Page 44 of The Fear of Falling
Chapter 17
Benson
Imissedthesemountainsmore than I thought. It’s something I’ve realized more the longer I’m here. I started spending a few minutes out on the balcony each afternoon, but it’s too hot to work out here or I would bring my laptop out and make this my office. In part because of the view but also because it would put some distance between me and Avery, something that has become increasingly hard to come by.
It’s been a week since I showed up at Rose & Quill. Six days since Avery and I talked to Phillip Rogers, who sent over a term sheet only a day later to get things moving with an investment plan. Eric has been in constant conversation with the company’s contracted lawyer over the last several work days, leaving Avery to her own devices.
And Avery’s devices have started to involve me in almost everything.
I sigh, taking in the view of the Wasatch Front from my metal chair. Though the Rose & Quill offices are small, they’re certainlyin a good spot, and there are moments when I wish I could sit here all day and simply take in the majesty of the mountains. I can think out here, unlike in an office with Avery sitting a few feet away and pulling me into conversations every few minutes.
They’re not bad conversations. In fact, she has quickly started deep diving into the marketing ideas we presented to Rogers, turning them into actual plans that will make my job easier. Every time she comes up with something new, she tells me about it and asks for input, which leads to more ideas. I love brainstorming with her and playing off her energy, but that’s exactly the problem. I’m enjoying it too much.
This is going to end in a few weeks. And it’s going to end badly if I’m not careful.
“Is this where you go when you’re hiding from Avery?” Eric’s voice breaks through my thoughts, full of amusement.
I look over at him as he settles in one of the other chairs. His face is still a bit mottled with purple from Avery’s impressive headbutt last week, but it’s healing. He’s lucky she didn’t break his nose, but I’m not sure I’ll let him live this down regardless. Witnessing that debacle was the highlight of my time in Utah so far. “I’m not hiding. How’s the face?”
He grimaces. “Sore. I’m hoping the bruising is all gone before the conference in a couple of days so I don’t have to explain to people that my partner hit me in the nose. And I don’t blame you for hiding from Avery. She can be a lot sometimes.”
Defensiveness rises in my throat, but I swallow it down. Ever since Eric missed his chance to schmooze Rogers in person, he’s been throwing out little comments about Avery, like taking out his frustration on her is going to make himself look better. I’m pretty sure it’s his stress talking, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to counter him every time. The only thing holding me back is the worry that he’ll read too much into my defense of his ex and start to think something is there that isn’t.
Something thatcan’tbe there.
I force myself to focus on the first thing he said, rather than telling him I would happily spend all day with Avery if not for him. “Conference?”
“Oh. Right. I’m driving to Denver tomorrow for a publishing conference in the hopes of making some good contacts with vendors. As soon as we started negotiations with Rogers, I booked a ticket.”
A ticket. As in one. “You’re not taking Avery with you?”
“She hates this sort of thing.”
Based on the million and a half ideas she was throwing around this last week, I highly doubt that’s true. A publishing conference sounds like the sort of place Avery might thrive, where like-minded people share ideas. Since she’s full of them, a publishing conference is exactly the sort of place she should go.
“Are you sure both of you shouldn’t go?” I ask, rubbing the back of my neck.
“And leave you here on your own?” He scoffs. “That feels like a waste of good money, and you’re not cheap.”
“I wasn’t…” The words fade on my tongue. I wasn’t going to charge him for my services, and I thought he knew that. Apparently not. Does he not see this as a friend helping a friend? Are we relegated to business associates now? That defeats the purpose of me coming here, since the only reason I agreed to consult for R&Q was to have the chance to rebuild our friendship, and I had to turn down two different proposals to be here.
Clients who not only would have paid me but would have had more clout than what I usually deal with. In other words, clients who would have brought me one step closer to turning my one-man-show into something my dad might actually approve of.
Grunting, I shift in my seat and tell myself to focus on the problem at hand and not outlandish hypothetical situations.“Does Avery know when you’re leaving?” I ask, though I really want to ask him if Avery knowsifhe’s leaving. She hasn’t said anything about the conference, and I can’t imagine her sitting quietly if she knew about it.
Eric shrugs. “Not yet. I figured I’d let her know before I leave for the day so she isn’t wondering why I’m not in the office tomorrow.”
I don’t remember him being this much of an idiot. “Dude.”
“What?”
“She’s yourpartner.”
“Business partner,” he clarifies, sharper than I expect. “And I know that. It’s why I trust her to keep an eye on things while I’m gone.”
“You didn’t think toaskher about going to the conference?”
He frowns at me, as if my question makes no sense. “I’m an owner of R&Q just like she is. It’s not like we’re dating anymore; I don’t need her permission to make business decisions.”
