t. I’m sorry.

  Steve approached me last week about seeing us at the movies. It was the morning you emailed me those chapters. If he’d given me more time, I had a plan that included having your permission for what I did, but there was no time. I was faced with the choice of losing you, getting us fired, or doing something radical.

  I asked Steve to consider offering you a publishing deal instead of the former options. I know you don’t think you’re ready for this, but I believe in you, Piper. I see the spark in your eyes when you talk about your book, and I hear the passion in your voice.

  Very few people in this world get to do the thing that makes them happy, and I want that for you even if I’m not part of it. You have real talent the world won’t want to miss out on.

  I’m sorry this is how it happened, but Steve does want to make an offer on your book if you’re interested. (I hope you are.) One that would allow you to move back to North Carolina and be with your family again. Another thing I know would make you happy.

  If you won’t talk to me, please at least speak with Steve and consider your options before you turn them down. You deserve this, Piper. I just wish I hadn’t screwed things up so badly so you could enjoy this moment the way you should.

  I hope to hear from you soon, but if I don’t, then I’ll take that to mean you’re done with me. I don’t want to be the reason you don’t feel comfortable coming to Alliteration in whatever manner that is moving forward. If we’re done, then I can promise I won’t ever interfere with your life again.

  I really am sorry, and even though I don’t deserve it, I hope somehow I can earn your forgiveness.

  I wish you only happiness, little bird.

  With love,

  Colin

  Signing off on that letter has my hand shaking and heart racing out of my chest. Leaving LA and never seeing Piper again terrifies me, but it’s the only way I can think of to make this somewhat right if she refuses to speak with me.

  With that done, I grab an envelope and put the folded letter inside, then I give Charlie a long head-rub. “Wish me luck, furball.”

  He meows, making me smile for the first time since Piper walked out.

  I don’t want to wait any longer, so I grab my keys and head out the door. It only takes two minutes to get to Piper’s and I don’t see her car, but that doesn’t mean anything. She parks in the garage half the time anyway.

  Parking and walking up to her door are painful. Fear like I’ve never known before nearly swallows me and makes my feet feel like they each weigh a ton.

  When I get to her door, I take a shuddering inhale before forcing the air back up. My grip on the envelope is tight, and I really hope I don’t have to leave this for her.

  My finger presses on the doorbell button, and I listen to the chimes sound inside the house. I move my head closer to the door, but there is nothing else that I can hear. No music or TV or footfalls.

  I wait a couple minutes, then try knocking instead. Still, the seconds tick by and the heaviness over my chest is suffocating.

  There’s a mailbox hanging next to her door, so I drop the letter into that and listen one last time, but still nothing other than silence greets my ears.

  With dread drowning me, I head back to my car and drive to work. Possibly for the last time.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  KEEP YOU

  Piper

  The sky is growing dark outside when I wake up. Wait, no. The sun isn’t setting, it’s just now starting to rise. With a groan, I try to sit up but have to lay back down, thanks to the pounding in my head.

  “Holy hell, what did I do?” I mutter, slowly rolling to the edge of my bed.

  My feet dangle off the side, and I rub at my temples before glancing at my clock that flashes 5:13am.

  Shit. I slept for over thirteen hours. I guess emotional exhaustion will do that to a person. And possibly staying up for more than twenty-four hours.

  After I got off the phone with Ella and Kenzie, I had a strong desire to write. To see the words of my nearly finished story come together. To see for myself if my friends and Colin might have been right.

  To see that I’d just been too damn scared to take a chance on myself and see what happens.

  I don’t even know how many words I typed throughout the previous night and day, but it was as if my fingers had been possessed, and there was nothing I could do to stop them once the words started pouring out of me.

  I didn’t expect that to happen, but I’m glad it did because they’d all been right. Creating this world? Writing this story? There isn’t a joy in my life that I can compare to it. Sure, I have immensely enjoyed helping other authors over the years since I entered the publishing world, but I can clearly see now that what I thought was happiness before was only contentment.

  I hop into the shower and go through my morning routine with new intentions on my mind today. I need to see Colin. It’s been over a day and a half since I talked to him, and I need to apologize for not hearing him out and accept his apology for sharing my chapters. Well, as long as he swears it won’t ever happen again.

  He might not have gone about doing things the right way, but based on what I’ve been putting together since talking to Ella and Kenzie, I no longer believe he was trying to hurt me or acting selfishly. Well, maybe a little, but still. I think there is still something between us that is worth fighting for.

  Once I’m done getting ready, it’s just after six in the morning. Deciding I can’t wait any longer, I take the chance that Colin is awake and get in my car.

  When I get there, I spot Sir Charles in the window and grin. That cat is too adorable for his own good.

  My hands are shaking as I open my door and step out of the car. I walk hesitantly up to the porch, then pat my pockets and curse. I forgot my phone. I maybe should have called first, but it’s too late now.

  I knock on the door and wait silently for him to answer. I hear Charlie’s meow and don’t see him in the window anymore. I assume he’s gone to let Colin know I’m there, but then I hear him again and this time much closer.

  A couple minutes tick by and this time I ring the doorbell. Maybe he’s in the shower. I pace in front of his door and decide it’s pointless after knocking a second time. The only noise I can hear is the meowing of Charlie who can’t open the door for me.

  I get back in my car and head home to grab my bag and phone for work. After running upstairs, I grumble. “Of course, it’s dead. Why wouldn’t it be when I need to make a call?”

  Deciding to use my car charger, I go back to my vehicle and toss my stuff onto the passenger’s seat before plugging my phone in.

  I’m on the road within seconds and headed toward Alliteration. If Colin isn’t home, then maybe he’s there. I’ll do a drive-through of the parking garage, and if I don’t see his car, then hopefully I’ll be able to get a hold of him by phone.

  There’s hardly any traffic on the side streets this early, and I make it to work in record time. When I get to the first level of the parking garage, I don’t see Colin’s Lexus in the area where it normally is, but that doesn’t stop me from continuing on.

  By the time I get to the third level of parking, I haven’t spotted him and grow frustrated, then remember my phone.

  The stupid thing is still off. “Damn it.” The charging cord isn’t all the way pushed into the USB port.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Slamming my fist on the steering wheel, I fix the issue and make my way down to where we normally park, so I can wait for my phone to turn on and keep an eye out for Colin.

  While I’m sitting in the car, constantly pressing the power button on my phone as if that will make it turn on faster, there’s a knock on my window.

  A yelp echoes inside my car as I look up to find Steve staring down at me. He waves, and I roll down my window.

  “What are you doing, Piper?” he asks casually.

  I glance around and don’t see anyone else. “I was, uh, charging my phone.” I hold it up and give the device a good shaking for emphasis.

  “I see. So, you’re not hiding out here, hoping to avoid a certain boss of yours?” His graying brow raises, and I remember that Steve knows our secret.

  My shoulders fall. “I’m sorry.”

  He leans closer, resting his forearms on my door. “As you should be. The two of you broke your contracts, but what I’m even more sad about is losing Colin as an employee when I hoped that his solution was going to work for all of us.”

  “Excuse me?” I feel like my eyes are going to fall out of their sockets at any moment, and the agony I’d been feeling yesterday is back with a vengeance. “Did you fire him?”

  Steve frowns and shakes his head. “You two are terrible at communicating. No, I didn’t. He quit yesterday before he left for the day. He was already here this morning packing up his office. He didn’t want to cause you any further discomfort, but maybe he was wrong to assume that’s the way you feel.”

  Damn Colin for being so considerate. Damn him for making me feel so much.

  My head rests back against my seat, and I let out a shuddering breath. I don’t know how to fix this now. Everything has gone wrong so quickly.

  Steve clears his throat, and I open my eyes to find him still staring at me. “I know this isn’t my place, but if I may be frank…” I nod, and he continues, “Colin showed me your work, and I promised him I wouldn’t say anything until you came to me, but I think maybe I should. You have real talent, Piper. I realize now that your editing skills are above par because you have real passion inside you for creating. That’s not something an author can learn.”

  I can feel the flush covering my cheeks as he speaks. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, but if you really want to thank me, come see me and bring me more chapters, so I can make you a proper offer. One that will benefit both you and this company for years to come, if you want it to.”

  My pulse is racing, but this time it’s not because I’m afraid, but because I’m truly thrilled to hear Steve say that. I know I’d assumed it before, but hearing the words out loud for the first time…is something else entirely.

  “I will do that. Just as soon as I find Colin.”

  Steve’s hand pats the frame of my door. “Do that, and convince him to rescind his resignation. It’s not too late to undo all of this.”

  Oh, how I hope he’s right.

  As soon as Steve moves away from my car, I check my phone once more. There are several texts from Colin, Ella, and Kenzie, but I don’t bother to read any of them.

  Me: I’ll be at your house soon. Please be there.

  I press send and hope Colin sees my message and is already headed home.

  As quickly, yet safely, as I can manage, I work my way through the growing morning traffic. Twenty painful minutes later, I finally pull up to Colin’s.

  His garage is open with his car parked half outside. The doors are open, and I can see boxes stacked inside the vehicle. I assume they’re from his office, but maybe he’s already getting things ready to move…

  Is it possible he’s leaving LA so soon?

  God, I hope not.

  Colin comes staggering out of his garage with two more boxes. He can’t see me around the cardboard, and I scare the hell out of him when I say, “Hi.”

  He drops the top box, which lands on his foot, causing the other box to go crashing toward the ground. A painful groan sounds from his lips, and I step forward to help, but he’s bouncing around so much, I’m not sure what to do.

  “Bloody hell, that hurt,” he mutters before finally settling still. His eyes have dark circles under them, and it doesn’t seem as if he’s shaved in the last forty-ish hours since I’ve seen him. “I’m sorry.”

  I tilt my head and frown. “Sorry for me scaring you and causing you to drop those boxes?”

  He steps forward, then pauses. “Sorry for everything. I don’t know if you got my letter, but before I leave, I just need you to know I never wanted to hurt you, Piper. Doing so will be the greatest regret of my life.”

  His voice is thick with emotion, and all I want to do is soothe his worries. I walk closer to him, sidestepping one of the boxes, and reach for his hands. He squeezes back and sucks in a harsh breath.

  “I’m sorry, too,” I say. “I should have listened to you, but I was scared and angry. I didn’t see a letter from you. Though, now I want to go home and find it, but that can wait. What I mean to say is I understand better now. I spent hours writing and I was able to see things differently. When I was done, I passed out and my phone died… I wasn’t trying to ignore you for so long.”

  He grins widely and gathers me into his arms. “You have no reason to apologize. We wouldn’t be in this situation if I had handled things better.”

  I step back and shake my head. “You’re right. We probably would have been in a worse situation, because I don’t think I could have ever been ready to accept that maybe writing is what I’d rather be doing until I hit the low I had. I needed the push to see things clearly. Now, we just need you to get your job back. He told me you quit, which is absolutely ridiculous by the way.”

 

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