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Chapter 7

Author: Nora Nolan
"No! Julian goes first. Nothing can happen to him. His safety comes first!"

Gracie's panicked shout was the last thing Aaron heard before he blacked out.

Darkness swallowed him.

It felt like one long nightmare.

When he finally woke, Dylan sat beside him, his eyes bloodshot.

"I'd just gotten back when I heard about the crash. The doctor said you lost so much blood they almost couldn't save you. You scared the hell out of me!"

Seeing Dylan brought everything Aaron had buried rushing back.

His eyes stung.

"Don't worry. I'm okay..."

They sat in silence for a long time. Then Dylan poured some water and helped him drink. Following the doctor's advice, he kept things light.

"So, how've you been? Gracie giving you a hard time? And what about that girlfriend? When do I meet her? If she's not treating you right, she's not getting my approval."

Aaron stiffened.

"Ms. Weinstein keeps things professional. She hasn't given me trouble. My girlfriend, though... we broke up."

Dylan hadn't seen that coming. He rushed to make Aaron feel better.

"Forget her. You'll find someone better. I know plenty of gorgeous women. I'll introduce you!"

The door opened before he could finish. Gracie walked in, scowling.

"Introduce him to who? No way. Your friends sleep around. None of them are right for him."

Dylan pouted.

"Sleep around? Come on, Gracie. They've had two or three girlfriends. Not everyone spends years waiting for Julian. And he's my best friend. You have to control who I set him up with, too?"

Gracie's voice sharpened.

"I said no. You can't force feelings. Quit playing matchmaker."

'She's right. You can't make someone love you. Only took me four years to get it.'

Aaron smiled silently and tugged Dylan's hand, then calmly looked at her.

"He's kidding. Did you need something, Ms. Weinstein?"

Seeing him awake and out of danger eased some of her worry.

She almost said she'd come to see him.

"Nothing. Dylan came straight from the airport when he heard. I came to take him home. Figured I'd check on you."

"I'll be home tonight, Gracie. You can go. Aaron's badly hurt. Don't dump any work on him."

Dylan ushered her out.

Once she was gone, he came to her defense.

"She's tough, but she cares about you. The nurse said you almost died yesterday. Gracie tracked down blood all over the city to save you."

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  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 23

    A year later, Aaron texted Dylan. He was getting married—and wanted him as his best man.Dylan dropped everything and booked a flight. Gracie heard the news from him.Her pen stopped moving. She looked down, trying to sound casual."He's getting married already?"Dylan had kept her updated all year. She knew Aaron had a girlfriend who loved him. But marriage?Her vision blurred. She couldn't read what she was writing.Aaron's voice came through Dylan's speakerphone."Yeah. It's time. I found the right person. Why wait?"He sounded calm, almost laughing.Happy. She could hear it.Dylan packed as they talked."Okay, but you're staying abroad for good? Making me fly out every time? Cold, man. You could visit me for once."Laughing, he zipped his suitcase and waved to Gracie."I'm off!"She said nothing.When he was gone and Aaron's voice faded with him, she set down her pen and pressed a hand to her forehead.Tears fell. Her chest hurt. She could barely breathe.So this w

  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 22

    Julian barely ate or slept. Everything he'd done to Aaron had come back on him a thousand times worse.He huddled in the basement, shaking. The door opened, spilling in light. He stared, dazed.Then he saw Gracie.He scrambled over and clung to her."Gracie, I screwed up! Please forgive me. I'll leave you and Aaron alone. I'll go far away. You'll never see me again. Just let me go. Please!"He could barely speak through his sobs.Gracie studied his face in silence. The innocent, handsome guy she remembered was gone. All she saw was greed.'How did I lose the person who mattered most over him?'Anger surged. She wanted him to hurt. But Dylan and Aaron were right. She'd let herself be fooled. Julian had only used the power she'd given him.She took a breath and dropped the photos in front of him.His eyes widened.He'd tried so hard to bury that past. He'd only come home because he couldn't make it abroad anymore. He'd never thought anyone would find out.Panic crossed his fa

  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 21

    Dylan flew over after Aaron called."Aaron!"Aaron's face softened. "Dylan."They talked for a while. Before leaving, Dylan looked down, guilty."Sorry. I shouldn't have caved and let Gracie come. You didn't need this."Aaron patted his shoulder."It's okay. She'd have found me anyway. Better to clear things up than drag it out."Dylan still felt awful. He'd never thought Gracie would spend all night in the rain like her life didn't matter.Dylan glanced at Gracie nearby, trying not to stare at Aaron. Then he asked what he'd been wondering."Aaron... what if Julian never came back? Would you have stayed with Gracie?"She wanted to know, too.Aaron gave a faint smile. He'd asked himself that. After that month, he knew.Without Julian, it would've been someone else. She only wanted Aaron because she'd lost him.He smiled, at peace."No."Neither asked why. Maybe they already knew.Dylan took Gracie home, heartbroken. Weinstein Corp was losing money, and she couldn't focus

  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 20

    Gracie stayed until the coffee shop closed.She had no idea what to do. The more it hurt, the clearer it got: Aaron meant everything to her. She'd let him go.'If Julian hadn't come back...'If I'd known sooner...'If I hadn't let Aaron down...'So many what-ifs. No way back.She wandered unfamiliar streets. Lightning flashed. Rain poured. Everyone rushed home, but she had nowhere to go.She kept walking, whispering Aaron's name until she was soaked.Her phone chimed. Hope flared, but it was Dylan.[Gracie, come home.]She stared at the words. 'How did Aaron and I end up like this?'Gracie sank onto the curb, sobbing and screaming. The rain swallowed every sound.Eventually, she stumbled to Aaron's apartment. His door was shut. She couldn't bring herself to knock, so she curled up outside.Being near him helped. A little.She hadn't slept in days. Rain-soaked, she drifted into a restless sleep.She dreamed he forgave her and came home. They were together again. This time

  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 19

    The coffee shop door chimed. Gracie spotted Aaron in a corner.One month apart. It had felt like a year. Seeing him almost didn't feel real.'He looks so different.'He'd usually worn office clothes around her. Even when they experimented at home, he'd seemed so serious.Now he wore casual clothes, his hair falling over his forehead. For a second, he looked like the shy guy who'd tried to hide his crush on her.She paused, then walked over with a smile."Aaron. Been a while."She held back the urge to hug him. She couldn't stop looking at his face."Yeah. Let's keep this short. I came to clear things up."Aaron took a sip of coffee. Before he could go on, Gracie jumped in."I know. It's my fault. I didn't know how I felt, and I let Julian hurt you. Aaron, I love you. You're the only one."She rushed through it, then waited, her eyes bright.He loved her. She'd pictured him forgiving her and coming home.His expression never changed. He gave a faint, empty smile."Too late

  • The Exit You Approved   Chapter 18

    Dylan texted Aaron. With the time difference, a reply could take hours. He told Gracie to go home. He'd let her know.She wouldn't leave.She slept on his couch, waking at every sound, hoping Aaron had replied.His answer came the next evening.[Okay. I'll meet with her.]Hope surged.'He wants to see me. We still have a chance!'She booked the next flight.Dylan caught her arm, frowning. "Rest first, Gracie. You haven't slept in days. Aaron said he'd see you. He'll keep his word."She pulled free. "I can't wait. I've missed him every day. I just need to see him."The tenderness in her eyes threw Dylan.As she hurried off, he sighed."Should've thought of that before you hurt him..."She didn't hear. She was going to see Aaron. She couldn't think about anything else.Even on the plane, she was too excited to rest.'Is he doing okay? Has he lost weight? Does he have enough money? Being alone in another country must be hard.'Thinking of him softened her heart. She could

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