Page 51 of The Bonus

“You’re lying. I drove her to your house,” he barks. “You pulled her out of the car.” He grips the steering wheel. “I did think it was strange when you didn’t leave the yacht in Italy.”

“You weren’t even in Italy,” I fire back.

“No, but the security boys called me from over there to see if everything was okay because you hadn’t left the yacht the entire time you were there.”

“I was tired.”

“Of being a prick?”

“Shut the fuck up.” I punch the back of the seat as I begin to lose control.

“You haven’t gone out since Grace left; you haven’t had one single date.”

“So what?” I yell.

“That’s not who you are.”

“Shut. Up.”

“Are you going to do what you want to do, or are you going to do what you have to do?”

I clench my jaw as I stare out the window. “You have no idea what you are talking about…or what is expected of me.”

“I know more than you. Let’s go get her.” He shrugs. “I’m ready, you want Grace, so let’s go get her.”

“So you’re my quack now with the reverse psychology?” I pinch the bridge of my nose as my elbow rests on the door. “I fucking hate you, you know that?”

We fall silent as the car pulls up at a set of traffic lights and the sad reality sets in. “I can’t have Grace.” I sigh.

“So why do you want to find her?” he says in a softer tone.

Because I miss her.

We sit in silence for a long time as my mind goes over the depressing facts.

He’s right.

I have to let her go, it’s not fair for me to chase her when I can’t offer her what I want to.

“Forget I said anything,” I reply as I stare out the window. “It doesn’t matter.”

The car whizzes through the security gate and into the underground parking lot of my building as the memory of my Gracie lingers.

So close but so far…I need to forget her.

Grace

I watch the baggage handler throw the last of the bags into the cargo hull. We boarded a plane and are on the tarmac, about to leave New York forever.

It’s pouring with rain, the sky is depressed, along with my heart.

I did it, I changed my number. Not that he was ever going to call anyway, but at least now I have finality.

I will never have to see his name pop up on my screen… Or get excited every time it rings, only to be disappointed when it isn’t him.

“You okay?” Deb smiles over at me as she takes my hand in hers.

“Uh-huh.” I fake a smile back.

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