Boss of Me

I take a step back, giving him an incredulous look. “You made it so she couldn’t explain an eighteen-month gap on her résumé. She couldn’t use you as a reference. You could make her look crazy if she accused him publicly, if she tried to explain why she left here. You say you don’t have that power, but you know you do. You ended her professional life.” Shaking my head, I know what I have to do. “I’m leaving. When we get back to Nashville, I’m turning in my notice.”

He’s on his feet at once, crossing the room to me, reaching for me. “Rocky, please.”

Holding up my hand, I back away. “Don’t touch me.”

I storm out the door before I start to cry, but he’s right on my heels, catching my arm. “Stop and let me explain…”

My voice is savage as I jerk my arm away. “Stay away from me.” My eyes flash. “I knew you were broken. I never thought you were cruel.”

“You’ve seen how he is.” Patton’s voice is soft, pleading. “I had to protect him. I was young—”

“Renée was young. You were old enough to know what you were doing.” I’m looking at my phone typing in my destination address.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving you.”

His voice drops. “I won’t let you.”

“You won’t let me?” My voice is a whip. My eyes flash, and that fight deep inside me rises to the surface. “That’s not your call, George.”

My phone buzzes, and I look up to see Javier in a red Honda Civic arriving to take me to the airport, the pink Lyft logo glowing in his windshield.

“Rocky, wait.” He tries to reach for me again, but I pull away, stepping into the car.

“You hurt a defenseless person who came to you for help. You hurt my sister.” A tremor is in my voice, but rage is boiling away my tears. “I never want to see you again.”

26

Patton

“You need to get your shit together and get back to work.” I’m standing in Marley’s living room watching him drink a Red Bull in pajama pants and a threadbare Phish tee.

He makes a sarcastic face. “Haven’t you heard? I’m suffering from exhaustion.”

“Don’t start that shit with me.” My voice rises, and I take a cigarette out of my pack. Lighting it, I inhale a long pull and exhale the stream of smoke slowly. “We had to say something to keep it off the gossip sites. How long do you think Hastings and Key would stick with us if they know what you did? What about Abu Dhabi? Dubai? Those guys avoid scandal like sand fleas.” I add under my breath, “Not to mention my dad.” That asshole. I don’t even want to hear what he’d have to say.

“Well you fucked up.” He reaches for his own cigarette. “Everyone knows ‘exhaustion’ is code for drug overdose.”

A fist of rage is in my chest. It’s been like this since I got back from Los Angeles. Rocky walked out, and it all went to hell.

Stalking to his balcony doors, I pull them open, studying the Nashville skyline. My mind trips back to standing with her in my arms, studying the view of Los Angeles. I push that memory aside. I was a fool to think I could have her after everything that happened. She’s right. I’m broken and cruel, and I injured the only family member she has left.

I take another long pull off my cigarette, blowing the smoke out the doors. “How’s it going with the therapist?”

“You mean am I going to do it again?”

As pissed as I am, what he did still hurts. Turning my back to the doors, I look directly into his eyes. “Yes. That’s what I mean.”

He shakes his head, breaking eye contact, seeming defeated. “I don’t think so.”

It’s not good enough. “I need you back at the office. You know Taron left.”

“I know what Taron did.” He takes another pull off his cigarette. “I know what he wants. I hope he finds it.”

Whatever that means. “Rocky put in her notice.”

His head snaps up at that, and his brow furrows. “But… she was really good. Why would she do that?”