Page 128 of My Destiny
“I was thinking about you too, hence why I’m calling. I know you’re super busy right now, but I don’t have to be at the studio until two, so I thought maybe we could do lunch… I’m missing you.”
I run my hand nervously through my hair. I’d like nothing more than to have lunch with her, but I can’t today. Jesus Christ, how am I going to get out of this one without lying? I feel like I’ve been deceiving her a lot lately, but with good reason. This, however, is on a totally different level.
I sigh. “I wish I could, but I just can’t swing it today. I’m sorry.” I feel like such a cad.
“That’s okay,” she says. I can hear the disappointment in her voice. “It was worth a try.”
“How about we organise lunch for tomorrow? I’ll move mountains to make it happen.”
“Sure, I guess I can settle for tomorrow.” I chuckle at the dramatics I hear in her voice.
As I go to speak again, Rose buzzes me. “Hold on a minute, babe.”
“Yes, Rose.”
“Mr. Cavanagh, Amanda Campbell just called. She said she’s running about twenty minutes late for your lunch date.” Tilting my head back, I pinch the bridge of my nose.Shit.
“Thanks, Rose.”
“Are you there, Brooke?” I say, placing the phone back to my ear as I silently pray she didn’t hear that conversation, but in my heart I already know she did.
“You’re having lunch with Amanda? Please tell me it’s not Amanda, Amanda your ex.”
I blow out a long breath. “Brooke, it’s not like that. Let me explain.”
“Oh my god, it is her. I… I can’t believe you.”
Before I get a chance to speak again, the line goes dead. “Fuck!”
I burst out of the lift the moment the doors open and run through the apartment. “Brooke!” I call out at the top of my voice.Please still be here.“Brooke.” I’m pretty sure I forced Chris to break every road rule on the drive over here.
“Mr. Cavanagh,” Jill says, exiting my office. She has a dusting cloth clutched in her hand.
“Where’s Brooke?” I’ve tried to call her nonstop since she hung up on me, but her phone continues to go to voicemail. I had Rose call Amanda back and cancel our lunch so I could come straight here instead.
“I think she’s in the bedroom,” she says. “Is everything okay?”
I don’t bother replying as I rush towards the stairs, taking them two at a time. I was so worried she may have left.
Flinging open the door, my heart drops the moment I see her packing things into her suitcase. “Brooke.” I waste no time closing the distance between us, but when I reach for her, she shuns away.
“Don’t touch me,” she says with her back still to me. My hands drop down by my sides, but when I observe her wiping her eyes, I know she’s crying. Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around her tightly from behind.
“Babe.” She struggles to free herself, but there’s no way I’m releasing her until she hears me out. “It’s not what you think.”
“Sure it isn’t. I was right all along. You lawyers are all the same.”
Her comment hurts me, but I let it go.I’m nothing like them!“Amanda called my office this morning. It’s the first time I’ve heard from her since the restaurant, I swear to you. She asked if I’d represent her; she’s chasing Brent for child support, amongst other things. I told her no, that I couldn’t help. I don’t want to get involved with this, and I don’t want anything to do with either of them. Please believe me.” I’m rambling, but I need her to understand.
When she stops resisting me, I release my grip a little, and turn her in my arms so she’s facing me. The moment I see her red swollen eyes, my heart breaks.
“But you thought you’d have lunch with her for old times’ sake?” She chokes on her words as she speaks, which tears me up further. I’m responsible for her distress, and I hate myself for that.
“No. I didn’t want to do that either.” I let out a long breath. “When I told her I couldn’t help, she started to cry. She said she’s struggling to get by on her own, and her kids are doing without because of it. I felt bad for her. I told her I could give her some advice as a friend and recommend a good family law lawyer, but that was it.”
“Over lunch?” she says, arching an eyebrow.
“Lunch was her idea. I should never have agreed to it.”
