Page 161 of Now and Forever

Chapter 54

“Why did you take me here?” Nothing was making sense … unless this was where Drew worked. Then everything fell into place. “If he’s in the middle of his shift, I don’t want to bother him, Jacks.” Even if I was in shambles, I wasn’t the kind of woman who would pester a man when he was trying to make a living. Whatever it was I had to say to him, it could wait.

Jackson opened his mouth then shook his head in frustration. “I’ll let him explain it to you. I think that’ll be for the best.”

He guided me toward the entrance, and dazed, I followed. It wasn’t long before we reached the elevator where I saw him press the button to take us to the fiftieth floor. He seemed to know his way around here, too, which was odd. I didn’t realize friends were occasionally allowed to hang around someone’s work place, but I guessed it was different for them. Who knew anymore? My mind was conjuring up all sorts of things, and none of them added up.

“Don’t be nervous; it’s just Drew. He won’t bite.” Jackson gripped my shoulder before planting a reassuring kiss on my head.

He didn’t know Drew all that well, then. The guy I had seen earlier was unforgiving, and I very well knew he wouldn’t give me a chance to explain. At least I was trying, though. That was what counted the most.

When the elevator dinged, indicating that we had arrived, I was surprised to find Jackson staying put. For a brief moment, I was terrified at the thought of being left alone with Drew.

“You’re leaving?”

“I love you more than anything, little sis. I’ll be here for you, always, but I can’t fight battles for you. If you want me to wait for you, I’ll be at the bar.”

Giving him a wry smile, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you, but no. I’ll see you at home.”

“You can do this,” he whispered into my hair before setting me free

Jackson had already pointed to where I should be heading, so with shaky steps but determined mindset, I began to make my way, hoping for another chance.

It felt like forever until I reached the door and rang the buzzer. Was this an office for someone? I wasn’t sure, but I supposed I would know any moment now.

My body froze when I heard the door latch before it was yanked open by Drew, casually dressed in his jeans, barefoot, and not much else. For a moment, we just stared at each other.

“What are you doing here?” he asked in an almost hissing tone.

Nervously, I licked my lips as I tried not to melt into a puddle of goo as he stared me down with his famous ice-cold wintery look. “I came here to say I was sorry,” I finally managed.

“Is that the strawberries and champagne?” a British woman’s voice echoed in the background.

I gulped for air. Fuck, he was with a woman. It didn’t take much to understand what he was in the middle of doing.

“No, it isn’t,” Drew called out before shutting the door behind him. He then took a few steps and threw me an impatient look. “There’s nothing to say. Go home, Chloe.”

No. Not yet. I had so much to say. If he used force to push me away, then so be it.

“What are you doing here, Drew? And why did Jackson send me here … in this hotel? I don’t get any of this.”

He tensed before looking away and staring at the door then back at my face again. “I live here part-time—well, it was part-time, anyway, but as of today, this is my full-time residence.”

“But how can you afford to live here?” I asked before another thought dawned on me. “Unless you’re free-loading off of her. Drew, that’s not right. You—”

“Chloe, for once in your life, just stop!” he thundered out. “I’m not free-loading off anyone. I pay for my own. Is that enough to get you off my back?”

I felt like a tool. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so judgmental,” I muttered lamely while he simply glared at me. “You really don’t want to talk?” After what I had just accused him of, I doubted he would be accommodating. Sometimes, my mouth really needed to just zip it.

“I’m right here, aren’t I?” He sounded so wounded.

Had I realized before that his detachment was his way of needing space to think … But that text message hadn’t helped. In fact, it had pushed me to make a decision.

“I didn’t intend for it to happen. I swear. Please … You have to believe me.”

“Of course you didn’t,” he immediately retorted.

He was so apathetic I couldn’t be too sure if he was being sarcastic or understanding.

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