Counting On Forever

Chapter 12

~{Chapter 12}~

He was gone. The day after Matt asked me out, I learned he had left. It hurt. It hurt that he had left without telling me, and it hurt that he was making it seem like my response had ruined our friendship. His friendship meant a lot to me. To have him decide it wasn't worth it, makes me extremely upset. He did what I didn't want him to do.

"Kate?" Beth asks as she sits down across from me in my office.

I rub my temples, trying to make my headache go away. "Yes?"

"You okay?"

I shake my head. "No. I asked him to not let what happened ruin our friendship. He didn't listen."

She sighs. "Kate, have you ever been rejected?"

"All the time."

"I mean by someone you care about and someone who really knows you."

"What are you getting at?"

"Matt cares about you. Whether or not you care about him romantically, it doesn't change the fact that you haven't told him what happened and why you have a ring on your left hand. He's probably imagining the worst. He deserves to know so he doesn't have to go through the torment of thinking you're bound to someone else."

"How did you get to be so smart?"

"I'm living part of it," she replies sadly.

"I'm so sorry! I'm the worst friend!"

"What?" she cluelessly asks.

"I've been so wrapped up with all of my problems, that I forgot about how much pain you must be in."

She smiles one of her brave smiles. "Kate, you've had a lot on your plate ever since you've moved here. Don't feel bad. I'm getting better, and it's nice to have work taking over my thoughts; it's a good distraction."

I stand up and walk over to give her a hug. "I promise I'll get better at paying more attention."

"Thanks, Kate. Your friendship means so much to me."

I smile and let go of her so she can stand up. She gives me one more hug before turning to leave.

She turns around one last time to say, "Don't forget what I said. He needs to know."

I sigh. She's right, but it's not that simple. Who goes up to someone and randomly says, "Guess what? I was engaged and then my fiancé died; that's the reason why I can't date you."

I groan as I pull up a book to edit. "If only it were that I easy," I mumble.

All throughout the end of October and the month of November, I try to find a reason to call Matt. I try to figure out something I can say to him. Sadly, Thanksgiving comes and goes without me calling him or having any contact with him. Then again, his face was plastered all over magazines, so it was a little hard to escape him.

December comes with a frenzy of activity. A book has to be published, and I have to prepare for my first Christmas without James. Then, I get a call from Mr. Parker, saying he wants to come into town for a few days with his wife. I love having Mr. Parker as my boss, but I always feel pressure when he's around.

I pick up my laptop and purse. As I walk out, I tell the receptionist I'm going out for lunch. I walk down the sidewalk to Bella's Steakhouse. I'm seated quickly, allowing me to open up my laptop and go to Wattpad. I recently found a really good author.

"Kate?" a slightly familiar voice asks.

"Mr. Parker! I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow," I say when I see him standing in front of my table.