Sour

by Jennifer Woodhull

  As he turns to walk away, Natasha’s hand lingers on his arm and she turns to watch him walk away. “He’s so great.” She says with a shrug.

  You have no idea how great he is. But then another thought creeps in. Does she know how great he is? He didn’t so much as look at her, but if she’s another in his string of disposable beauties, here today and gone tomorrow, would he?

  I shake the thought, trying desperately to focus. “Okay, well, we’re all good here. We’re about to open the doors, and we’ll be live in thirty. So, I guess we’ll see you then.” She agrees and we say our goodbyes.

  “You alright, darlin? I mean, you’ve done a great job, here. It’ll be great. No wuckas.”

  “You’re right. It’ll be great.” I smile at him. “Okay, you ready? How about you, Bosto?” He looks up at me from the dog bed we have on the stage, then sits up, as if he’s straightening his little bowtie. “Let’s do it.”

  The rest of the Banshee leadership team joins the stage in chairs behind Ian. As they walk onto stage to take their seats, Amelia and Hazel each give me a hug around the neck. Chloe walks up behind me and squeezes my arm. “You got this, sista! I’m right here if you need me.”

  I give her a smile and shake off the fog in my brain from seeing Noah.

  When the camera lights come on, I announce Ian through the audio system, and the assembled employees and press all cheer as he stands.

  The video screen go live a moment later with the feed of Donovan, along with McMasters, and Noah in the seat where Jordan would typically sit. Seeing him there tugs at my emotions. If I had been there, we would’ve gone to dinner to celebrate his promotion. Maybe we would’ve driven up into the mountains for the weekend and gone to that awesome bar we like in Asheville.

  Over the next hour, I watch the event unfold from the small command center that’s set up behind the sound board. Four members of my team have their laptops set up, monitoring the social media streams. The crawler at the bottom of the broadcast alternates between the URLs of Banshee and Summit Apparel. The third alternating message tells viewers to use the hashtag findyoursummitatbanshee for a chance to win prize packs.

  Donovan is the polished professional, but approachable. Ian is charismatic as ever. They absolutely crush the presentation. The models show off all the latest product lines we’ll be selling, and as everyone thanks the audience for watching, Bosto scratches at Ian’s leg. He picks him up and holds him up to the camera, and when he does, the number of likes and shares soars.

  After we wrap, I head in to Ian’s office, where all the leaders have assembled, bringing my laptop so we can debrief. The Summit team joins us by video conference from what I can see is the main conference room. I give a readout on the results, including the website hits for the preorder pages.

  “Damn it, I knew it, I just knew!” Ian exclaims, jumping out of his chair so fast he nearly tips it over. He bounds over to me and scoops me into a highly unprofessional but extremely enthusiastic hug. “I knew I was right to hire you, my girl! What a fucking result, ay?”

  Everyone gives their congratulations, including the Summit team via video. All except Noah, who just sits at the far end of the table, nodding politely every time someone catches his eye. Everyone disperses to celebrate.

  After the employee-only festivities really start to crank up, I find Ian, telling him how tired I am and excuse myself.

  “Tell you what, darlin, why not come down to the docks in the morning? We’ll take the boat out and have brunch on the water. We’ve got things to talk about, you and me, ay?”

  I agree, and head home. There’s a package on my step from my parents, so I scoop it up and carry it to the kitchen counter.

  As soon as I sit down, I do the thing I’ve been wanting to do for weeks.

  Chapter 34

  Elle

  My fingers are practically shaking as I hit the button. It rings once, then twice, and finally, when the line picks up, I hear a muffled sound, then a door shutting.

  “Hi,” he finally answers, his voice every bit as deep and sexy as I remember.

  “Hi,” I reply, willing my voice unsuccessfully not to crack.

  “Great job today,” he offers.

  “Thanks. Congrats on the promotion. I didn’t know.”

  “How would you? You’re in fucking Australia.” His voice is measured, flat, like a blade that cuts across my heart.

  “Noah, I…,” I start to defend myself until he cuts me off.

  “Don’t, Elle. I get it. I saw how chummy you and Ian were.” He blows out a breath. “I thought I knew you, but I guess I had no idea what you wanted after all.”

  “You’re wrong, though. It’s not like that. I was just so scared, and…then Ian offered me this job, and, well, I thought what you were saying, it was all just a phase and if we could get through it, we could go back to the way things were.” I catch a tear from under my eye. “You know, movie marathons and splitting our plates at dinner, like we always did.”

  “Get through it? Elle, I’m in love with you. I wanted to marry you. I bought a fucking house, for us—to show you I was ready to get serious, with you.” He lets out a small groan, and it makes me shudder. “Elle, nothing’s going to change. I told you I was in love with you and you broke my heart.”

  “I can’t stand things being like this.” The emotion is clear in my voice. “I miss you so much.”

  “Yeah, you miss me, but you don’t want me, though, and that’s not something I can get over. Your life is there, now, it’s pretty clear.” It sounds like he pulls the phone away from his face for a moment, then he comes back on the line. “Thanks for the congratulations on the job. I’m glad things are going well for you. I’ll see you at the next meeting, I guess. Bye, Elle.”

  And that’s it. He’s gone.

  I wallow for the next couple of hours. There are tears, and sobs, and I may have been responsible for the consumption of four Paddle Pops, the Australian version of a Fudgsicle.

  After I shower to wash all the tears and snot off my face and put on sleep pants and the Cedar Point tee shirt I swiped from Noah before I left. In the kitchen, I open the package my parents sent. Per my request, Dad has included some clothes I asked for, along with my favorite deodorant, which I can’t seem to find down here, and there in the bottom is an envelope with my name in my Mom’s handwriting. Inside are printed copies of some photos from our trip to Germany. Looking at the photos, a new flood of emotion creeps up, and suddenly, I have to see my parents.

  My mom doesn’t answer, so I try face timing Dad, and he picks up immediately.

  “Princess! I’m so glad to hear from you. Did you get the package I sent?

  “I did, Dad. Thanks for sending that stuff. I got the pictures from Mom, too.”

  “She figured you didn’t have yours there, and you might want some pics of the Bailey clan to tack up so you can remember us.” He gives a big cheesy smile that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners in the best possible way. “Speaking of which, when are you going to move the rest of your things? Your lease is up in, what, a month or so?”

  I have tried desperately not to think about the questions he’s asking, but the time is coming that I have to make some decisions. I can’t keep paying for an apartment when I’m living here. I’ve just been too scared of the finality of it all.

  I tell him I’ll schedule some time to come back soon so I can take care of everything and see them.

  “I knew you’d just soar when you started this new job, honey. You’ve always been able to do anything you put your mind to. I’m not surprised you’re doing so well and plan on staying. Noah thought you might come back, you know. I think he was pretty disappointed, poor guy.”

  Wait, what?

  “Dad, when did you talk to Noah?”

  “He came to the apartment for some of those gummy bears you had from Germany. I was there packing things ups or you, and when I told him you weren’t coming back, he s
eemed pretty crestfallen. After we chatted for a while, I went to the bathroom, and when I came back, he was gone, and the key he had to your apartment was on the counter.”

  “Daddy…I think I messed up. Really messed up.”

  I tell him the whole sordid tale. Well, not the sex parts, but how Noah told me he loved me and how he asked me to marry him and I just ran away.

  “Okay, I hear you.” He has flipped into psychology mode, but that might be a good thing, but I feel like some of the decisions I’ve made recently are decidedly unstable. “So, Ariel, is it okay if I ask you some questions?”

  I nod and he continues.

  “Are you in love with Noah?” I nod yes. “Is he as good a man as he seems to be?”

  “Better.”

  “And he told me he bought a house—that he wanted to show you he was putting down roots, show you some stability and that he could live up to the promises he was making. Do you feel like that shows he was serious?”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that. I was only thinking about how much it would hurt if we got together and then I lost him.”

  “Sweetheart, listen to your old dad, would you?” I nod. “You’re in love with a good man who loves you back. Do you have any idea how rare that is? Honey, you have to remember, courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s taking action, moving forward in spite of fear. I mean, look at what you’ve done, Ariel. You took a big job, half a world away, and look how well that has worked out. You’re so much stronger than you realize, honey, and if you love this man, I just think you should give yourself a chance to get all the happiness out of this life that you can.”

  Through the ears that are falling, I roll my eyes at him. “That’s so annoying.”

  “What’s that, sweetheart?”

  “How smart and logical you are. Why couldn’t my parents have worked at a bakery or something instead of having psychology degrees?”

  L

  The next morning, I have my sunhat on to shield me from the intense Australian sun as I walk along the harbor. When I get to slot number forty-eight, I look up and see a massive, three-story boat with the name Well Koalafied emblazoned on the side, just as Ian said it would be.

  I walk up the gangplank, and a steward in a crisp white uniform that sets off his tanned skin smiles as he puts his thumb and forefinger to the brim of his hat. “Welcome, Ms. Bailey. We’ve been expecting you. Right this way and I’ll take you to Mister Legare.” He gestures with his palm and once inside, I follow him up two flights of stairs to the deck on top of the boat. He’s lounging back on a chair, glass of champagne in hand, scrolling through his phone when he looks up and sees me.

  “Elle! So glad you could make it, my girl.” He leaps up and I’m a little startled that he’s wearing swim trunks and no shirt, but at the same time, I’m kind of impressed. The guy has twenty years on me, easily and he is in fantastic shape. “You hungry? I’ve got quite a treat for you.”

  I nod and am relieved when I see him grab a t-shirt from the back of the chair and slip it over his head. He picks up his phone and champagne glass and gestures to the stairs. “Bit hot out for you, I reckon. Let’s go down and have something to eat.”

  I follow him down to a massive living room that has three large, cream-colored sofas with walls of windows on either side. In the center, at the back of the room is a wide, marble-topped bar with a mirrored wall full of liquor behind it. I can only imagine the types of wild parties he hosts on this boat.

  Spread out on the bar are several serving trays with the some of the most sumptuous looking breakfast foods I’ve ever seen. Ian hands me a plate, and the gentleman in an all-white outfit behind the bar doles out thick toast, bacon, sausages, grilled mushrooms and eggs, along with a small portion of fruit. I opt for a mimosa, rather than straight champagne, and nervously position myself at the edge of a cream-colored sofa, on which I feel destined to spill something.

  Ian sits down on the next sofa, so we each have a corner to ourselves and plenty of space. “First off, thanks for coming out to have a chat.”

  “Thanks for asking me.” Suddenly, I hear a familiar jingle and Bosto waddles over from somewhere behind me and parks himself between Ian and me on the floor, presumably hoping for some bacon droppage.

  I’m probably your best bet there, little buddy.

  “The numbers came in late last night for sales, and we’ve never had a spike like yesterday. Now, part of that is down to being the exclusive provider of Summit in Straya, but a bigger part was how you managed the campaign. Now that we’re getting ready to ramp up, in Europe, we’re going to need to create that same sort of buzz before those locations open.” He gives me a glance up and down.

  “I’m up for the challenge. I’ll need to study the markets. I’ve spent a little time there, family vacations, et cetera, but more in-depth research will be needed to analyze the consumer trends. I know I can create a successful campaign, though.”

  “I’m sure you can, Elle. But there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.” He puts his plate down and comes to sit next to me. “Darlin, I couldn’t help but notice how you tensed up when we were on the calls with Summit yesterday. I can’t help but feel like talking to the old team made you homesick.”

  I take a sip of my mimosa to fortify me, unsure what direction this conversation is taking.

  “Elle, I don’t want to lose you, but at the same time, I know your heart’s not really here in Straya.”

  “No, Ian, I love my work here. I’ve made really good friends, it’s challenging, and I love working for you. I’m proud of what we’re doing here.” It’s true. As much as I miss my family, and Noah, I don’t want to give up Banshee.

  “I’m proud of your too, darlin. That’s why I’ve got no intention of giving you up. Tell me the truth, though. You and Noah…there’s something there, isn’t it?”

  My eyes dip to my lap. “Yes? No. Not anymore, I don’t think. I…,” I let out a deep breath. “I left him to come down here. He wanted us to be a couple, but I was scared, so I…so I…,” my throat burns, and the rest of the words won’t come.

  Ian slides an arm around my shoulders and gives me a fatherly squeeze.

  “Now, now. She’ll be right!” I’ve heard the saying before, and know he’s reassuring me that all will be well. “Do ya love him?”

  I simply nod, afraid to open my mouth again.

  “Then you should go and get him.”

  “But I don’t want to leave Banshee,” I protest and then realize what I said. But. I do want to get Noah back. I love him. I want him. I don’t think I can live without him in my life a minute longer. I want to go get him. I need to make him understand

  “I think I’ve got an idea for that.” He wriggles his eyebrows and tells me his idea and it’s absolutely brilliant. Ian’s plan will let me keep the job and get back to Noah.

  I just hope I’m not too late.

  L

  Back at my apartment, I think about what I can do to prove to Noah what a mistake I made when we were in Las Vegas.

  Las Vegas. That’s when it hits me. I’ll need some help, but if I can pull it off, it might be the only that will win Noah over. First, I call one of the best planners I know, my Dad, and tell him what I’m thinking. He loves the idea and says he’ll start doing some research and wait for me to confirm everything.

  My next call is a big one. I’ll have to ask him to help me pull this off. I’m hoping he’s not holding a grudge for me leaving. I’m hoping he’s willing to do something totally ridiculous to help me get back the man I love.

  I dial the phone and keep the small talk with Jessica to a minimum, and she finally gets him on the phone.

  “Hi, it’s Elle. Listen, I’ll try to keep this long story short, but I made a huge mistake. I walked away from the most important person in the world because I was an idiot. I’m hoping that you’ll be willing to help me make it right.”

  He agrees to listen, and
I tell him my plan.

  Chapter 35

  Noah

  I’m packing up the last of my office when Natasha comes across the hall and leans, arms crossed, against the door frame. An exaggerated frown drags down the corners of her lips.

  “I’m going to be so sad without you across the hall, Noah.” She steps forward into my office, even though I didn’t invite her in. “Can I help you with anything?” She drags her fingertip across the edge of my desk as she steps closer.

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  She leans against the edge of my desk, edging the hem of her already short skirt a little higher. She leans back, putting her palm flat against the desk and looking at me over her shoulder. “You know, Noah, there’s a great little tapas bar in this neighborhood. We could…go there after work and celebrate your promotion.” Her honey-colored eyes meet mine. “Or, I could whip you up something tasty at my place.”

  I stop boxing up the contents of the credenza and turn to her. “Look, Natasha, you seem nice. You know you’re gorgeous. There was a time when I would’ve taken you up on that offer in a heartbeat. Right now, though, my head’s in a different place.” Not to mention my heart. “I’m afraid you’re barking up the wrong tree, here.”

  She crosses her arms and shrugs as she stands up from the edge of the desk. “Pity. We could’ve had some fun.” Her walk over to the door is slow and sultry. Before she leaves my office, she throws a glance back over her shoulder. “If you change your mind, let me know. I might be around.”

  It’s clear what she was asking. Part of me wishes I could just shut my brain off and spend a night with Natasha or a girl like her, forgetting all about Elle, but I know that wouldn’t happen. Spending a night with someone else would probably just make me feel worse.

  When I get upstairs, the last box in my hand, Jessica tells me that Donovan is looking for me.

  I walk down the hall to his door and tap on the doorframe. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

  “Yeah, come on in, Noah. Have a seat.” I sit in the wide leather chair across from his desk.