Page 18 of The Best Worst Mistake
Dax lets another dart fly. It’s a near bullseye. “That still doesn’t seem like a good reason to break up with you.”
I smile, happy to be distracted from the fact that my phone still isn’t fucking ringing.
“You didn’t know Raven very well,” I tell him. “The idea of any woman’s name but hers coming out of my mouth was reason enough to break up with me.”
“Was she aware of how estranged you and Jules have become?” he asks, and I nod. “I still can’t figure out why Grant was hell-bent on putting the two of you in a plane together. Seems like a recipe for disaster.” He grimaces. “No offense.”
I can’t bring myself to tell himwhyGrant insisted on sending Jules and I on this trip together.
The first time I had the dream was the night I held Jules following Grant’s funeral. Since then, I’ve had variations of the same dream dozens and dozens of times, each one ending with her shoving me out the plane door while I call her name to stop.
But, Raven was right.
It’s gotten to the point of happening almost nightly. And a few weeks back, she finally had enough.
“I don’t care if she was your best friend’s fiancée and you swear she’s untouchable. You’re now dreaming about her almost every night and I’m not going to stand by while you travel alonewith her. It’s either her or me. Stay home or go. I won’t be waiting for you like an idiot if you choose to go.”
I’d promised nothing was going on between us, and reminded her that the trip was my best friend’s final request.
“What am I supposed to do?” I’d asked. “Cancel everything and disappoint Grant over a stupid dream that I have no control over? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You can’t disappoint someone who’s already dead, Si,” she said, her eyes finally filling with defeat. “Only the living can have their heart broken.”
And that was it.
It was over between us.
I drain my glass and set it back down on the bar top.
“Disaster or not,” I remind Dax, “I don’t even know if Jules is planning on showing up tomorrow.”
“She’s been through a lot, Si.” His voice is low. As if I need the reminder.
“I’m well aware.” I’m trying not to lose my cool. I didn’t plan for any of this to happen. I’ve found myself smack dab in the middle of Grant’s plan, just like Jules has by now.
Monica’s courier dropped the letter off to her nearly an hour ago. What if she thought it was a solicitation and didn’t open it? Or she did read it and is choosing to ignore what it said? Maybe she’s still so angry with me that she’d rather lose Grant’s four other letters than get on the same plane?
Every time I think about what she’s going to read in that letter, I get a rancid tightness in my chest. The same one that sneaks up on me every time I’ve thought about her since I showed up at her house that night.
The anger in her eyes is burned into my memory.
We’re supposed to board my jet in the morning and I still don’t have a damn clue whether or not she’s agreed to go. It’s nearly six o’clock. Monica should have called me by now.
Something’s wrong.
I glare at my phone, fighting the urge to throw it against the wall while Dax watches me try not to fume.
I walk to my desk and hit the intercom button. It immediately turns red.
“Ryan!” I bark.
“Sir?” he replies into the speaker, sounding chipper if not a bit hesitant.
“No calls yet?”
“I’ll let you know the moment she calls.Ifshe calls.” His quick correction grows my annoyance. “But Monica’s been instructed to call your phone so I think—”
“I know,” I interrupt, cutting the intercom feed without saying another word.
