Page 114 of The VIP Doubles Down
Taking a beer to the sofa, she turned on the television and began scrolling through movies, hoping to find something to take her mind off the anger and anguish that rolled through her every time she thought of Gavin.
But, of course, a Julian Best movie came up in her queue because she rewatched them all the time. She scooped Pie up from her lap and laid her cheek against the cat’s neck, trying to soothe herself with the sound of purring.
Gavin had battered her heart with his lack of trust. She had done nothing to deserve that from him. She knew he had been betrayed by other women he loved, but she was a different person. A spurt of hot, righteous anger punched through her. Was he too damaged to see that?
Allie wanted to rage at him, to defend herself from his insulting accusations. But she understood, too. All that sarcasm was just a facade, protecting his poet’s soul. He wanted to believe in love, so he made himself vulnerable to it. And when the person he loved let him down, he imagined he wasn’t worthy. She’d been through that with Troy, thinking there was something wrong withherbecause her ex had told her so over and over again. She began to assume that she brought that behavior on herself. Her stomach churned at the memory.
So Gavin thought he evoked betrayal. That it was his fault.
Maybe if they’d had longer together, he wouldn’t have condemned her unfairly, no matter how damning Hugh’s news seemed. But their relationship had exploded with such suddenness that it had no solid foundation.
“Why do I have to be so darned sympathetic? Why can’t I just get mad at him for being a jerk?” she muttered into Pie’s fur. The little cat squirmed, so she set her back down on the sofa cushion.
She needed the strength of anger to combat the most serious of her problems. She loved Gavin, and the ache of losing him burrowed inside her like one of those underground coal seam fires, searing through her without any hope of being extinguished. For a moment she doubled over, her hands braced on her knees as the pain flared in her heart.
Pushing herself back to a sitting position, Allie took a long swig of beer and chose a movie at random.Working Girl.
“That’s what I need,” she said, her spine straightening. “Work.”
Her former boss at Havilland knew she was anxious for a job, but it might pay to remind him tomorrow morning. Then she remembered Ben Cavill, whose business card was on her dresser. She’d drop him an e-mail right now. Being constructive was better than crying over a man.
Pie glared when Allie launched herself off the couch to grab her laptop and the doctor’s card. She took her time composing the e-mail, then read it out loud. “So what do you think?” she asked Pie. “I want to sound confidently available, not pathetically overeager.”
She hit “Send” and started the movie again. When the secretary Tess dressed up in borrowed designer clothing to go to a party she wasn’t invited to, Allie decided it was a bad choice and turned it off.
As she got up to get another beer, her cell phone buzzed. The caller ID came up “Private,” but she figured that chatting with a telemarketer was better than feeling sorry for herself.
“Allie? This is Ben Cavill. Sorry to call you on Sunday, but I just got your e-mail.”
Hope fluttered in Allie’s chest. “I’m glad you called.”
“Good, because I have a client who desperately needs your services. Gavin told me you’re very booked up right now, but your e-mail mentioned that you had availability this week.”
Gavin told himwhat? Somehow she managed not to say that out loud. “Yes, I had a patient called out of town unexpectedly, so time opened up,” she improvised.
“That’s good news. I’m going to send your credentials to my client. Once he gives me the go-ahead, I’ll update you on his issues and put you in touch.” He paused a moment. “I’ve been looking for a PT of your caliber, so I hope you’ll reserve some time for my patients in the future. In concierge medicine, the remuneration is excellent.” He named an hourly fee that made her eyes go wide. At that rate, she would need only three patients to pay her bills.
“My schedule is starting to open up,” Allie said, “so call me the next time you have a prospective client.”
She got off the phone and did a victory dance around the sofa before she waltzed over to the cat and scratched her under the chin. “Mama’s going to buy us a sirloin steak to celebrate.”
Then she remembered Cavill’s comment about Gavin and narrowed her eyes. It sounded as though Gavin had messed with her livelihood because he wanted her to go to Southampton with him. Granted, he was paying her for the little bit of work she did there. Generously.
But he had no right to keep her from the work she was trained to do, the work that gave her satisfaction and purpose. The work that paid for Pie’s cat food.
A welcome burn of fury boiled up in her. Before she could think, she hit the speed dial for Gavin’s number. It rang three times, and she was about to hang up when his voice came on the line. “Allie?” He sounded torn between disbelief and hope.
“How dare you screw with my work?” she snarled. “You knew I needed PT jobs, but you told Ben Cavill that I was booked up. Was it just so you’d have a little entertainment out in Southampton? I can’t believe you accused me of betraying your trust when you’re the guilty one.”
“Damn it! I was paying you for full-time work, and very well.” His voice was hoarse.
“For this week, but what about next week, when there was nothing left for me to do on the Julian Best bible? Did you think of that?”
“I needed you. I thought if I had more time, I could make you understand how much.”
“You needed me! I used to be stupid enough to think that being needed meant being loved. But I learned the difference from Troy. Neither of you selfish jerks consideredmyneeds.” Angry tears spilled down her cheeks. “Actors and writers, the ultimate narcissists. I’m going to date a plumber next.”
“Dear God, don’t make me laugh. My head will explode.”
