“Thanks. Say, I hear Lanie Vance is back today. Still didn’t get any details from her?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, but I do know that she’s worked on some things and has a proposal for the marketing campaign all drawn out.”

He grimaces. “I already turned the proposal into Diana last week.”

“Why? I thought you wanted her input?”

“I did, but there was no time. Diana wanted it from me, so I worked it up with you and presented it to her.”

I rub my forehead. Great. I am the world’s worst friend. Lanie’s going to walk into Diana’s office with hope and optimism and she’s going to be crushed. I look down at my watch. I have a few minutes before she’s due to report to Diana. Better late than never, right?

“Where are you going?” Isaac asks as I rush past him.

“Something I should’ve done to begin with.”

I make it to the elevator as it opens. Lanie stands there in her blue blouse and pencil skirt with her project folder in her hand.

“Oh, thank God.” I shove her back in the elevator and press the lobby button.

Her eyes widen. “Aubrey, what the hell are you doing?”

I hold myself up against the wall as I try to catch my breath after hurrying down the hall. “I’m sorry, Lanie. I’m a shitty friend, and I should’ve told you earlier, but Diana has had my boss Isaac working on Black Falcon’s account behind your back.”

Her eyes narrow. “She what?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know much more than that, but I can’t allow you to walk into a meeting with Diana blind.”

She sighs. “How long have you known?”

My lips turn down. “Before Dallas.”

“Before Dallas? Are you freaking kidding me right now? You knew about this and didn’t tell me? Why?” Her gestures are wild. She’s pissed. She only ever gets that way when she’s livid.

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to walk out on the opportunity to be something in this company. It’s your dream to be here. But, the main reason was because I know you’re in love with Noel. I wanted to give you time to figure out your feelings for him and admit to yourself that you love him.”

Her shoulders sag and tears fill her eyes. “I do love him, but I think I’ve ruined everything. I ran out on him…again. He’s never going to forgive me.”

I wrap my arms around her. “He loves you. He’ll forgive you. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to, but I didn’t want you to get angry and walk out on your job here and out on a chance to be happy with Noel. Please don’t hate me.”

“I could never hate you,” she says and then squeezes me tighter. “You’re my best friend and I love you. You were only trying to do what you thought was right.”

I pull back as the elevator doors open to the lobby. “Thank you. Now…” I punch the twentieth floor button. “Go have your meeting with Diana and kill it. Make her love your ideas!”

She explains all of her ideas for the project on our ride up. They’re pretty amazing and I hope Diana gives her a chance. Lanie’s a smart cookie.

My mind keeps drifting back to the physical pain I saw when Lanie talked about ruining her relationship with Noel. I owe her and I have to see if I can help fix things.

Chapter 15

RIFF

I lie in my hotel bed and stare up at the ceiling. It’s nearly two in the afternoon, and yet I haven’t found motivation to get out of this bed. Trip and Tyke went out solo last night. Noel headed to his room right after the show and so did I. We’ve gone from partying, womanizing maniacs to pathetic saps because the women who we want don’t want us back.

My cell phone buzzes on the bed beside me. I grab it and then look down at the number on the screen. My heart pauses for a beat.

“Hello?” Aubrey doesn’t answer on her end of the line. Fuck! Did she butt-dial me? “Are you there?”

“Hey. Yeah. I’m here,” she answers quietly.

“I’m glad you called, I wanted to say I’m sorry for not calling you back that night. I know how that looks, and I apologize.” Whether she accepts it or not, it feels good to get it off my chest. “Relationships aren’t something I’m used to doing, so I’m afraid I’m not very good at them.”

She sighs into the phone. “I’m sorry too for not giving you a chance to explain yourself. I don’t want to get hurt.”

My stomach clenches. “That’s exactly why I distanced myself. I’m not a good person, Kitten. You deserve better than me.”

“How do you know that? I could be the biggest bitch you’ve ever met.”

“No you’re not. I’ve spent enough time with you to know you’re exactly the opposite.”

“Zach…I’m not a very good person either. I set out to use you.”

A sharp pain around my heart only hurts for a second. “I know, but you cared more about me in those two days than any other woman I’ve ever been with.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “My own mother didn’t even care enough about me to ask how I felt about my sister’s death, yet you tried.”

It sounds worse when I say the things that play through my mind out loud, but it’s true. Mom hated me until the day she died. It was hard enough dealing with what I did without having my own family loathe me.