Page 100 of Myself

“How much longer?” I snap into the phone as I stomp on the brake. My car comes to a screeching halt outside the Q’s.

“At least another week. There is more than we had originally thought,” Fredrick whines. “I’ll need at least another week, possibly two—”

“How did you not know this? Isn’t it your job?”

“I’m sorry, Jaycent. I am doing all that I can—”

“You have one week,” I growl and then hang up just as my driver’s door is open.

“Good evening, Mr. Barnett,” the valet says as I step out of my car.

“Good evening.” I walk around the back of my car, and out of habit, I button my suit jacket. And then send a quick text to Timothy.

Me: Another fucking week!

I walk through the lobby of the apartment building and then over to the elevator banks. I then send Becca a text as well.

Me: On my way up.

I get into the elevator and roll my shoulders. It has definitely been a Monday, and I’m ready for it to be over. I want Becca underneath me and then some dinner, some sex, and to pass the fuck out.

The elevator dings, and the doors slide open as I pull the key she gave me out of my pocket and unlock it. I undo the button on my suit jacket and shrug out of it. “Babe?” I call out, and my phone rings.

I look down to see it’s Ryder. I look around to see I’m still alone, so I hit answer. “What’s up, man?” I ask, tired and worn out.

“You sound like your day is going about as good as mine.” He sighs.

“Is yours going like shit?” I ask although I already know it is. I’m not sure what happened exactly after Ashlyn stormed out of this apartment his morning, but I know he feels bad for overreacting. I can’t blame him, though, for what he did after he saw her and Bradley together in this very apartment. I’m not sure I’d act reasonably if I saw Becca with another man.

“Is it Monday?”

I chuckle and say, “Yes.” He sighs again, and I loosen my tie and then pull it out from underneath my collar.

“I saw Ashlyn today,” he says out of the blue, and my brows lift as I make my way out of the entryway and down the girls’ hallway. It’s a little after eight. The sun has set, and the apartment is dark besides the lights from the surrounding buildings.

“How did that go?” I ask, but don’t need him to tell me. I knew how it would go, and I tried to warn Becca.

“I’m calling you, aren’t I?” he growls.

I laugh, opening Becca’s bedroom door like I live here with her but still don’t see her. “And I’m guessing it’s because you got something to get off your chest, so let’s hear it.” He doesn’t waste a second.

“She came crashing into my meeting this morning, told me off, and then stormed right out with this ‘fuck you’ look on her face,” he growls, and I place him on speakerphone and toss my phone onto the purple bedspread.

I undo the first button on my dress shirt. “And?” I urge him to continue although I’m sure I know how this ends.

“And after she left, I felt bad. I’ve treated her and Becca like shit for the last week, so I wanted to make it up to them. So I sent them both flowers today.”

I undo the button on my slacks followed by my zipper. “Becca sent me a thank-you text, but Ashlyn sent me nothing.” My slacks fall to the ground.

“Did you really think flowers were gonna save the day? Week?” I ask, stepping out of them.

“No.” He sighs. Then a long silence follows. I reach down, pick up my phone, and turn it off speakerphone. Placing it to my ear, I tell him, “Ryder, I tried to tell you that night we went out that you needed to call her. Talk to her. If you want to save whatever it was that you guys had, you are gonna have to go the extra mile.” But I know no matter what he does, it won’t be enough. Ashlyn has hit that point where she no longer cares. Thankfully, Becca never made it there.

He lets out a long breath, and I sit on the end of the bed. “I know. But ... fuck, I’ve ignored her for a week, and I’m not sure how to get back to where we were. Or if she even wants to.”

I think about me and Becca—all the time we’ve missed, and how I should have tried harder. If only we had both known the truth ... I find myself sighing and closing my eyes. “Ryder, that night we went out, and I took you back to your office...”

“What about it?” he asks.

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