Chapter 60

Andrew

 

Saxton called just as I stepped into the elevator.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Is that your car I see in the lot next to your office building?”

I grimaced. “The valet is supposed to park it in an inconspicuous spot. I don’t want everyone knowing I’m in the office.”

He barked with laughter. “Well, it’s far from that. I spotted it just driving by. So what’s happening? You said you were taking weeks off.”

“I am.” The elevator door opened on the fourth floor, and a young man stepped inside. He gave me a curious look, probably wondering if it was really his boss in the elevator, before averting his gaze.

“I stopped in to check on a few things,” I told Saxton.

“And Raven?”

“Doing great. Somewhat.”

The elevator reached the main floor, and I exited into the lobby, heading straight for the front doors.

“Wait.” Alarm entered Saxton’s voice. “She’s not—”

“She’s fine, physically speaking.”

“What’s going on?”

I sighed, dodging foot traffic as I showed up at the valet. “A lot. Where are you?” I scanned the block in search of Saxton.

“Already drove past. On my way home. Come by.”

I’d been about to say, “I can’t” but then realized I had nothing else to do. Lanie was due to visit Raven in about ten minutes, and I’d been asked—no, told, by Raven to make myself scarce. Evidently, she didn’t trust me not to fuck things up with Lanie again.

Smart girl, she was.

“I’ll drop by,” I answered.

“Great. I’ll call the escort service now. How many do you want? Two? Three?”

“Saxton.”

“Kidding, man. See you soon.”

We hung up as the valet arrived with my Maserati. Hopping in, I steered out of the lot and into the dusk-filled streets. Piles of dirty snow rested against the curbs, and people hurried across the walkways, rushing to get out of the cold. The recent snowfalls had been the heaviest I’d seen in Seattle, the clincher on an all-around unusual winter.

My stomach was in knots, but that wasn’t new. Since Lanie walked away from me the day before, I’d been running the scene over and over in my head. There must have been something I could have said or done to make her stay.

Instead, I’d put my foot in my mouth. Somehow.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d said that was so wrong, but since Lanie had left, I understood I’d royally fucked up once more.

She said she needed some time to think. I hated hearing that. Whenever I took time to myself, the period of solace could last weeks.

I was praying that wasn’t the case with Lanie.

Idling at a red light, I broke. Reaching for the dashboard, I called Raven on the car’s system.

“Yeah?” she answered.

“Is Lanie there yet?”
She paused. “Any minute. Why?”

“Will you, uh, tell her that—”

“That what?”

Shit.

“Never mind.”

“Dad.” She made an exasperated noise. “Whatever you said to her yesterday—”

“Don’t bring that up,” I interrupted.

“Oh, hold on. She’s here.”

“Don’t tell her I called.”

Raven laughed. “Wow.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I hung up before she could say anything else. I was entering Saxton’s neighborhood. It was time for a drink. Or two.

The building Saxton had lived in for the last year was as nice as they came. It was also the current hottest spot to live in the city. Next year, when another building or block claimed that title, he’d probably move again. Until then, he happily occupied the towering building with a valet, doorman, front desk, elevator operator, and swimming pool in his actual apartment.

It was a small one, sure, but it was still a swimming pool in an apartment. I had two swimming pools myself, but I also owned a house, so the pool thing was a little impressive.

“My friend,” Saxton dramatically boomed when he opened the door. He spread his arms wide. “Get on in here.”

“How are you?” I asked, crossing his foyer.

“I should be asking you that.”

“I asked you first.”

“Eh.” He passed me and led the way into the living room, making a beeline for the bar in the corner. “What are you drinking?”

“A neat Blanton’s.”

“What? Challenge me a bit.” He slipped behind the full bar and reached for a mixer. “I’ve recently gotten a lot of experience making apple martinis.”

I snorted. “Why would I drink that?”

“Eh.” He shrugged and poured two bourbons. “Thought I’d see. It’s a girly drink, but hey, it’s pretty damn good. Sasha likes it.”

I didn’t need to ask who Sasha was. This was probably the one time I’d ever hear about her.

“Thanks.” I took the offered glass and clinked it against his. Together, we settled onto the long couch, each enjoying our own first sip of the evening.

Beyond the tall windows, the red and white traffic lights sparkled. It was a beautiful view. Staring beyond the lights, I imagined I could almost see the hospital, the place where the two people who composed my entire life currently were.

A burn began in my gut and worked its way up my chest and throat. Lanie really despises me. I’d asked her to come to the hospital. I admitted that I’d made a mistake. And still, it wasn’t enough. I’d blown things big time.

“Spill,” Saxton said after a minute of silence. “If you want,” he added.

“About what?” I asked, still distracted. Everywhere I looked, I saw Lanie’s face.

“Raven’s doing okay?”

“Everything looks good. The doctors say there shouldn’t be any long-term damage.”

“What about that little boyfriend of hers?” Saxton’s face darkened.

“He’s actually a good kid.”

Saxton made an If-You-Say-So face. “A seventeen-year-old guy? Do you know what I was like at seventeen?”

“I can imagine.”

“Exactly.” He gave me a pointed look over his glass rim, and I laughed. Saxton could always cheer me up no matter what, if only for a short while.

I licked my lips, looking for a segue into the next thing I needed to tell him.

“Raven’s doing great.”

“Uh-huh?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“She’s pissed at me for breaking up with Lanie.”

Saxton sharply inhaled.

“Did you just gasp?” I asked.

“Whatever,” he muttered, setting his drink on the coffee table and leaning toward me with an intense look on his face. “Why did you break up with Lanie?”

“Because I needed to focus on Raven.”

“You didn’t tell me this.”

I looked into my drink. “I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Shit, man.” Saxton sat back with a sigh. “Maybe it’s not my place to say this.”

“When have you had qualms about voicing an opinion?”

“True,” he grinned. “What I was going to say was, Lanie is the best thing that’s happened to you in a long time.”

I groaned. “I know.”

He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “You like throwing good things away, huh?”

“Wait a second.” I narrowed my eyes. “You were the one who told me not to settle down. You’ve always been saying I should be having fun and not getting tied to one woman.”

He nodded in concession. “True. I said those things. Most of the time, yes, I stand by that, but Lanie made you happy. You were different with her around. In a good way, I mean.”

“Christ.” I took a long drink, needing the buzz to hit me sooner. “Well, it doesn’t matter much now. I told Lanie I screwed up, and it didn’t seem to make a difference for her.”

Saxton made a face. “You’re not the best at apologizing.”

“Hey.”

“Sorry, dude. It’s true.”

His phone beeped in his pocket, and he briefly glanced down but didn’t take it out.

“Just to recap.” He tapped his finger against his chin like he was putting some real mental exertion into this. “You broke up with Lanie so you could give more time to Raven, and now Raven and Lanie are both mad at you.”

“They’re together right now. Probably talking about what a jackass I am.”

“Damn. That’s a sucky position to be in.”

“Tell me about it.” I rubbed the back of my neck. The tension that had been with me all week—no, all month—was culminating in a tight spot back there.

“What do you want?”

“I want her back,” I answered right away. “But I tried to talk to her, and she seemed really hurt, man.”

“Hm.” Saxton thoughtfully looked out the window. “What’s next?”

“I don’t know. I should probably have a plan, but I don’t. I’m hoping she forgives me.”

“Not gonna happen.”

I glowered at him. “You’re not being very positive.”

“I’m being realistic. The more time you go with not speaking to Lanie, the more she’s going to resent you. Women hate that time and distance shit.”

“Then what are you saying I do?” I demanded, my frustration growing. “I already told her the truth. I was as honest as I could be. There’s nothing more I can say.”

“But you can do something.” Saxton’s eyes lit up with excitement.

I stared at him. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Lanie needs a, uh, a grand gesture. Like in every romance ever written. You know, like when the guy stands outside the window with the boom box in that one movie, or when Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s garden, something that shows Lanie she’s special. Anyone can talk and give all kinds of promises, but women love it when men step up in a way they can’t go back on.”

Saxton had been progressively leaning forward as he talked, and he clapped his hands together in excitement. “That’s it. You need some kind of action that shows Lanie she means more to you than words can say.”

“She does.”

“Right.” He bit down on his bottom lip, looking absolutely gleeful.

“Hm.” I thought about his spiel some. “You know, that’s a really good idea.”

“I do know.”

“You could make a career out of reading chicks.”

“Nah.” His nose wrinkled. “My reputation with them would destroy any career before it started.”

“That’s true.”

Saxton’s phone beeped again.

“Is that the next lucky lady?” I asked.

“Hopefully.” He pulled his phone out and read a message. “Tell me what happens with this. Right now, though, you need to leave. Sasha is coming over, and the clothes won’t be staying on for long.”

“Say no more.” I set the remnants of my drink on a coaster.

“You should meet her sometime. Maybe once you and Lanie get back together, we can all go on a trip.”

I sighed. “If I win Lanie back, it might take a while. Sasha will probably be long gone by then.”

“Hopefully not.”

His words made me freeze. “I’m sorry? What?”

Saxton averted his gaze, looking bashful. “She’s really awesome, man. She’s different than the other ones.”

My jaw nearly hit the floor. “Saxton, is-is this woman your girlfriend?”

A blush—an actual blush—covered his face. “We haven’t put any labels on it yet.”

“Oh my god.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d known Saxton for years, and he’d always sworn up and down that he would never settle down.

“Hell has frozen over,” I breathed.

“Ah, get out of here.” Saxton pushed me toward the door, looking more embarrassed with each second.

“Thanks for the advice,” I told him right before I left. “Really.”

He nodded. “Keep me updated.”

Still unable to believe what I’d just found out, I left his building with a head twice as busy as the one I’d gone in with. So, Saxton had a girlfriend.

Holy shit.

If Saxton could change his mind about women, that meant anything was possible. People could surprise you when you least expected it. Twists you never foresaw could turn your entire world upside down.

And maybe, just maybe, Lanie and I could get back together.