The Do-Over(27)

Oh God.

Reaching into my purse, I pulled out the rollerball of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue that Laynie and I had bought and rolled a touch below each ear and then a longer line in my cleavage. Breathing in, the beachy scent calmed me.

Okay, let’s do this. I gathered everything I needed and made my way back to the conference room. Donna was setting out an air-pot of coffee and cups, before going to the front to be there to greet the C-Kicker contingent when they arrived.

Kim looked up at me from her laptop screen and dabbed the corner of her eyes. “I love what you and Jonathan did. I hope I don’t start crying when we show these roughs to them.”

“You liked it?”

“Tara, you could see the two of you had your heart in this. Pinch me or kick me under the table if I start to cry.”

I laughed, “It’s a deal.” They’re going to love her as an account exec was my last thought before I heard voices heading our way.

Wes and his staff were here.

Standing, I smoothed down my jade dress and came around the table. Breathe, Tara. Chris entered first. He was partially turned around talking to a beautiful Hispanic woman. My guess was that must be Renata. She wore a coral suit that drew everyone’s eyes and then didn’t let go with its short skirt showcasing her toned, tan legs. Chris laughed at whatever she was saying.

Wes entered next in a deep navy suit with a pale blue shirt open at the collar. Just as I had predicted on the night we met, this was a man who grew into his looks. He owned his charisma now, knowing exactly what to do with it. And he still had all his hair. It was a perfect mess of loose curls with the first hint of grey shyly peeking out at the temples.

Behind him there was another woman, but I couldn’t have told you what she looked like. I could only watch Wes as Chris introduced our team to him. He was shaking hands with Jamie and then Jonathan.

“And this is our Director of Graphics, Tara Collins.” Chris introduced me.

Our eyes met and I smiled at him, my reaction totally visceral and out of my immediate control. I was looking at Wes. I could feel my cheeks rising as my smile continued on its uncontrollable path.

“Tara,” he nodded, extending a hand. That voice…

“Wes.” I didn’t break eye contact as I took his hand, a slight tremble in mine as our fingers touched, no longer separated by the infinite degrees of the universe. I tried to read what was in his eyes, but he wasn’t giving me an answer. And maybe he didn’t even have a question.

Do you know who I am? Anything? Something. “It’s me, Wes,” I silently pleaded, begging for his remembrance. “It’s me, Tara.”

Our hands broke contact and I could feel the space as we were back on our respective sides of the bridge again. But there was no longer one degree separating us or tying us together. It wasn’t Chris or crazy Fawn that was the one degree binding us in our separation. We had breached the gap. Again.

As Wes introduced his staff, I was still smiling, just listening to that melodious voice. It didn’t feel like a million years since I had heard it last. No, it felt as if the sound had always been surrounding me, pulling me in tight.

Shaking hands with Renata Oliveras, I complimented her on her lovely suit and told her how nice it was to meet her. Next to her was another woman, Kelly Dennis. I was speaking to these people, but I was listening to Wes, hyper-focused on his every word, as my wildly beating heart cut a hasty path toward the surface of my chest and the keyhole neckline of my jade dress. I was a bundle of emotion, trying to appear cool and engaged, but every cell in my body had discovered a new faster frequency on which to vibrate.

Then Wes introduced the tall, good looking man on the end, the last of his employees. I had been so focused on Wes, I hadn’t even noticed the man entering the conference room.

“And this guy here,” Wes began, “is my right hand and second in command, my VP of Operations, Julien Matthews.”

The smile on my face immediately dissipated and I had to consciously tell myself to close my agape mouth and assume a fake grin. It took all the strength I had to prod myself just to breathe. I couldn’t freaking breathe, and I wasn’t sure that I even wanted to, because sustained breathing ensured the continuation of this moment.

The man extended a hand, “Tara, is it?” his tone was mocking. As one brow rose, his smile rapidly morphed into his signature sneer.

I forced my hand up to meet his and his sneer deepened as he greeted it with a hard squeeze, causing me to shudder. His pale blue eyes bore into me, transmitting ice cold energy.

And in that very second, I felt my heart stall as I realized that this particular degree of separation would not serve as a connector for me and Wes, but rather threatened to disconnect us, as he was the self-appointed toll taker at the only bridge in sight, the one that crossed over a nearly impenetrable chasm.





Chapter 10


As the videos ran, I intently watched Wes’ face across the conference room table. Professional and composed, most people would miss the nearly imperceptible muscle tic in his jaw that told me of the storm the film clip had just unleashed in his heart. Jonathan and I had been right on the mark with our concept and execution and I was elated beyond belief, not just to do a good job and land an account, but to create something that was meaningful for Wes. What had happened to him? Who had he lost to this insidious disease?