Black & White (Colorful Sequel | H.S)|✔️

31

Make sure you've read chapter 30 before this one!

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Lucky for me, Audrey had realized I was not in favor of meeting up at a juice place. So, we compromise on one of the most hipster coffee shops I know of so she can get the real LA experience.

I also brought a gift basket. Just small things like beauty supplies because she's boarding a plane in a few hours. I'm still considerate.

I sit at the table, shifting through some important documents when she comes in. Upon seeing that I'm already drinking a coffee, she goes ahead and orders some for herself. I make sure to clean up my papers before she sits down.

"So, catch me up on everything," I say as soon as her butt touches the wooden seat. We don't have a lot of time so I want to make the most of it. Then I almost smack myself at my urgency. "Oh, I brought you this gift basket to solidify my apology." I nudge the package toward her.

She stares at it in disbelief. A sense of pride washes over me at my immaculate gift-giving skills, until her eyes switch to me and the expression doesn't change. I'm confused. Normally people look impressed or overjoyed at the idea of a gift basket. Why does she seem... offended?

My eyes widen in panic. "Oh no. You didn't like makeup. Should I have gotten you something else? I'm not implying you got uglier, because you actually got prettier. I just thought-"

"Ellie!" she interrupts. I clamp my mouth shut and wait for her to continue. Her lips twist into a smile. A small one, but a smile nonetheless. "Are you treating me like one of your business partners?"

Oops. "Guilty," I sheepishly smile. "But in my defense, they're the only people I've had to solicit in a long time."

She laughs as she draws the goodies toward her. "This is ridiculous. You've turned into one of those workaholic dads they show in Hallmark movies."

I laugh because I know I'm not that bad... right?

"Okay, we don't have a lot of time! Catch me up on your life," I urge.

And, man, she does.

"Yes, okay. So, I no longer live in Florida because it's hard maneuvering the fashion industry from there. I know I'm just an editor but we all know the big companies are in New York, so that's where I am now - I know, it's pretty predictable," she giggles. "Anyway, after Drew passed his police exam, we moved up to New York where he had to do some more examinations but now he's working a desk job at the station."

"A desk job?" I crinkle my nose. Drew was always the type to be more hands-on. He loved the thrill of driving a cop car.

"Yeah," she grimaces. "He has to work his way up. He's bummed out about it but I'm relieved because I don't want him to die in a random shootout, ya know?" When I nod, she continues. "So, yeah. Nothing much has changed if I'm being honest."

"Nothing much?" I gape in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? You're all grown up! Both of you!" A sense of sadness engulfs me as I realize that I missed so many important moments in her life.

She rolls her eyes. "Please! Look at you! You're the one who has a degree and is now working in LA! I never thought I'd see the day!" She takes a sip of her scalding coffee and winces before putting it down.

"Hot?"

"No! Weird taste."

I laugh and nudge my safe iced coffee toward her. "Here. You'll need the caffeine for the plane ride." She gratefully smiles before claiming it. "Yeah, I mean I knew California was the best place to use my Media Communications degree. It's full of wannabes. I just got lucky enough to get someone who was already climbing her way up."