Page 147 of Capturing Love

Amy voice softened. “He loves you, Jos. I can see it all over him. Why are you doing this?”

My lower lip trembled. “Because what if one day, he’s gone? What if he leaves me, or worse…” I burst into tears as the memory of my parent’s death, and the loneliness that came after, slammed into me. “I won’t let myself go through that again.”

“Oh, Jos.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and squeezed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to open old wounds.”

I wiped my eyes. “It’s okay, I’m just too tired to talk about him right now. I need to go to bed.”

Amy pulled me off the couch. “Come on then, I’ll tuck you in.” She guided my exhausted body to the bedroom and I climbed under the sheets. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I could barely keep my eyes open. Amy sat quietly at my side until a light tap sounded from my bedroom window. Followed by another, then another. My heart quickened. Is Grayson actually throwing stones?

I pretended to be asleep as Amy moved over to the window and peered outside onto the street below. With a little gasp, she unlocked the window and slid it open.

“Amy, can you please let me up? I need to see her.” His voice was faint as it travelled up three stories.

“She’s asleep.”

There was a pause and some possible curse words. “Is she okay? She won’t return any of my calls.”

“Just give her some time.”

“Can you let her know I’m heading to LA for a few days? I’m going to sort everything out.”

“I will,” Amy said before sliding the window shut. I quickly closed my eyes before she turned my way. “Catch all that?” she asked, jumping into the spare space next to me. Busted.

I offered her a sleepy smile. “Thanks, Ames.”

“Goodnight Jos,” she whispered. “Everything will work out.”

“Goodnight.”

* * *

“I thought I told you to take some time off?” Adam asked, when I walked into his office a few days later.

I slowly approached his desk. “I am, except it’s going to be a little longer than a week.”

He pursed his lips and nodded. “Very well, how much time were you thinking?”

With a tight smile, I placed my laptop and security pass on his desk.

His eyebrows pulled together. “Josie…”

“I can’t work here anymore.”

“If you’re worried about Mel…she’s gone. Grayson’s taken her back to LA.”

“This isn’t about Mel. It’s about me.”

“And Gray? Where does he fit in?”

“He doesn’t,” I said, ignoring the ache in my chest.

Adam winced and ran his hands through his hair. “Well, what are you going to do instead?”

I smiled. “Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Travel.”

He thought about it for a moment. “Where to?”

“Italy…to start with.”