Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Can you continue to follow Beau’s card?” I asked. “At least that’ll give me a direction.”
“Dash, I love Beau. I do,” Penny started. “But are you certain you should go after him?”
My head jerked up as I rose from my seat. “What’s that mean?” What a ridiculous thought.
She lifted her hands in some sort of gesture of peace. “You both have changed. You’re devoted to your work, spending well over a hundred hours a week here. I’ve been in this for too long. People like you have a hard time maintaining any sort of relationship. You’re married to your job.”
I gazed at her in disbelief. Why was this the first time I let that philosophy sink into my thick skull? Because I’d discounted it. My arrogance pushed me to believe I could handle my personal and career growth. How dumb was I?
I didn’t show Penny my cards. I rarely did until I had time to consider it all. “I understand your perspective.” That reply would have to suffice. As I rounded the desk to leave the office, I added, “I’m going to find Chandler.”
“You know, this is the first time I’ve seen you like this. I like the hair falling down on your forehead. It makes you look younger,” she said, propping her shoulder against the doorframe. I almost rolled my eyes. She’d nailed the exact reason I kept it swept up all of the time.
I lifted my hand to my head, realizing I hadn’t even dried my hair today. I never left the house with my hair in disarray.
“I don’t think you heard me,” she called.
“I heard you.” As the elevator door slid open, I stepped inside in full find-Beau-beast-mode. He’d gotten my attention. Decision made, I couldn’t live a proper life without him. Maybe I hadn’t done right by him, but I always knew he was my anchor. Fuck this job.
22: The Ocean
Dash/Beau
Dash
The firm had placed Chandler in one of the small condos designed for traveling lawyers who came to Chicago for various reasons. I parked in front of the ground floor unit and noticed the partially open door. That couldn’t be good. I approached the front door then nudged it farther open with my toe.
“Chandler,” I called out, but received no reply. “You here, buddy?”
Again, only silence greeted me. I stepped fully inside, and my eyes widened. What a mess. What had Chandler gone through that led him to live in such filth?
“Chandler, are you here?”
What did it say about me that I’d rather have a vagrant living here than believe Chandler, a guy I’d known forever, had turned out to be such a trashy person—literally? I had to gather my courage and steel my spine to continue inside the house. All the lights were off. I flipped the switch on in the bathroom. It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months. The bedroom was in the same condition. All of Chandler’s clothes were gone, empty hangers lining the closet.
The hand I hadn’t used to touch anything, covered my eyes as the sheer magnitude of what Chandler had done settled heavily on my shoulders. Worry fueled my thoughts. Chandler was acting with my father’s blessing, ensuring I lost everything. Why hadn’t I shielded Beau better? I patted my front pockets then the back pockets, searching for my cell phone, only to realize I’d left it in the car. I left the apartment, locking the door behind me. Once I was tucked inside my car, I worked the display screen to call Beau’s number. It rang four times before going to voicemail. Why wasn’t he answering?
“Beau, whatever Chandler did was with malicious intent. I have no idea what caused you to leave, but Chandler’s actions were premeditated. It all came to a head last night. Please call me. I love you. Carter told me you changed your plans to come home on Sunday. We can leave Chicago together. I see what I’ve become, and you deserve better from me. Please call me.”
I pressed the end button and stared through the front windshield, feeling more isolated than ever before. My palms grew sweaty, prompting me to clench my fists. A large part of me wanted to drive to Oklahoma City right then. That same part of me wondered if Beau was feeling as lost as I was right now.
Penny’s name came across my screen before the ring chimed.
“Yeah?” I answered.
“Beau just filled his tank at a gas station in South Oklahoma City.”
“Thanks, Penny. You’ve been great today. I’ll monitor his charges tonight,” I said, not thoroughly convinced I shouldn’t go after him.
“I don’t mind. If I see something first, I’ll call you,” she said.
“You’re going above and beyond your role,” I said truthfully.
“Keep that in mind for my upcoming employee evaluation. Ciao,” she said before the call ended. With a deep breath in, I realized I was going home alone, left to wallow in my own sorrow. That thought frightened me. I was all too aware of how deeply I could sink because of Beau. He had to let me back in. I couldn’t endure a life without him.