Getting my cell, I dial the number of my divorce lawyer.
“Adam, you must be a mind reader. I was going to call you today,” Harrison says.
That makes me pause. “Why?”
“I got signed divorce papers back from Evie’s lawyer with new terms and a letter from Evie personally. Do you want me to send it over to you?”
“No. Read the letter to me now,” I say, my heart climbing into my throat.
“Okay. One sec. Just let me grab it.”
I hear rustling and then the tearing of paper.
“Right, I got it. Okay, so it says, ‘Adam, I know you said you didn’t want to see me or hear from me again, and I’m not writing this letter to go against that, but with the divorce still in process and how the terms stood with the money, I couldn’t not write to you. I don’t want the money, of course. So, I’m rejecting the terms. I’m not doing that to piss you off or to hang on to you in some vain hope that you’ll find a way to forgive me because I know you won’t. And I understand why. But I also know you want me gone, so I know you’ll accept my terms. My lawyer has redrafted the papers, and I’ve signed them on the terms I originally set—abandonment on my part. I will leave our marriage as I entered it—well, in the financial sense anyway. All you have to do is sign, and then your lawyer will file them. And then I guess that’s it.
“I just want to say I’m sorry one last time. I’m sorry I lied to you. I’m sorry I let you down. I know my apologies don’t count for anything anymore, but I just needed one more chance to say it.
“And just…be happy, Adam. You, more than anyone, deserve happiness. I’m just sorry it couldn’t be with me. Yours always, Evie.’”
My whole body hurts, like every single one of Evie’s words have cut into me, and I’m bleeding out from the wounds.
“Adam, are you okay?” Harrison’s voice comes down the line.
I take a breath, forcing words to come. “Harrison, do you have Evie’s address? All I need is her apartment number.”
“Sure.”
I hear some keys tapping.
“She’s in apartment ten.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you want me to do with these papers?” he asks. “Should I send them to you to sign?”
“No. The only thing I want you to do with those papers is burn them.”
I hang my cell up, shoving it in my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Max asks me, concern in his voice.
I shake my head. “I just need to see Evie. Now.”
I feel Max’s foot press down on the gas.
Five minutes later, he’s pulling up outside of her building.
“You want me to wait?” he asks as I’m getting out of the car.
“No, it’s fine. You go.”
I sprint to her building. Catching the door as someone’s leaving, I go straight in and run up the flight of stairs, heading for her apartment.
Reaching apartment ten, I bang on the door.
The door opens, revealing Evie’s dad. He looks the same, just a little older and a little grayer.
“Mr. Taylor,” I say slightly out of breath, having a déjà vu moment. I remember doing this exact thing after the first time Evie met Ava.
“It’s still Mick, Adam.” He gives me a slight smile. “I’m guessing you’re here to see Evie. She’s not home, I’m afraid.”
“Oh.” Disappointment lines my insides. “Do you know where she is?”
“Why do you need to see her?” His tone is fatherly, protective.
“I just need to talk to her.”
“Look, Adam, I know you were the injured party in this whole thing, but Evie hasn’t had it easy these last ten years. I don’t want her getting hurt any more than she already has been.”
“We were both the injured party in this,” I tell him.
“I’m glad you see it that way now. And while you’re here, I’m going to tell you that I am sorry for everything that happened back then.”
His apology surprises me. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”