“Nate. Hi.”

“Abby.” It surprised me to hear her voice over the phone. We hadn’t talked since the dinner at my parents’ place. I held the phone between my shoulder and my cheek so I could keep folding clothes.

“Your mom told me about the move.”

“Did she also tell you Dad fired me?” I asked.

“Wow, you’re in a bad mood.”

“It’s been a shitty week,” I said bluntly.

Abby sighed in my ear. “That’s awful. Really. Listen, Nate. I know things have been awkward between us and it’s my fault.”

I straightened. “Abby, don’t—"

“No, it’s true. I think I was hanging onto something I hoped would happen and I realize now never will. But we have history, you and I. I know all your secrets. Including where you used to bury my dolls in the backyard when you were mad at me.”

“Oh really?” I pulled three pairs of dress shoes from the closet and dropped them unceremoniously on top of the covers next to my suitcase.

“Yes. Your mom’s peonies never grew quite as well after the year I told our class you knew all the words to Britney Spears’ debut album. Which I still maintain was an accidental disclosure.”

“Huh.”

It was good to hear a familiar voice since I’d spent every waking second outside the office this week alone, but I wasn’t in the mood to reminisce. In fact, I wasn’t in the mood for much of anything, except maybe a whiskey and a long fucking sleep.

“So when are you leaving? Can I drive you to the airport?”

I started to say no but stopped myself. I could use the ride. “Yeah, I was going to call a cab at four. Thanks.”

“Great. I’ll see you later.”

I collapsed on my bed, dropping the phone and rubbing my eyes as the reality of what I was doing settled over me.

A fucking break. What was that except code for some purgatory between dating and breakup?

My conversation with Ava last week was supposed to be about what webcams to buy each other, for fuck’s sake. I’d have never taken her to the damned restaurant if I’d thought for a second it would’ve resulted in that. Hell, maybe I would’ve pushed back on the idea more with my father if I’d known she would be so opposed to it.

Abby buzzed at four sharp. I pulled my door closed with a finality that scared me. The door across the hall was closed. I stared at it, brooding.

What if—

“Nate.”

I glanced toward the elevator that had opened. Alexis walked toward me, dressed casually in jeans and a tank.

“You’re looking for Ava.”

“I thought I might say goodbye.” I tried a smile. Failed.

Alexis sighed, stepping between me and the door. “Nate, I’m sorry about what happened between you. But there’s something you need to know about Ava. She seems strong, and she is, but she’s not invincible. She doesn’t let a lot of people in, but when she does, she gives them everything. Don’t play with her.”

“I’m not.”

She held up a hand. “Unless you’re going to knock on that door and tell her you changed your mind, that you’re not leaving and that you’re sure she’s what you want, then don’t do this. Don’t draw it out. It’s been a rough year for her. Don’t make it worse.”

I needed her to understand that it wasn’t like that. That I cared. “Alexis, I know there’ve been other guys. Relationships that never worked.” I thought back to the names Ava had rhymed off so long ago. “But I’m not like them.”

“No, you’re not,” she said gently. “She never cried over them like she cried over you.”

My gut twisted. I’d never wanted to do something so badly or had to hold myself back from it.

Alexis was watching me with protective eyes.

“I never meant to hurt her,” I murmured. I wanted to say I’m crazy about her. Maybe more. Instead I said, “I’ll be back.”

Alexis nodded, slowly. “I hope so. I really do.” Then she unlocked the door and let herself inside. I couldn’t hear any noises from the other side before the door closed in front of me.

I made my way down the elevator and around the front of the building. Abby’s face peeked out of her silver four-door Mercedes coupe. I loaded my large suitcase and suit bag into the trunk and slid into the passenger seat. She was her usual neat self, wearing a trench coat and heeled shoes.

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t believe you’re moving to Minneapolis,” she breathed, pulling into traffic. “I never pictured you in the Midwest. You always thought you’d be in New York forever. Even when you went to Yale you couldn’t wait to get back here.”

Another pang in my chest, this one at leaving the city I loved. “Yeah, well it’s probably not forever. I’ll be back to visit. You won’t even know I’m gone.”

“What about the girl you were dating?” She slanted me a look. “Your neighbor.”

“We’re over. I think.”

“That’s too bad. Really, Nate. I know it sounds disingenuous coming from me, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes that you were head over heels.”

I glanced over at her. “Talk about something else,” I grunted. “Anything else.”

“All right. Listen, I know I’ve made a fool of myself over you. Don’t argue, it’s true. But it was only recently I realized why. It was because you weren’t like the other guys at prep school. They were so …” she grasped for words, “entitled. Even Jamie was. You wanted to be your own man, no matter what. I was starting to worry you’d lost that.”

I turned her words over in my mind. “Because of last year.”

She shook her head. “It started before the accident.”

Abby had my attention now.

“I know you always idolized your dad. But you went off to college and suddenly you started buying into it all—the name, the career path.” She sighed. “I guess what I’m saying is there’s a time to toe the line and a time to follow your heart. I hope you’re following your heart this time, Nate.”

She left me outside the departures lounge of JFK with a hug and a pit in my stomach.