No Love Attached

chapter twenty two : million dollar meetings

| No Love Attached |
chapter twenty two : million dollar meetings

The next morning I woke up with a hangover that could have killed, hence why I chose to work from home. My seven a.m. alarm sounded like an air horn blaring in my ears, while the sun felt like Hades himself was setting my eyes on fire. But I suppose that's what comes with mixing tequila and whiskey until all god forsaken hours of the night.

Since I didn't go into the office, I didn't have much to do besides a dinner meeting with the author of that chick lit book about all the casual flings. It turns out she had also lost her significant other, and I felt a longing to talk to her.

     Due to this newfound free time and having the ability to lay on the couch, binging Netflix on my couch at noon, I found myself checking my phone every four seconds.

What was I looking for? A stupid, dirty text from Leo that would make the blood rush to my cheeks? A confirmation from Aaron that the book deal was mine? A voicemail from Penney confessing and blabbering all the dirty details of her so-called affair? A notification saying my Postmates' is arriving?

Honestly, any of those options would have sufficed. When my phone finally rang, it wasn't any one of those things. Instead, it was an incoming call from Damon Lancaster.

If he had called yesterday, I probably wouldn't have picked up. And if I did, it would be to yell at him for dumping Penney based on a dumb accusation. But today, I had free rein to answer my friend's call, so I hit accept.

"Hey," I answered.

"Hey," Damon's usually assertive voice sounded ridden with angst.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm not really sure why I felt the need to call because I know you're her best friend, but who's the other guy?"

I stopped fiddling with the TV remote and instantly gave him my full attention. "I honestly have no idea, Damon. She hasn't even told me about it, yet. I'm sorry."

I couldn't help but be surprised at how much the words stung. Penney was a grown woman who didn't have to tell me about who she was hooking up with, but it felt weird being that the girl feels the need to tell me when she pees.

"Ver, don't apologize --"

"No, I am sorry. You're my friend too and I've been an asshole by not calling to see if you're alright."

There was a silence on the other end of the line before he spoke again, "I'm flying out to London tonight to see Penney. For 'closure' or whatever she calls it."

"Good luck. Call if you need anything." A small, half-hearted smile formed on my lips, admiring how Damon was still being kind enough to see her after she cheated on him.

After we hung up, a small part of me felt that his pain was my fault. I was the one who set them up and convinced him to meet Penney.

•••

About two years ago, I got a call from my dear friend Anthony Bradshaw, asking me to meet up with him and this millionaire buddy that was interested in buying art from his gallery.