by Len Webster
“Thank you,” he said as he set her suitcase down by the wall.
“It’s super clean.”
He laughed as he joined her in the living room, taking in the afternoon view. The sun was high and shone through the large windows. “My mom likes to drop by, so I keep it clean. Plus, my sisters stay over a lot when they’re in the city, so they share a room. You’ll have to—”
“Oh, please don’t worry about me. I’ll sort out my flight back to Vermont after I speak to my dad.”
“Why don’t you stay?”
She reared back, surprised by his offer. “Stay?”
“Yeah,” he said with a nod. “You don’t have to go back home already, right?”
Savannah shook her head. “No, I don’t. Why should I stay?”
I want to spend time with you.
I want to make sure you’re okay.
I want to prove my worth.
“Has he ever shown you New York?”
“Nope,” she replied as she brushed her hair behind her ear. “Though I’ve done all the touristy stuff with my parents when I was a kid. So I’ve seen all the famous Big Apple landmarks.”
Will grinned. “Well, I’ll show you another side of New York—” He sighed as he felt his phone vibrate in his pants pocket. He pulled it out and noticed Emerson calling. He glanced up and smiled apologetically at Savannah. “It’s Emerson. We have a meeting later this afternoon, so I should probably get back to work. I’m sorry.”
Horror consumed her face. “Oh, my God. No, please don’t apologize. I should be the one apologizing. You left work because of me.”
“I had to leave. I didn’t want you to stay with him. How about I bring home some dinner?”
“That sounds great.”
Contentment ran through him knowing that she was safe in his apartment. Will turned around, walked over to her suitcase, and picked it up before he went to his bedroom. He pushed the door open and walked inside. He set her suitcase by the bed and spun around to find her at his door.
“Is this your room?” Savannah asked.
Will nodded. “I’ll take the couch.”
“Will, no.”
He shook his head. “You’re my guest, Savannah. You can’t sleep on the couch.”
Her chin dipped a little. “Neither can you.”
“I’ll live,” he said as he led her out of the room and back into the living room. “I’d give you a tour, but this is it. Living room, dining room, and kitchen all in one.”
Laughing, Savannah took in his apartment once again. “It’s homey.”
“Thanks. There are plenty of food and drinks in the kitchen. Help yourself. I’ll try to leave the office early, but if I can’t, I should be home by seven. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I’ll call you,” she promised.
He nodded. Will wanted to embrace her as he had in the lobby almost an hour ago, but he knew it wasn’t the time. If he were to hold her like she was his, he would be benefiting from her pain. Not wanting to take advantage of her or the situation, he smiled and then headed toward the front door. Just as he was about to open it, he looked over his shoulder and said, “Mrs. Potter is across the hall if you need anything and can’t reach me. She’s like everyone’s grandmother in this building. Derek from next door is a bouncer, so if Walter somehow finds you, go to his apartment, okay?”
“Okay.”
Will would call Derek once he was in his office, so he knew to look out for Savannah should she need help. He believed that she would seek refuge with his neighbors should she need help. Knowing that she was safe, he turned, and grasped the door handle, ready to return to work.
“Hey, Will?” she said in a small voice.
He turned instantly to find the appreciative smile on her face. “Yes, Savannah?”
She inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said wholeheartedly. He turned back around and opened the door, content in knowing that she was safe from Walter in his apartment.
Throughout his meeting with Walter, there was no mention of him going to rehab or seeking professional help. All they discussed was his property investments and his potential career move to the Knicks. It had been torture to sit through that meeting and watch Walter continue to drink, knowing that Savannah believed he was on the road to sobriety.
But the façade was over.
She knew the truth.
And Will could tell it destroyed her, so he would do everything in his power to support her and show her that she always deserved better.
“So,” Emerson said as she entered their office. It was a strange and nontraditional partnership they had. Originally, they were supposed to fight for the one position available, but their bosses saw how good they worked together and decided to hire them both with the expectation that they would work as partners. For the past almost four years, it had worked out well, even with them sharing an office. They kept their desks next to each other so that they could entertain their clients and conduct meetings should they need to. Though they worked as partners, they did have their own individual clients respectively.
“What’s up?” Will asked as he finished typing another recommendation for one of his smaller clients who owned a pizzeria in Brooklyn. To Will, Tonio’s pizzas was one of the best kept secrets in Brooklyn.
Emerson sat at her desk and brushed her auburn curls over her shoulder. “How is Savannah?”
“What’s with that tone?”
She feigned surprise. “What tone, William?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “That tone. You’re accusing me of something.”
Emerson tilted her head at him. “I am not.”
“You are. So ask me what you really want to ask.”
“Okay,” she said as she turned her leather chair to face him. “You’re so into her.”
Blood drained from him at his partner’s statement.
Will was. He was so far gone. He’d known it in Massachusetts. But only when he said goodbye did he realize the extent of his attraction.
Of his feelings.
Of his interest in Savannah Peters.
He knew Emerson wouldn’t tell a soul. They were not only partners but they were also friends. They respected each other professionally and personally.
“I’m just looking out for her.”
An unbelievable laugh escaped her. “You ran out of here as if her life needed saving.”
Will sighed. Emerson wasn’t wrong. He did drop everything to go to Savannah. He wasn’t going to leave her to wander the streets of New York on her own, especially now that he knew Walter had never purchased her a return ticket to Montpelier.
“She left him,” he said in a low voice.
His partner’s eyes widened. “What? We were just there today, and she hung on every word he said.”
“Yeah but then he told her she wasn’t worth quitting alcohol for. That’s all she wanted. For him to quit, but he couldn’t even do it for a day. He didn’t even get her a return ticket. He just ended it with her and left her to figure out how to get home on her own.”
“What a douchebag,” Emerson muttered. He nodded in agreement. “It’s too bad he’s our client, or I’d kick him in the balls for her …” She sighed. “But he is, Will. He’s our client.”
Will clenched his jaw at his partner’s reminder. “I know.”
“You know this isn’t going to end well when he finds out.”
When, not if.
He pushed through the doubt and uncertainty. “I’m going to be there for Savannah for as long as she needs me.”
The humor on Emerson’s face dwindled away as fear replaced it. “And what if she decides she needs Walter?”
He hoped she wouldn’t. But he promised Savannah that he would be her friend first. And that was what he would be.
“Then I’m not the man for her, but I’ll continue to be her friend.”
“Could you continue to be her friend e
ven if she breaks your heart?”
And all Will could say was, “I’ll have to.”
Juggling the Chinese takeout in the plastic bag in one hand and his briefcase in the other, Will twisted the key and opened his front door. The moment he got a glimpse into his apartment, he saw Savannah on his couch reading a book.
She looked so perfect and so at home. It was as if she had been to his apartment many times before. As if she belonged in Brooklyn with him. Savannah lifted her chin and noticed him. Surprise enlightened her face as she set her book down and got up from the couch. Will stepped into the apartment just as she had closed the distance, taking the plastic bag from him. Then he removed the key from the lock, shoved them in his jacket pocket, and closed the front door.
“You should have called me when you were outside. I would have helped.”
Will laughed. Throughout his meeting, his partner’s words replayed in his head. She left him wondering if he was the kind of man Savannah needed. As he looked in her sparkling blue eyes, he thought maybe he could be. That the relief and excitement to see him was enough.
He walked over to the kitchen and set his briefcase down on the counter as Savannah placed the takeout next to it. “How was your day?”
“It got better when I saw you,” she admitted. “Thank you for coming to get me, Will.”
“Of course, Savannah,” he said as he opened the plastic bag and took out the containers. He didn’t want to think too much into today or their relationship. All Will knew was that she was in trouble, and he would do anything to keep her safe. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I got the best dishes at Minnie’s Chinese, the best Chinese in Brooklyn. So I got sweet and sour pork with noodles, Kung Pao chicken, and fried rice, some spring rolls, and fortune cookies.”
Savannah watched him take container after container from the bag. “This is a lot of food.”
He laughed. “I might have gone overboard. You wanna eat on the couch?”
“Sure,” she said as she grabbed some of the containers and brought them over to the couch.
As she set them down on the coffee table, Will reached over and pulled open the small drawer on his right. He took out a couple of forks, grabbed some plates from the cabinet behind him, and then walked over to the fridge. He opened it and pulled out a couple of cans of Coke before he grabbed the remaining containers and fortune cookies. Will joined Savannah on the couch and then placed everything on the table.
He held up a fork. “I’m not sure if you use chopsticks.”
Laughing, Savannah took the utensil from him. “I know how to use them, but I get impatient when it comes to food and want to eat it by the forkful.”
“Great minds think alike. All I ever ate at Berkley was Chinese,” Will said as he grabbed the plates and handed Savannah one.
“You did?”
He nodded as Savannah opened the containers. “My roommate was Chinese. So whenever his parents visited, his mom used to make us a week’s worth of food. It was really good. So when I graduated and moved out of my parents’ place, I had to find Chinese food that was half as good as Xu’s mom’s. Trust me, Minnie’s comes really close.”
“I trust you,” she said as she shoveled rice and chicken onto her plate. “So how was your meeting?”
She sounded as if she really cared and wanted to know. God, it felt so good to have her in his apartment, chatting as if they’d done it a million times before. It felt so natural that he was scared of what would happen when she went home and his apartment would be empty once again.
Will set his plate on his lap and picked up a container. He put some noodles and pork on his plate, and said, “It was good. Emerson killed it as usual. The client was impressed and liked our recommendations. They’re gonna think it over before our next meeting, but they seem on board.”
Savannah nodded along as she took the takeout container from him and added more food to her plate. Then she set the container on the coffee table. “You two make a good team from the sounds of it.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t be where I am or the advisor I am without her. Did you call your dad?”
“I did,” she said before she took a bite of some chicken and rice. He watched her chew, swallow the food, and then smile. “This is really good.”
Will grinned with satisfaction. “I told you. So what did your dad say?”
“Well,” she said with a sigh as she used her fork to move some of the pork on the plate. “He’s disappointed, but he’s going to book a ticket tomorrow. I guess he always knew I was seeing someone, though I didn’t tell him it was Walter. I left that out. But I told him I was stranded, and that I was safe with you.”
He was stunned. “You told him about me?”
Her soft smile returned. “Yeah. I mean, he’s always known about you. You’re Alex’s cousin.”
Oh.
Will felt stupid for even thinking she thought of him as anything more. “I am Alexandra’s cousin.”
“You’re also my goddaughter’s godfather,” Savannah added.
“I am Millie’s godfather, too.”
“And …” her voice trailed off as she set her fork on her plate.
His heart slowed in his chest as she peeked up at him through her long lashes. “And?”
Her blue eyes lightened, the color reminded him of a blue diamond. Clear and beautiful. “You’re my …” She frowned for a moment. “… friend.”
Her friend.
I’m her friend.
Savannah sounded disappointed. As disappointed as he was to hear. Then they fell into silence as they ate. Will didn’t know how to respond to her calling him her friend. So they ate and smiled as they peeked over at each other. Though her silence was torture, it was nice to have someone to eat with in his apartment. The only time he had guests over were when Xu visited from China, his parents and sisters came over, or when his aunt, uncle, and cousins stopped by, but they usually stayed in Scarsdale at his parents’ house.
When they finished eating, Will took her plate from her and placed their plates in the sink. He returned to the couch as Savannah handed him a fortune cookie.
“Thank you for dinner, Will,” she said appreciatively.
“You’re welcome,” he replied as he glanced down at the cookie in his hand. “I want to ask you something.”
She tilted her head at him. “You can ask me anything.”
Once he lifted his chin and saw the honest smile on her face, he knew she felt safe with him. So he asked, “Are you okay?”
“I …” She let out a sigh. Her eyes twinkled as if realization had struck her. “I think I will be.”
Will knew she would. It would take time. Not wanting to expose her to the pain of what she had experienced today he decided to change the subject. “Should we see our fortune?”
Her lips pursed. “Yeah, why not?”
They broke their cookies apart, and Will took out his fortune, then he set the cookie on the coffee table. He unfolded the piece of paper and read his fortune out loud. “Your kindness is your heart’s greatest strength.”
He glanced over at Savannah, nodding. “Yours is so true.”
“You think so?” he asked.
Her mouth gaped. “You took me and Miller to the planetarium out of the goodness of your heart. You came to Manhattan to get me away from Walter. You brought me to your apartment and got me dinner. You’re so kind, and it’s a reflection of your heart.”
Will watched as her cheeks turned a shade of soft pink. His heart raced at the beautiful view before him. But Will wasn’t a kind man. He was a selfish man for wanting her heart at a time he shouldn’t. He was selfish enough to let her believe that he was as kind as she thought he was. To leave a good mark on her to remember him by when she left him. “What does yours say?”
Savannah hummed as she handed him her cookie pieces and then unfolded the fortune. “What you want isn’t always what you need. And what you need isn’t always what you want.” She let out a small laugh. “Why i
s mine such a reflection of today? It’s almost depressing.”
“Wanna trade?” Will asked, holding his fortune up to her.
“I don’t think that’s how fortunes work.”
He laughed. “I know, but we make our own fortune, right? And I think my fortune is worth more to you than it is to me.”
Her eyes widened as if she were moved by him. Will wasn’t lying. Whether she took it or not, he realized that his kindness was hers for the taking as was his heart.
Just hers.
And he was tired of pretending as if it weren’t.
Savannah took his fortune from him and handed him hers. They had traded. His heart was hers. Her needs and wants were his.
And their fortunes were in their hands.
Eighteen
Savannah
A phone ringing woke her from her sleep. Savannah threw out her arm and picked up her charging phone to find her father calling. She unplugged the charger, answered her father’s call, and sat up. Leaning against the headboard of Will’s bed, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
“Good morning, Savannah,” her father greeted in a gentle voice.
She knew it was early, but she didn’t care. Hearing a familiar voice was what she needed after Walter’s persistent calls had interrupted her sleep several times. After she had dinner with Will and he had done the dishes, they sat and watched TV together before he said he needed to get some work done at the dining table. Savannah told him he could go to his room for privacy and she’d take the couch. Of course, Will being the perfect gentleman, declined her offer. He was insistent, and Savannah had sighed. Then Will grabbed some of his clothes from his closet and set them on the couch. He said good night with the sweetest smile, and she felt the butterflies in her stomach. Before she went to his room, she saw him still in his suit, working on his laptop. Will had never looked sexier as he looked over at his files and then typed.
Savannah had no idea how he thought he was boring. Seeing him work was so interesting. Hearing him discuss his clients and Emerson held her captivated. Savannah knew how much he loved and was dedicated to his job. Last night, she had come to respect William Lawrence more than she had respected any other man she knew. And as Walter called her last night, all she thought about was Will on the other side of the door.
