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Aubrey. Aubrey makes me happy, but how the hell do I go after her if she won’t love me back?
“Working doesn’t make you happy?”
I shrug, wishing this elevator would go faster. I’ve found I don’t like them much after being in Colorado and hiking. Being stuck in a metal box feels so confining. “It does.” And I know I won’t stay retired, not completely.
“Then why’d you do it?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I just did. In hindsight, part of it was because I don’t want to be identified by it. There’s more to me than my wealth.”
“Sticking it to Johanna?” he guesses.
“No.” I shake my head. “She’s out of my life, man. She doesn’t impact me anymore.”
“Well, I’ll be the first to say we should go into business together then.”
I raise my brow at him as he enters his penthouse.
“I mean it. I could really use your help in Colorado.”
“With the bed-and-breakfast?” I ask as he sets his bag on the floor and checks his mail. We all pitched in at Marian’s house. It didn’t feel like a job, not like my career of managing properties did, but it didn’t strike me as mere chores either.
“No, that’s more of Lauren’s forte. She’s content to run it with Marian or to learn how to alongside her design work. I meant the bigger things like purchasing properties and flipping them.”
That makes sense. That’s my specialty. Like the motel they’re revamping into apartments in Frisco. “What would that entail?”
“Same thing you’ve always done, but making it local. Bring your expertise from here and apply it with me in Colorado.” Caleb sets the mail down, finished with skimming it, and faces me again with his hands in his pockets.
“Or are you glad to be back in the city and away from the crappy reception up on that mountain?”
I roll my eyes. “No.” I miss it. I’ve been missing it.
“Aubrey’s staying. She got the teaching job.”
I swallow hard. Any words I might have been working to share get stuck in my throat.
“She’s moved out of the bed-and-breakfast, though,” he adds.
I hate being watched this closely when he brings her up, so I turn and meander through his lifeless penthouse. It hurts too much to even think about her, and I still suffer with the weight of guilt. I should have fought harder for us. I should have spoken up more, and clearer. I should’ve done so many things differently, but I know that ship has sailed.
“She moved into the apartment the former teacher left behind. It’ll be easier for her to get to the school that way, especially in the winter. You know how bad Meadow Lane is.” His chuckle irks me. “Remember how you both raced up the road that first day and—”
“Don’t.” I wish my retort didn’t sound so broken, but I can’t help that. “Please, don’t talk about her. I can’t. Not yet.”
Caleb opens and closes his mouth, holding back on whatever he wants to tell me. Then he shakes his head slowly and sighs. “Are you leaving?”
I shrug. “I could get a drink.” It doesn’t sound appealing though. Neither does food.
“I need to stop somewhere. Want to come?” He stretches but makes no move for the door. “I don’t want to call for a driver.”
“Sure. Where are we going?” I don’t mind his company, even if he’s determined to remind me of the greatest woman I ever lost.
“A store.”
I raise my brows as we step out of his home that’s not a home anymore. “That’s not vague.”
“You’ll see.” He’s cryptic about it, but I trust that he’s got a plan. We head back out to my car and get back in. When he gives me directions to Fifth Avenue, it’s not a clue I can follow yet.
He’s restless on the drive, and I can’t tell if he’s impatient to get there. Clearly this errand is important if he’s eager to cross it off his list first thing after his arrival. He’s just gotten here and he’s obviously eager to get to this store.
