Page 102 of Unbossly Manners

Every muscle froze. The only movement was from my heart, which raced like a pregnant woman who had to pee.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“After the accident, Kat wanted to move back in and try again in earnest,” Derrick said.

“I don’t care,” I glowered.

“Jackson said no.”

I shook my head, uncomprehending.

“That’s why the ring was gone,” I said more to myself.

“He took it off.”

“Why?” I asked, needing to hear it.

“It’s his past,” Derrick said, a hitch in his voice like he was speaking about more than Jackson’s marriage. “It’s time for him to move to the next chapter.”

He rested his hand on my shoulder and gave a light squeeze, which felt more like goodbye.

“Don’t fuck it up,” he said, then left.

thirty-eight

Take care of him.

I sat at my desk and stared at the text that had just come through on my phone.

The mayhem in the office was still spinning after the announcement of Brody’s subterfuge and the likelihood that we were about to be bought by one of the biggest media conglomerates in the country.

But the text from Kat shook me more than any of that.

I sat at my workstation and glanced around, as if Kat may be present, watching and waiting for me to respond.

My hand hovered over the screen, unsure how to answer.

Did you mean to send this to someone else?

I had no idea why she assumed I had any control over Jackson’s wellbeing.

My phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered wearily.

“Sorry, Peyton,” Kat said. “I don’t mean to put this on you, but Jackson’s asked I not contact him unless it’s to do with Evie.”

She waited as if she expected me to have some knowledge of this information.

“Why?” I asked.

“He’s setting boundaries. Which is healthy, but I’m not gonna lie. It hurts.”

I rested my forehead in my hand. It was one thing for him to take off the ring, but to put limitations on his interactions with Kat… that was a first.

“He didn’t say anything to you about it?” Kat asked, her tone betraying her suspicion.

“It’s been busy here and I haven’t had much time for small talk.”

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