Allie wanted to turn and walk away, but Nick saw her, got out of his car, and grabbed her arm. "Allie, please, hear me out."
She turned, her expression cold. "Fine. Go ahead. I'm listening."
He sighed. "I was drunk that night. I thought Cher was you."
Her gaze hardened. "That's it? If that's all, I'm done here."
They were standing at the building entrance during rush hour, with people streaming past.
Just then, Jenna pulled up in her little car, and Allie quickly slipped inside, leaving Nick behind without a second
glance.
As they got on the highway, Jenna couldn't help but ask, "So, who was that guy back there?
The same one who sent those roses this morning?"
"An ex," Allie replied with a sigh.
"Ex? He seemed pretty eager to make up. Why'd you let him go? He's, like, ridiculously handsome, and he looked loaded!"
"Jenna, please. I've got a headache."
Jenna noticed the rare sadness in Allie's usually carefree face and decided not to press any further.
Allie gazed out the window, her mind drifting back to that fateful night three months ago.
It had been her birthday, November 11th. Nick's gift? Walking in on him in bed—with her best friend, Cher.
After being betrayed by the two people she trusted most, Allie had gone to a club called Nightfall to drown her sorrows.
That's when everything changed.
For three days straight, extravagant bouquets of rainbow roses kept appearing on her desk, and each night, Nick would wait outside the office, hoping for a second chance. By now, everyone knew there was a "super-hot guy" desperately chasing after her.
Allie didn't explain. Only Jenna knew the truth.
On the fourth day, there was another bouquet waiting. But this time, someone else was there too.
It was Cher.
Allie's stomach twisted as she spotted her, but Cher rushed over before she could leave. "Allie, you won't take my calls or meet me anywhere else, so I had to find you here. Can we talk?"
Curious glances from around the office made Allie uncomfortable. She nodded curtly. "Follow me."
They walked to a small meeting room, and as soon as the door closed, Cher's eyes filled with tears. She grabbed Allie's arm. "Allie, I'm so sorry. Please, just forgive me. I can't stand losing you as my friend."
Allie's expression didn't soften. "If you'd thought of me as a friend, you wouldn't have done it. And as far as I remember, you weren't drinking that night."
Cher's voice cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "You don't understand. I've had feelings for Nick for so long. You two were childhood friends, yes, but love isn't something you can just control."
Love. Right.
Cher continued, pleading, "Allie, we've been friends for years. Couldn't you… I don't know, let me have Nick? You're from the Brooks family, you have a bright future ahead of you no matter what. But I don't have anything. Without him, I'm lost. You've never been one to fight over things—can't you just let Nick go?"
Let him go? Allie felt a surge of anger. She'd never clung to him. After what happened, she knew there was no future with Nick.
She turned toward the door. "Is that why you came here today? To tell me all of this?"