Page 7 of Unravel Me

“I don’t know how I’m going to get through this week, Pen. I have to call my parents…and deal with Jackson face-to-face eventually.” I look around my home, my heart ticking up with every racing realization. “Oh my god, I cannot live here with him.”

The last thing I was planning on doing this week was picking up the pieces of my suddenly shattered life.

My best friend pulls out her phone, typing furiously, a stern look on her face. “One step at a time, Aud. First things first. Let’s get brunch. Afterwards, you’ll call your parents, and I will contact the wedding planner. Everything will be okay. One day at a time.” She squeezes my leg. “And you can move in with me, okay? I insist. It will be like college all over again.”

“As much as I love you, I know you like your space. I can find a place.”

She grips my shoulders, forcing me to face her. “I insist. You can stay with me as long as you need. I’ll help you find the cutest bachelorette pad ever when you’re ready, no rush.” She hands me another tissue, and I dab my puffy eyes. “I’m shooting a wedding almost every weekend this summer anyway, so you’ll practically have the place to yourself.”

I swallow the lump in my throat as I muster up a weak smile.

“Thank you. I’d be so lost without you.”

“What are girlfriends for, if not for picking up the mess men leave behind?”

Chapter five

Audrey

Two hours later, Penny hugged me goodbye outside of our favorite brunch spot, making me promise if I felt overwhelmed today, I'd give her a ring. She embodied older sister syndrome to her core, but I loved her dearly for it right now.

On my walk home, all ten blocks, I mentally prepared myself for the call with my parents. Penny and I already talked it through at brunch, but she could never truly understand what it meant to be the only daughter of Evelyn and Samuel Elson.

At brunch, with the liquid courage of a mimosa or two, I had also sent a text to Jackson letting him know I'd be breaking the news to my family. Which meant by five o’clock today, everyone would be made aware that the nuptials were off. His response came as I was walking into the Brecken Building.

Jackson: People call off weddings for many reasons, it’s no one's business what transpired between us. No need to air dirty laundry. I’ll be telling people we had a mutual agreement to end things civilly. I trust you won’t do anything to tarnish our family names.

God forbid, I let the world know the real Jackson Tippins.

I let out a laugh that ricocheted off the marble walls of the lobby. Laughter was the only response I could summon up—it was the only one that made sense in this absurdity. I was past crying; it only made my head hurt and my eyes red.

I’d never air our dirty laundry because the backlash from his family wouldn’t be worth the three minutes of joy. He knew that, too—he knew I only had one choice. To let it go. Because Jackson Tippins always wins. Men like him always do.

But there’s two people who would get the truth, and they were a phone call away. I prepared myself by filling a glass with sparkling water and propped my phone on a stand on the dining table, sitting up straight in my chair. I run my fingers through my long, chocolate brown hair in a poor attempt to look put together and straighten my plaid headband. I don’t need any additional reason for them to criticize me. I’ve become quite good at playing the part of a successful, sophisticated, and dignified daughter the few times of year I'm forced to speak with my family. Lately, with my mother’s talons in wedding planning, it’s been more like a few times a month but that will all be over soon. Very soon.

I hit ‘Evelyn Elson’ in my contact list and wait while my heart hammers in my chest. She picks up the video call on the third ring and dread fills my veins.

“Audrey, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.” My mother looks at me but is quickly distracted by whatever is in front of her. It appears she is sitting in a golf cart, a visor on her head, and a wall of evergreen trees paint the horizon behind her.

“I didn’t realize you were busy. I can call back later, Mom.” I’m ready to hang up, when she vigorously shakes her head, bringing her focus back to me.

“No, your father is finishing up now.” She waves her hand at my father, beckoning him over. Samuel Elson appears on the screen, both of them looking tan even though summer only just began in Connecticut.

“Audrey,” my father addresses me unenthusiastically, visibly irritated that I’ve interrupted his Sunday game, but before I can answer, he continues talking. “Is Jackson there? He hasn’t been returning my calls this weekend, which isn’t like him, nor professional and—”

I cut him off with a polite smile and wave. They both freeze on the phone and my mother’s tiny grin falls.

“That’s why I'm calling, actually. I need to speak with both of you.” My stomach dips as my father’s peppered eyebrows knit together.

“Oh? Is he okay?” My mom feigns concern as her fingers touch her dainty gold necklace.

“I am not sure, he isn’t with me either...but if this isn’t a good time to talk, I can call back later.” I rush as cold sweat pricks my neck.

“You have your mother worked up and we have already paused our round so come out with it, Audrey.” Samuel Elson uses the same voice for me as he uses in the boardroom, and even five hundred miles away his iron grip had me in a chokehold.

“The engagement party is off,” I begin as my mother's lips fall open, and I squeeze my eyes shut for the next bit just to get through it. “Because the engagement is off.” My mother gasps on the other end of the call.

Deep breath. I peel my eyes open, only to momentarily wonder if the call is frozen as they gawk like a deer in the headlights. The sound of golf carts puttering by, and murmurs of other golfers play in the background until my mother’s face crumbles.