Chapter 71

Two weeks came and went, and suddenly it was the day before Arthur, and I had to leave for our first location. Nerves pricked at my stomach, mingling with the almost constant nausea. I really hoped the morning sickness wouldn’t be as bad during my second trimester. I didn’t think I could handle it much longer.

There were a few things I still needed to do before I left, but I’d been putting them off. Lily was still in Egypt, and I hadn’t seen or heard anything from Barnett. Despite his office being in the same building, I never ran into him anymore. He was clearly still avoiding me. Maybe he’d never return to his office at all, just so he wouldn’t have to see me.

My nightmare came back to me, and I shuddered. I had to abandon the shirt I was folding and sit down on the edge of my bed.

My suitcases were spread out across my floor, teeming with clothes. I didn’t know what to pack and every time I asked Arthur, he just told me to bring everything. Apparently, we’d have an entourage to help with our things.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Lily’s number again. It rang for a while, then went to voicemail. I’d tried to call a few times, but never wanted to leave a message. But since I was leaving tomorrow, I had no other choice.

The beep sounded, and I cleared my throat.

“Hey, Lily. I’ve been trying to reach you, but I guess you can’t get calls while you’re in Egypt. I just wanted to call and say that I’m sorry. There were things going on with my health that I didn’t want to deal with and that’s why I didn’t tell you. Not because I don’t trust you.”

I fiddled with the edge of the comforter.

“I hope you can forgive me, and I promise I’ll tell you everything when I see you. As I’m sure you’ll find out, I’m going away for a while with Arthur. I got this huge opportunity, and I just couldn’t turn it down.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. “Well, I guess that’s all. I have more news, but I don’t want to leave it on your voicemail. I’m not sure how you’ll be able to reach me while I’m away, but once I know, I’ll call you again. Bye.”

I hung up and wiped the tears from my cheeks. We’d had arguments before, but never with this long silence between us. I knew it was just timing with her trip, and now mine, but it still sucked. We’d been best friends for so long and I didn’t want to lose her.

“She’ll call,” I told myself.

I stood up and forced myself to get back to packing. It took me another hour, but by the time I was done, I had two suitcases and a backpack teeming with clothes. I also had a case for the makeup I’d need to style Arthur. The show was supplying the outfits.

There was just one more thing I needed to do before I left.

I didn’t want to come back with anything hanging over my head. This was a fresh start for me, or at least I was set on treating it like one. With the babies, and the cancer no longer hanging over my head, I had this new future stretching out before me. I didn’t want to come home after this trip and have things here that would just remind me of the past. It was time for me to start over again.

As much as it hurt, Barnett wanted nothing to do with me anymore, and I just had to accept that. I couldn’t keep looking for him, both in person and online. And I couldn’t keep driving his car. I’d already had it for far too long.

I was grateful for everything he’d done to help me, but I didn’t need the constant reminder that our friendship hadn’t meant as much to him as it did to me. The car just brought back all those memories, and what I needed to do now was forget him.

I left my suitcases on the floor and jogged downstairs. The keys to the car were on the kitchen table and I picked them up. Then I quickly dialed Arthur’s number.

He picked up right away. “Hey.”

“Hey, I need a favor.”

“Sure anything.”

“I have to drop off the Aston Martin today. Do you think you could pick me up after and drive me home?”

“Of course.” He sounded just a bit too gleeful. “Where are you leaving it?”

“Just at the office building.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

He hung up, and I let out a sigh. There was no going back now. I had to return it. I had my Corolla back, and I wasn’t even going to be here. Plus, it wasn’t mine. I’d taken advantage of Barnett’s help for long enough. Now it was time for me to help myself.

I drove over to the building, savoring the car for the last time. It really was a stunning car.

When I got there, Arthur was already parked outside with a team of security. Paparazzi rushed forward but, luckily, they couldn’t close.

“I just need to drop the keys off inside,” I said.

Arthur nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

“Actually, if it’s okay, I need to do this on my own.”

He didn’t respond for a moment. “Okay,” he said, a bit reluctantly. “I’ll be in the car.”

I gave him a grateful smile, then strode to the building, the security team keeping pace with me. A few stayed behind to wait with Arthur. They really needed to create a better system for this parking lot. Things were really getting out of hand.

The security guards waited for me at the door. “I’ll just be a minute,” I said. The woman closest to me just nodded.

I walked up to the reception desk. The receptionist looked up and gave me a kind smile. She was the same one who saw Barnett ignore me on multiple occasions.

“Hi, I was wondering if you could pass on a message for me?”

“Sure, for who?”

“Barnett.” I slide the keys across the counter to her. “I parked his car outside. I need to get it back to him.” I figured leaving them at his own building was my best bet. She could take them to his office or something.

She eyed the keys. “I can certainly get them to him…” she trailed off and gave me a curious look. “Are you sure you don’t want to return them yourself?”

“I don’t have time,” I said. I slid an envelope across to her. Barnett’s name was written on it in my sloping script.

“This too.”

She nodded and took both items. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Ms. Leonard?”

I smiled and shook my head. “That’s everything. Thanks.”

“Of course.”

I walked back through the lobby and joined security at the door. They walked me back to Arthur’s car and waited until I was safely in the passenger seat.

“Ready to go?” Arthur asked.

I put on my seatbelt and settled in. “I’m ready.”