Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(58)

“That I agree with,” Taylor says and laughs. “But you won’t be working with her. Only I get that pleasure.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come to California with me?” I ask her one last time, hoping I can sway her.

“Unless you want to hire my very sexy fiancé, I would say that’s a no. But know I’ll be sitting here plotting ways to push her in front of a bus. Accidentally of course,” Taylor jokes and we both crack up.

“Yes, because all pushing of evil bitches in front of moving vehicles is accidental.”

“I think we’d be forgiven for that one.” Taylor smiles and I nod.

Yes, if there’s anyone I think a panel of our peers would forgive, it’s us for having Piper run over by a truck. She’s the devil incarnate.

Taylor straightens up and picks up her notebook. “Okay, what else do we have to get through? I got me a hot date,” she drawls, her Midwestern accent peeking through.

“You’re a mess,” I tease, dispelling the anxiety Piper caused.

“But you love me.”

“I do. I do.”

We spend the next hour going over what else her new job will require her to do. Since she could’ve easily done my job, there’s not much we have to iron out. Most of the time we laugh or reminisce about accounts we’d forgotten about. There are a lot of memories in this office. Some good, some bad, but Taylor was a part of all of it.

“Okay, tomorrow is packing day. I won’t be back in the office until Friday and then next Thursday is my last day actually here.”

“I didn’t think you’d work at all next week.”

“I didn’t either, but I need to make sure everything is done. There’s a lot to do at home so I’ll take some time this week and try to get that stuff straight. This weekend is girls’ night out and then Tuesday is the memorial and then my flight is four days after that. You’re coming out with us before I leave, right?”

Taylor sighs and stands up to leave. “I’m not sure, Quinn has a work function this weekend and I need to be there for support. Plus, I’ll see you at work before you leave. You need this time with the girls.”

“I wish you’d reconsider. Ashton and Gretchen won’t mind.”

“I know.” She pauses and looks back at me. “You’ll never know how much you mean to me.” She smiles and heads out the door.

“Tay?” I call and she peeks her head back in. “Trust me I do know.”

She nods and closes the door.

The sun is setting as I look out the window. As the minutes tick by, the exhaustion takes over. I’m run down, overtired, and this is only the beginning of what’s to come. Tomorrow, my life will be packed up and sent to California. There are a few things left to do here and then I’ll be on my own.

Ashton’s already told me I can kiss her ass if I think she’ll be home to watch them pack me. We’ve spent pretty much every night together since I accepted the job. I’m glad we’ve made time on Saturday for a final night out. I’m going to miss my girls, but they promise to come visit and Sean told me I’d have to travel back to New York for meetings.

I pack up and take the box with all my personal belongings out of my office. I stand there looking at the nearly empty office and my stomach clenches. I’ve spent my entire career in this building. It’s going to break my heart to leave all of this behind, even if it is to follow my dream.



“Ever feel like we’re living déjà vu?” Ashton asks, standing in my now empty room. The movers took everything a few days ago. And now it’s time for us to spend the night with Gretchen.

“How so?” I ask wondering where she’s going with this.

She looks around the room and her eyes harden. “Come talk to me in the living room or something. I can’t stare at this shit.”

Ashton may seem tough, but this is difficult for her. We’ve discussed not living together at some point, but I don’t think either of us thought it would include a move across the country as well.

I follow her out of the room fighting the urge to laugh because of her face. “Okay, I’m here.”

“I hate this, Cat!” She flops on the couch while throwing her hands over her face.

Unsure of what to do, I sit on the table and put my hand on her arm. “I know you do. I hate this too, but I need to go.”

She moves her hand and I see the tears threatening to spill over. “No, you’re my family. I’ve never been alone. And Gretchen is saving the world, so I’ll never see her. I don’t have any other friends. I mean, I’d friend me,” Ashton says as she leans back, meaning what she said.

I bust out laughing. “I have no words.”

“What? I’m serious.”

“That’s the sad part.”

“People don’t understand me.” She sits up and wipes the tear from her face.

Moving to the couch I pull her against me. “You’re a bit much to handle sometimes, but they just haven’t had the privilege of getting to know you. Fortunately, I’ve been putting up with your shit long enough to know it’s how you protect yourself.”

Ashton uses her attitude as a shield. I’ve watched her do it since we were kids. She pushes people away before they ever get close to her. How we ever became friends I’ll never know. Sometimes two people who don’t look like a good match on paper, work perfectly in real life.