“You want to give this man one more chance. You’re serious,” Eris said.
“A part of me is, yes.”
“Enough of a part of you to actually have thought this out.”
“I love him, okay!”
Kallie fell back onto her bed as Eris sighed into her ear.
“I love him. I love Ashly Worthington. And I want to give him one last chance. I don’t know if he’ll squander it or fuck it up, but I’m prepared to walk away if he does. But I’m not ready to let him go yet. I was ready to let James go at our wedding. I felt it in my gut. I was ready to let him go when I got back to the city after he sent me that idiotic necklace. But I’m not ready to let Ash go. I’ll kick myself for the rest of my life if I let him go before I’m ready to do it.”
Kallie closed her eyes and waited for Eris’s chastisement. But instead, she got something she didn’t expect.
“I want you to call me every night,” Eris said. “I’ll help you foot any bill you rack up. But I want you to call me every night, or every morning. I want you to touch base and I want you to keep me updated. If my best friend is going to be halfway around the world trying to rekindle some bullshit mess with a man who’s succeeded in making her feel like shit, then I’m going to be in the loop. None of this ‘going without talking for days’ mess like we did on the island.”
“Okay,” Kallie said. “I promise.”
“And I have to admit, your plan is a good one. If you guys can get away from it all, then maybe you stand a chance of at least getting to know each other more and figuring out what’s going on between you two,” Eris said.
“Yes. Exactly. It’s still business. I still have a task to do. He’s still hired me for a job, but I’ll be careful to guard my heart. I can figure out the facts without allowing my emotions to run away from me.”
“Good. That’s comforting to hear. I want you to call me once you get on the plane, okay?”
“Will do,” Kallie said. “And Eris?”
“Yep?”
“Thank you for being the best friend I could’ve ever asked for. Thank you for always being on my side, no matter what. Thank you for being my champion.”
“Yeah, yeah. Love you too. Bring me back something, okay? I’ll never fly to Bali, so bring a piece of it back to me.”
“I’ll bring lots of pieces back,” Kallie said with a smile.
Chapter 15
Ash
Ash waited at the bottom of the steps that led into his private jet. He prayed Kallie would show up. He hadn’t spoken to her since their encounter in her office the other day and part of him was worried she wouldn’t show. He wasn’t entirely confident he had convinced her to come along. The way she had agreed felt more like a convict agreeing to give up their yard time more than it felt like a woman who wanted to come along on a trip. Even though he’d painted it as good for her business. Even though he’d framed it as the job she had to do for him. The job she was hired to do. But he hadn’t been lying about any of that. This would be good for her business. This was part of her job.
If he wasn’t able to sweep her off her feet.
If Kallie stayed with him in Bali, then she wouldn't need the testimonial. She wouldn’t have to help him get his life back in order. Because the only thing he needed was her. The only thing he needed to help piece his life back together was Kallie. He could buy any place anywhere and be happy with it so long as she was at his side.
But he didn’t dare tell her that.
He looked at his watch. Five minutes until eight. He tapped his foot and popped his knuckles, trying to rid his body of the nervous energy. He watched the clock. Three minutes until eight. Kallie was always on time, but for the moment, Ash begged her to be early. Even by just a minute.
One minute to eight.
Ash’s eyes darted around in the darkness hanging over New York City. He leaned against the steps of his jet, trying to look as nonchalant as possible. His mind swirled. Prayers left his lips in whispered sentiments. He could do the rest if she showed up. He could give her everything she could ever want in him as a man if she showed up. All she had to do was show up.
One minute past eight.
His stomach dropped to his toes.
Was she not going to show? Was she standing him up? He pushed himself off the stairs and began pacing in front of the airplane. He’d hired a pilot to fly them so he could enjoy the flight with her next to him. So they could converse and eat and drink together while watching the clouds roll by. He had a bed prepared for them if things escalated. A plush bed at the back of the plane with plenty enough room for the two of them. He closed his eyes and imagined it. Imagined sleeping all the way to Bali with her naked body pressed against his.
Five minutes after eight.