“You’re grumpy, for one.”
Just go away, Landon. Just leave me alone.
She’s crazy.
She’s infuriating.
She’s confusing.
And yet, I can’t stop thinking about her.
“What’s going on with you and Liz?” I ask, changing the subject.
Aidan goes quiet. “She doesn’t need issues like mine,” he says finally.
I study him, trying to see any signs of strain in his features. He looks fine, a little pensive, but fine. “Ditto with Rachel,” I tell him. “Maybe she’s better off without having to deal with my issues.”
“Did she decide that or did you?”
“She decided she doesn’t want me.”
Aidan laughs. “Somehow, I find that hard to believe.”
Well, too bad it’s true.
“So she’s done with you? Like…no longer interested?” He shakes his head. “Did you make no effort at all? Did you lose your charm? I thought the Landon Court was irresistible.”
“Shut up.”
“I think you didn’t try hard enough to make her feel like she meant something to you.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. I don’t know what it is, and I’ve given up trying.”
“And now you’re grumpy and miserable.”
“I don’t need relationship advice from my little brother,” I tell him with a bad-tempered scowl.
He shrugs. “If you say so.”
I glower at the food on my plate. What does she want? “Come with me to an event on Thursday,” I tell Aidan. “It’s an art thing. We’re donating a couple of paintings from Grandpa’s collection.” I give him a placating smile. “You might like it.”
He considers for a moment. “Fine. It’s not like I don’t need a break.”
After I drop Aidan off at his place, I return to my office. The building is practically empty, and alone at my desk, it’s easy to bury myself in reading reports and drawing up plans.
I won’t think about her.
If she wants me to leave her alone, I will.
Does she think I don’t care about her? Why would I have considered a relationship if I didn’t?
Stop thinking about her.
In the apartment above my office, there’s a treadmill. I change and run until I’m too exhausted to take another step. When I shower and drop into bed, my dreams are hellish, and there, like a Valkyrie fighting to calm the torture in my mind, is Rachel.
“They’ve been sending out the invites for the grand opening.” Tony is in my office the next day, bringing me up to date on my itinerary for the next few days.
He shows me a list, and I glance through the pages. Some names I picked, but many others are from our publicity department. They will all be there, however. Nobody would willingly miss the opening of a new Swanson Court.