Page 51 of Everything I Need

Of course Eleanor couldn’t be bothered to cook. I am seated next to Colton, who was also seated next to Elizabeth, with Dr. Edwards next to me.

“Preston, tell me, how is the practice going?” Dr. Edwards asks.

“Wonderful. I am working with Scarlett on a rebrand of the office. She has done wonders for my office’s growth.” I beam.

“Well, that’s fantastic! Will you be moving to Boston with her? There is an opening at my hospital, I’d love to have you.” He shocks me.

“I’m sorry, moving to Boston?” I ask, obviously confused.

“Why, yes, her boss Niles and my wife had lunch the other day, he told her that Scarlett was coming back to work at the office and assured her Scarlett would be personally overseeing the consulting for her firm. She just told me when you let it out of the bag you two are dating. ” He confirms.

In this moment, it clicks for me. Donna Edwards, Colton's lawyer and Scarlett's client, is the same Mrs. Edwards that I'm sitting next to right now.

“I didn’t realize Mrs. Edwards was still with the consulting firm in Boston, I thought she switched to Scarlett’s new business.”

“Oh yes, Scarlett has worked with her for years. She loves her and all her work. She was ready to switch but when she went to tell Niles, he told her that Scarlett was in Boston and had just agreed to come back. So how about that job?” He’s oblivious to the inner turmoil in my head. Is this really why Scarlett went to talk to Niles?

“I will have to let you know.” I say sharply.

Scarlett is moving back to Boston? Had I been reading her all wrong this whole time? She has seemed more open recently, until she told me she had to go to Boston. I thought she was struggling with her feelings for me, apparently she was struggling with leaving me. Again.

I nudge Colton who took the cue to end this dinner. He ran off from the table towards the bathroom. I pretend to go check on him after a minute then come back to whisper to my father he isn’t feeling well. Must have been something he ate. My father glares at me knowing that we are lying. I politely excuse us from the dinner and get Colton from his hiding spot.

“What was that, Preston? I thought I’d be the one who needed to leave.” He looks at me in confusion.

“Dr. Edwards just said that Scarlett is moving back to Boston and asked if I’d be following her. I need to speak to her. I don’t think she’d consider something this big without telling me, but she was unusually quiet about going to Boston, avoiding my questions about her meeting.”

“What? When?”

“Well that is the best part. She hasn’t told me yet. She told me about going to Boston, but I didn’t even ask if she was accepting a job offer.” I say sarcastically.

“Preston, Scarlett loves you. She wouldn’t have made that decision and not told you. You need to talk to her.” He urges me.

“Yea. Maybe. Or maybe she’s just back to shutting me out like before.” I pout.

I know I shouldn’t let the anger and hurt control me, but I text Scarlett, against my better judgment once we are back in the car.

Me:You’re considering moving back to Boston? Is that what you’re meeting was about and why you didn’t want me to come?

Chapter Thirty

Scarlett

Iwasfeelingsoproud of myself. I stuck up for myself against Niles. Told him I wanted my clients back, and he was going to let them out of their contracts to come to me if they wished to do so. With the emails I have from him demanding me to comply with his requests for a date or no promotions, and the list of women at this company he’s harassed, he obliged unwillingly.

I had just finished telling Mom about how badass I feel when I get a text from Preston.

Preston:You’re considering moving back to Boston? Is that what you’re meeting was about and why you didn’t want me to come?

What? How did he hear that? I told him I was meeting with Niles, did he jump to his own conclusions?

Me:Where did you hear that?

Preston:Dr. Edwards. His wife is your client. Niles assured her yesterday that you would be coming back to take over her contract. He asked me to come work with him in Boston when we moved.

Me:Preston, that’s not it. We need to talk.

Preston:Okay.

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