Merry With a Scrooge (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

8. Laney

Laney

Three days after Thanksgiving

I can’t stay here any longer.

I’m done.

So fucking done.

Vail has been an asshole of epic proportions and while I’d never take a tire iron to his car or throw a stapler at his head, I can relate to the urge. Especially the throw something at his head one.

I get why he’s acting the way he is, I really do, but I’m not the person he should be taking his anger out on.

In the months I’ve worked for Vail he’s taken a flight out to California several times. All of those times I’ve gone with him. And every one of those times I’ve hoped his ex would follow through with her promise.

By the third time I’d gotten a clue. But Vail…

Vail has been off the charts excited to see Kavan each time only for his heart to be shattered when he doesn’t.

So I really do understand why he’s being an ass.

Except I won’t stand for him treating everyone who works for QVE the way he has since the day he stormed out on our lunch.

It got to the point last week where I sent a message to Quade and Easton, reminding them of the fact there are three partners in this company.

And two out votes one.

It’s why I’m ready for the argument.

Between yesterday afternoon, when Chad let me know the New York office was empty of all staff including our grouchy boss, and six this morning, every QVE office across the country has been decorated for the holidays.

After Vail told us not to put out the Thanksgiving decorations or organize a lunch for the staff then growled and scowled his way through the building the days before the holiday, I had hoped the meal I’d organized for the two of us would put him in a better mood.

I should have known it wouldn’t. Not that ordering in all his favorite meals had a chance.

He didn’t show.

Stood me up.

Switched off his phone and didn’t answer his door.

I was on the verge of calling the police to ask for a wellness check when my brother called so I could say hello to my family.

After a round of hellos, Quade took the phone to a quiet room where he added Easton to the conversation.

I explained the current situation with Vail and got immediate relief when Easton logged into Vail’s home security system and found him sitting in his dark kitchen with a bottle of Bourbon in front of him.

He couldn’t tell if he was drunk, although the bottle had been almost empty, so my guess is yes, he was probably plastered. But neither Quade or Easton thought it necessary to interrupt Vail’s pity party and as they are technically my bosses, I had to defer to their call.

And I hated it.

I wanted to go over there and snap him out of it. Remind him we’re doing everything we can to get him visitation with his son. And I’m so close to working out a deal with someone who has just as much say in Kavan’s life as Felicity.

I just need Vail to hold it together a little longer. Trust me a few more weeks. Except I can’t stand to watch him fall apart. Watch his heart break each time his ex backs out of a planned meeting.

It’s why I’ve got a ticket south.

In twenty-four hours I’ll be in Love Beach, surrounded by my family and all things Christmas—not this scrooge-ish office.

It kills me to leave Vail here on his own, because I know he’ll only work or wallow in pity inside his dark house.

But his heart isn’t the only one breaking.

Each time I see his face, my chest aches a little more, a little deeper.

If I could get on a plane to LA and snatch Kavan and bring him home, I would.

Except that would only make things worse. Cause more damage than it repaired to have father and son reunited.

“What the fuck is all this bullshit!”

Bracing myself, I stand straighter and wait for him to enter his office. We don’t need this argument heard by the whole floor.

When he steps into the room I tip my chin up. “Morning. Please close the door behind you.”

“What the fuck happened to the office?” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder and I watch as his wrinkled shirt pulls from his equally wrinkled pants.

I study him.

He has bags under his red rimmed eyes. His cheeks appear sunken although I do know he’s eating at least one meal a day five days a week, I have a feeling the meals I’ve had delivered to his house are going uneaten.

He’s hurting and all I want to do it hold him and tell him everything will be okay. Except that’s the last thing he needs or wants. With a sigh, I take a step toward him.

“Sit down Vail. We need to talk.” I curse my word choice the second I see the flash of excitement on his face. “It’s not about Kavan.”

He seems to deflate in front of me. His shoulders slumping, his chin tucking into this chest, his chest collapsing against his spine.

He looks defeated. Every fiber of my being objects to seeing him like this. It slashes through me like a blade, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find blood pooling on the floor at my feet.

Moving around him, I shut the door before urging him toward his desk. “Please. Sit down before you fall down.”

“I’m fine.” He shakes me off and shuffles over to his desk. “Just didn’t sleep well the last few days.”

Once he’s in his seat I take one across from him. “You didn’t show up for dinner.”

“I wasn’t in the mood for socializing.”

He hasn’t looked at me and I can’t tell if he’s avoiding me because he feels guilty or if he just doesn’t want to be here. “The only other person there was me.”

His gaze darts up before dropping again. “I know.”

“Well, you won’t have to worry about socializing with me either. I’m leaving?—”

“You’re quitting!” Those dark eyes zip to mine and hold. “You can’t quit! I won’t accept your resignation!”

He punctuates his last word with a fist to the desk.

I flinch.

Not because I’m scared—I’d never be scared of Vail—I’m surprised. He’s shown so little emotion in recent weeks this burst of intensity jolts my nervous system.

My gaze searches his for a sign—a clue—as to why he’d jump to the conclusion I’d quit without notice. “If you’d let me finish you would have heard me explain I’m heading to Love Beach early. Tomorrow. I’m not quitting.”

The breath that rushes from his chest has his whole upper torso lowering to the desk. “I thought…” he mutters into his forearm.

“No. If I was quitting I’d give you notice and be here to train my replacement. I would never leave you in the lurch like that.”

With his chin propped on his forearm his eyes bore into mine and I can’t make out what the hell he’s thinking. I’ve been able to read him until now. It surprised me at first, the way we could see so clearly what the other was thinking.

Well, except for the desire I’ve kept under wraps. I have no clue how I’ve managed to keep my feeling for Vail a secret. I’m so good at hiding my emotions I forget being in the same room as him isn’t always a smart thing.

Especially when I’m worried about him. Or when he brushes against me.

“You can’t ever leave me.” His words are a plea, and I’m not sure if he’s only talking about work. There’s a desperation in his gaze that I’ve never seen before.

“I’m not leaving. I like my job. I don’t see that changing any time soon,” I reassure him. “I’ll be working remotely. I’ve already got Quade setting things up for me at Gram’s.”

What I don’t tell him is that I can’t stay here and watch him suffer.

Or that leaving hurts just as much as staying.

“You’re coming back?” His eyes are so sad, and the usual scowl on his face takes on a different tone. I doubt he’s changed the curve of his lips but for some reason this frown looks depressed instead of angry.

“Yes. I’ll be back after the New Year.” I want to remind him of the open invitation he has to my family’s estate, but I doubt he’s ready for all the people he’ll be forced to see if he accepts. “You’re welcome to join us for Christmas.”

He’s shaking his head. “I’m not good company right now.”

“No.”

Pushing upright, he tips his face toward the ceiling and drags in a deep breath. When he lets it out, his eyes find mine again. “I’m sorry.”

I go to speak but he holds up a hand.

“No. It’s not okay. I’ve been horrible to everyone. I know it. But I can’t seem to stop it. I shouldn’t be around anyone. I’ll work from home while you’re away. Can you let Dennis and Chad know?”

“Of course.”

With a nod, he stands. “Enjoy the time with your family.”

The man who walks out of the office is not the one I know.

With every day that passes he sinks deeper and deeper into the darkness, and I have no idea how to help him find his way out.