“Did you go see Neil at the hospital yesterday?”
“Neil told you?”
Her eyes flew open in surprise. “So it’s true?”
Why would Neil confess such a thing? Garrett suspected it couldn’t be good, but he wouldn’t lie to her. “Yes, it’s true.”
Her eyes turned icy again. “Then you’re wasting your time and mine, Garrett. Go back to California where you belong.” She turned her back to him and started down the hall.
“Blair!”
He followed her, and she turned back to him, fear and anger in her eyes. She reminded him of a trapped wild animal. “Stay away from me.”
What in the hell had just happened?
Chapter Twenty
“Blair, please,” Megan pleaded over the phone. “Rethink this decision.”
Blair leaned her head against the back of her office chair. Good God. How many people had pleaded with her over the last twenty-four hours? It was exhausting. “I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
“Even after what happened last night?”
“Neil and I discussed it over lunch. I accepted his explanation. There’s nothing to rethink.”
“And what about Garrett?”
“What about Garrett? He’s from my past. We had our chance. It’s gone. Neil is my future.” She’d been telling herself that all afternoon. She was starting to believe it. At least a little.
“Oh, Blair.”
“We’ve decided to call off the party tonight, especially after everything that happened last night.”
“You mean so no one can talk you out of the wedding?” Megan snorted. “Was this his idea?”
“It was a mutual decision.” But Neil had been the one to suggest it.
“So you don’t have plans tonight?”
“Neil and I are going out to dinner.”
“You’ll be spending every day with Neil after Saturday, but I’m going back to Seattle. Come out with Libby and me tonight. We’ll make it a bachelorette party.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to marry Neil,” Blair said in a haughty tone.
“Blair, you’re a grown woman. We’ve stated our opinion, but it’s ultimately your decision. Now let’s have a girls’ night out.” She paused. “If Neil will let you, that is.”
Her back stiffened. “Neil doesn’t own me, Megan. We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“Then it’s a plan?”
Neil would likely be upset. At lunch, he had taken the blame for their broken relationship and had suggested they spend more time together to rekindle the connection they’d shared in the beginning, although Blair could admit to herself that it had never been even close to what she’d shared with Garrett. He gave her back the ring and said he wanted to start tonight with a special dinner. But Megan was right. They had the rest of their lives to spend together. She had no idea when she would see Megan again. Besides, she couldn’t think of the last time the three of them had all just hung out and talked. “Yes, but I have some work to do before I take off.”
“Good.” Megan sounded smug. “Then meet us for dinner. You pick when and where. We can meet close to your office to make it easier for you.”
“Okay. Seven o’clock at O’Malley’s.”
“At least try to sound excited about it.”
“I’m excited.” And she was. She just needed to tell Neil first. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“A wedding will do that to you. See you at seven.”
Blair was caught by surprise when Neil’s phone didn’t go to voice mail.
“Blair? Miss me already?” he asked in a teasing tone.
His response was so unlike him, she was shocked into silence. “Uh . . .”
“I can’t wait until our dinner tonight. I’ve come up with the perfect restaurant. I was just about to text you the location.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling . . .” Why was she so nervous? She’d never had trouble telling him what she wanted before. “I need to cancel our plans tonight.”
He paused. “Blair. I thought we agreed to focus more on us. Starting tonight.”
“I know, but Megan and Libby want me to go out with them. I can’t even think of the last time all three of us went out to dinner.”
“Darling, they want to convince you to break off the wedding.” He sounded worried.
Her temper flared. “You think I’m incapable of making up my own mind?”
“No. Of course not.” He sounded taken aback. “But—”
“Then there’s no discussion. I’m going out with my friends.”
“I’ll miss you.”
Now she was really suspicious. “Don’t lay it on too thick, Neil.”
“Due to my own stupidity, I almost lost you last night. It’s made me realize that I’ve taken you for granted.” His voice lowered. “I love you, Blair. I know I rarely say it, maybe because you never do, but I do love you.”
He was right. She rarely said it, but she hated lying. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Melissa came in about an hour later, set a file on Blair’s desk, and then spun around to leave. She wasn’t acting like herself, and Blair was worried. It occurred to her that she’d piled a lot of her own personal tasks onto her assistant, especially since she’d asked her to take care of canceling tonight’s party.
“Did you have any problems with the cancellation?”
Melissa turned to face her, crossing her arms. “None at all.”
“Melissa, is everything okay?”
Her eyes were guarded. “And why wouldn’t it be?”
Blair knew a deflection when she saw one. She stood and walked around her desk. “I know I’ve asked you to do a lot of personal errands for me lately.”
Melissa sucked in a breath and stared her down. “I’m your assistant. It’s my job.”
“No, it’s not. Not really.” She moved closer. “I don’t tell you often enough how much I appreciate everything you do.”
Her assistant looked down and then back up, still on guard. “I know you do, Blair. Thank you.” And with that, she left the room.
Blair considered going after her, but she had enough on her hands. She’d deal with whatever was bothering Melissa later.
Megan and Libby were waiting for her in the restaurant when she arrived several minutes after seven. She prepared herself to be berated for being late, but they just smiled and held up their drinks.
“We started without you,” Libby said.
Blair cracked a smile. “So it would seem.”
“We’re still waiting for our table,” Megan added. “Let’s get you something.”
“Just water. I have a busy day tomorrow and a meeting with a potential new client in the morning.”
They both knew she wasn’t supposed to be in the office on Friday, but neither woman commented on it.
Libby took a sip of her wine. “I guess you don’t have to worry about your job now, huh?”