Chapter 5: Texting Her Anyway

RONAN

‎The bass in the club was almost deafening. Perfect. That was the main reason I came to Trevor's club most nights. The music was so goddamn loud it drowned out whatever endless noise was in my own head at the moment.

I sat back on the leather chair, holding a glass of scotch.

"So what did Levi say?" Trevor set his drink down on the table between us.

I took a sip of the liquor, feeling the burn in my throat. "Nothing much. Suspension lowered, new exhaust system, and a few changes to the engine. Client wants it to handle better and he needs me on site to oversee the tuning."

Trevor grinned, shaking his head. "Client dropping serious money on a classic?"

"Yeah. Enough to make it worth my morning," I said.

Before Trevor could respond, one of the bouncers walked over to the VIP section, stepping up to our booth and approached our table.

"Boss," he leaned down a bit. "Just wanted to let you know the delivery for the top-shelf restock at the main bar just cleared the back dock. Inventory's all signed for."

Trevor nodded. "Good. Lock the back gate."

"Got it, Boss."

He turned to me, giving a respectful nod. "Sir."

I reciprocated and he stepped back, disappearing into the crowded floor.

Trevor turned back to me, taking a gulp of his drink. "So what’s the rest of your day looking like tomorrow? You doing the garage all day or what?"

"No," I said. "I'll be at the garage at seven. When everything is done, I'll head over to the office for the afternoon."

Trevor let out a small laugh. "Look at you. Getting better at this whole 'office thing.' and running the company just fine. Who would’ve thought?"

I let out a low chuckle. "It's been almost two years since I went corporate, Trevor. I think I've had enough time to get used to putting on a collared shirt."

"Hey, I'm just saying," he raised his hands in mock defense. "You weren't exactly built for desk work, man. I'm not surprised though. You always learnt fast. Right from days of racing."

I let out a faint chuckle, shaking my head. Just then, my phone began to ring in my front pocket. I pulled it out, looking down at the screen. Cassie.

I finished the last drop of the liquid in my glass and set it down on the table. "I'll be right back. I gotta take this."

I slid out of the booth and made my way through the VIP lounge. I headed down the dimly lit hallway toward the emergency exit corridor. By the time I reached the quiet area, the ringing had already stopped. I hit call back.

She picked up on the second ring. "Hey!"

"Hey," I said. "Sorry, was in a loud spot. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine! I just wanted to check up on you," she said. "You've been super quiet since you left and I've not quite heard from you."

It had been a week since I left Vermont. Six years ago, when I packed up my life and walked away from that house, going back was something I never thought I'll do.

But Cassie and my mother had persuaded me on the phone for about three straight weeks, and I caved. I thought maybe six years was enough time to bury the past.

I was wrong. The ice cold interaction after my parents had arrived that morning was all it took to remind me why I left in the first place.

When I got a call about a minor issue at the garage, it wasn't exactly an emergency, they could have handled it… easily. That didn't stop me from leaving though.

But if I was being completely honest with myself, the whole cold interaction wasn't the only reason I bailed.

It was her. Elena. From the exact second I saw her on my second night back, the attraction was immediate and entirely uninvited.

She was captivating... and intriguing. Effortlessly stunning too. I was intensely curious about her. But I wasn't an idiot. Nothing could happen there.

She was my younger sister’s best friend. I had only met her for the first time. That should have been enough to make me leave it alone and I felt Cassie would probably lose her mind if I crossed that line.

Besides, we seemed like two opposite people. I couldn't explain… it just felt that way. She seemed different from me.

Didn't stop her from popping into my head at the most random moment for the past week though.

"I appreciate you checking in" I cleared my throat. "How's everything down there? How did the event go?"

"It went well," she responded. "I've gone back to my apartment. I just miss everybody. I swear, it feels like everyone I love just packed up and returned to New York City at the exact same time."

"Everyone?" I asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "You, Lena... Archer."

Hold on! Elena. In New York. Well, I'll be damned.

‎I kept my tone flat, trying to give nothing away. "Right. So all three of us are in the city."

"Yeah." she sighed, sounding a bit distant. "You know, I just wish someday everyone could sit at the same table one more time. You, Mom, Dad... all of us. Like a real family."

I let out a low chuckle. "Don't bet on the family dinners Cassie."

"I know, I know," she murmured. "Anyway, I won't keep you. Just wanted to hear from you. Be safe, okay?"

"Always. Talk to you later."

The call ended with the knowledge of Elena's location settling over me. So she’d been living in the exact same city as me this whole time.

She wasn't just a distraction in Vermont. ‎I opened my messages and scrolled down and her contact was right there.

I tapped the message thread, staring at the short exchange from a week ago. I had not expected to see her again. But now, I knew she was in the same city as me.

My thumb hovered over the keyboard for a moment. I had no idea if texting her was a good idea but I started typing anyway.