A Man Can't Save You If You Don't Want To Be Saved
Day 178 of The Andie Chronicles
The floor of my office was once again covered; in fabric, paper, Pantone books, coloured markers and pencils. I wasn't used to chaos, a way of working that didn't suit me.
But I couldn't seem to catch my mojo on the marble, ornate desk in my office, chosen by the designer who put together my office at lightning speed. She told me it was appropriate for the magnitude of this office. Still, she failed to warn me how horribly inappropriate it was for a mere designer like me.
And for someone who needed space. The space of a dining room table, for example.
Once again, sitting crossed-legged in the middle of the room, I wasn't sure what I thought of my designs. I liked them enough to put my name on them, yet I knew I wasn't sincere about these designs.
They were to keep Douglas off my back, to appease his sense of what he wanted for this business.
Alas, nothing before me was what I envisaged. Not even close.
The phone on my desk began to ring. It never rang like this; if anyone in the office wanted me, they usually sent an unfeeling email. And if it were my ex, he would come swaggering into my office and use this great stature to stand over me.
"Andie, my dear, I have a Mr Cooper on the phone for you," declared Angela. "I'll put him through."
After a moment, I heard a click and then silence. "Hello?"
"Andie, oh my god, it's good to hear your voice."
I thought the same thing about his naturally husky tone. Cooper had the perfect microphone voice, probably tuned over years of practising his promo skills in the ring.
"You too. I can't believe you called the office phone."
Cooper chuckled in this sweet yet menacing sort of way. "Well, it doesn't hurt to put everyone on edge occasionally. Besides, I have a business to talk with you."
"So you're not calling to tell me you miss me?" I felt myself twirling the phone cord like a teenager.
"That's a given. It's actually part of the reason I have this business offer for you."
I felt my heart stop at the words' business offer'.
Was another romantic partner trying to swoop in and save me?
Was I so lost and hopeless that I needed the men in my life to bail me out?
"Chris and I were talking, and we wanted to know if you wanted to join the tour for a little bit. Do the slap everywhere and to everyone."
It sounded like fun, I admitted privately.
My brief moment in the wrestling spotlight was a step outside my comfort zone, and I relished it. Taking some internal frustrations out through my acting ability was also quite pleasurable.
The slap felt like it was something desperate to be released from me for quite some time. And if I accepted the offer, I would get to spend all day, every day, with Cooper. I could actually have a relationship with him.
We could be together.
And the fans seemed to like me, all thirty-five thousand now on Instagram. The number kept growing before my eyes.
But as I peered down at the papers, the sketches, the swatches, I knew I couldn't abandon Highway. An exit now would be a defeat, it would be letting Douglas win, and it would mean everything I wanted would be gone forever.
"I want to," I said truthfully, "But I have to get my business back. Is that ok?"
"It's more than ok. I assumed you would say no. But I couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't at least ask, you know? That was all."
Finally, I thought, a man who gets it.
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
Kicking Ass, Taking Names And Winning Championships, Andie Style
“Can I clear one of my drawers for you?” Cooper was sitting on the edge of the bed, me between his legs, my legs outstretched. Relaxed. I was folding up my pile of clothes that had spilled out over my suitcase and onto Cooper’s bedroom floor. It wasn’t like I was wearing many clothes when in his company, though. The clothes I had packed ended up being c…