Page 65 of Without Regret

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Trevor

As I pulled my truck away from the curb, I noticed in my rearview mirror that Avery had already fallen fast asleep in the back, her head to her chest. A drinking tolerance she clearly didn’t have. Poor thing.

“How much did you guys have to drink?” I asked Emma, glancing over to see her looking out her window.

“A few shots and maybe a cocktail. Not much, but I believe Avery hit her limit anyhow. Not fall-down drunk, but buzzed.”

“I’m glad you decided to go with her. She’s far too trusting of her so-called friends.”

“So you were on your way once you got Adrienne’s text?”

“I was pulling in when you sent yours. Truth be told, I was on my way before I got either text.” I glanced over to gauge her response to my admission I’d planned to crash the party.

“Decided you wanted a night of clubbing?”

“Maybe I just wanted to see you.”

“Didn’t trust me?”

“You gave me your word about being exclusive, so I’m trusting that, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t want to take you home. Plus, I was worried about Avery. Didn’t like the coincidence of Adrienne just showing up at the party tonight.”

“Yeah, I didn’t, either.”

I doubted Emma would enjoy me pointing it out, but she was becoming quite protective of my sister. That made me smile.

“I’m not staying at your house, Trevor.”

With my father and sister there, I wasn’t about to bring her back to my home. “I know. Let me drop off Avery, and then I’ll take you back to the hotel. Both Simon and Tom flew out tonight, so there’s nobody to notice if I sneak into your room.”

She didn’t bother to argue about getting an Uber for once, which was a relief. Back at the party, I’d spent another hour shaking hands and fulfilling the obligation of being Charles Newhall’s son before changing over and taking Rufus on a walk. Then I’d hopped into my truck, needing to see Emma. Now, I decided, was a good opportunity to talk, especially since my sister had passed out. So I went for it.

“I owe you an apology.”

“No, you don’t.”

I fought my irritation. “Yes. I do. If you won’t take it because you’re still convinced this is only sex between us, then at least take it as a professional courtesy. I overreacted about you hinting to Simon I might not be able to handle the layoffs.”

It already seemed a lifetime ago. Probably because I’d yet to sleep. No wonder everything was a blur.

“My intention was for him to relay it isn’t easy for him, even now. I didn’t realize how it would look and I’m sorry. I thought if anyone who could share that perspective, it would be Simon.”

I sighed. “I realize that now. And thank you. I sometimes get extra sensitive about people questioning my ability.”

She turned slightly towards me. “After meeting your father, I can see why. I have to be honest and say I was expecting not to like him. Then he went and put Tom in his place about his assistant, Pearl, and I think I wanted to hug him.”

I chuckled, thinking she’d summed up how I felt about my dad myself. Sometimes he could be difficult, but he was also one of the best men I knew. “Told you. Nobody messes with Pearl. My father has a lot of unfortunate expectations of me when it comes to my career, but he’s always treated his people right.”

“Guess that’ll make him a good politician.”

“It would indeed.”

We were silent during the last few minutes of the drive before reaching the gate of my house. I drove up in front and parked by the stairs. “Hold tight, sugar. I’ll be back.”

Once I got Avery up the stairs and into her room, she woke up and insisted on brushing her teeth and washing her face. I tucked her into bed, kissed her on the forehead, and figured she was fine by the way she mumbled about Edward being a prick and Adrienne sitting on a used toilet seat cover.

I halfway wondered if Emma would still be in my truck when I returned. I was happy to find she was. When I opened the door, I appeared to have woken her.

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