She just stares at me for a moment, debating whether I’m lying or not. “Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath, “but just remember something…you’re awesome, Rylee. If he doesn’t see that...if he doesn’t see everything you have to offer in and out of the sack...then fuck him and the horse he rode in on.”
I give her a slight smile. Leave it to Haddie to put it eloquently.
The next morning passes without hearing from him. I decide to text him.
Hi, Ace. Call me when you have a chance. We need to talk. XO.
My phone remains silent for most of the day despite how many times I’ve looked at it and checked to see if I have good service. As the day drags on, my unease settles in, and I start to realize that I’ve probably done irrevocable damage.
Finally at three o’clock I receive a response. My hopes soar at the prospect of having contact with him.
Busy all day in meetings. Catch you later.
And then my hopes take a nosedive.
On the third day post the I-love-you disastrous confession, I get up the nerve to call his office on my way in to the office. “CD Enterprises, can I help you?”
“Colton Donavan please,” I answer, my knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel.
“May I ask who’s calling please?”
“Rylee Thomas.” My voice cracks.
“Hi, Ms. Thomas, let me check. Just a moment please.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, anxiety eating at me as I hope he answers and then at what to say if he does.
“Ms. Thomas?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry. Colton’s not in today. He’s out sick. Can I take a message? Can Tawny help you with anything?”
My heart moves up into my throat at the words. If he is in fact sick, she wouldn’t have had to check. She would’ve known.
“No. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
The past few days have started to take their toll on me. I look a mess, so much so that even make-up isn’t helping. On day four I feel like I would give anything to take my words back. To take us back to the moments before where we were connected in the moment of his unyielding trust in me. But I can’t.
Instead, I sit at my desk and stare aimlessly at the pile of work on my desk without any desire to do anything. I look up at the knock on my open door to see Teddy. “You okay, kiddo? You don’t look so good.”
I force a smile. “Yeah. I think I’m coming down with something,” I lie. Anything to avoid the questioning look and the I-told-you-so tone. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, well don’t stay too late. I think you’re the last one. I’ll tell Tim down in the lobby you’re still up here so that he can walk you to your car.”
“Thanks, Teddy.” I smile. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
My smile fades as he turns his back from me. I watch Teddy walk to the elevators and into the open car while I muster up the courage to call him again. I don’t want to come off desperate, but I am. I need to talk to him. To show him that even though I said the words, things are still the same between us. I pick up my cell phone but know he probably won’t pick up if he sees my number. I opt for the office line.
On the third ring the phone picks up “Donavan.”
My heart pounds in my chest at the sound of his voice. Keep it light, Rylee. “Ace?” I say breathlessly.
“Rylee?” His voice seems so far away as he says my name. So distant. So detached and bordering on annoyed.
“Hi,” I say timidly. “I’m glad I got ahold of you.”
“Yeah, sorry I haven’t called you back,” he apologizes, but he sounds off. He’s talking to me in the same irritated tone that he spoke to Teagan with.
I swallow the lump in my throat, needing any type of connection with him. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you picked up.”
“Yeah, I’ve just been real busy with work.”
“Feeling better then?” I ask, then cringe when there’s silence on the line― the pause that tells me he has to think of something quick to say to cover the lie.
“Yeah…just getting some last minute details done to try and push a patent through on one of our new safety devices.”
My insides twist at his disembodied tone because I can feel it. I can feel him removing himself from all we shared together. From all the emotions I thought he felt but couldn’t put words to. I try to hide the desperation in my voice as the first tear trails down my cheek. “So how’s it going?”
“Eh, so-so…look, babe...” he laughs “...I’ve gotta run.”
“Colton!” I plead. His name falls from my mouth before I can stop it.
“Yeah?”
“Look, I’m sorry,” I say softly. “I didn’t mean...” My words falter as I choke on getting the lie out.
The line is silent for a moment, and that’s the only reason I know he’s heard me. “Well that’s a slap in the face,” he says sarcastically, but I can hear the annoyance in his voice. “Which one is it, babe? You either love me or you don’t, right? It’s almost worse when you say it and then take it back. Don’t you agree?”
I think it’s the obvious derision in his voice that breaks me this time. I catch the sob before it comes out loudly. I hear him laugh with someone on the other end of the line. “Colton…” is all I can manage to say, the hurt swallowing me whole and pulling me under.
“I’ll call ya,” he says, the phone clicking off before I have a chance to say what I fear could possibly be my final goodbye. I keep the phone to my ear, my mind running through all of the other ways that conversation could have gone differently. Why did he have to be so cruel? He forewarned me. I guess I’m at fault all around in this case. First for not listening and then for opening my big mouth.