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“No, you’re not. There are no strings attached, Marissa. You would attend the awards as my guest—my platonic guest.”
She seemed tempted by the offer but then shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I really can’t.”
He couldn’t give up. He wanted more than a few minutes on the phone during their debriefing sessions. An entire weekend with Marissa would be fantastic.
“The trip would be strictly business, and you could visit the Beverly Hills office while you’re there. I’ll be busy visiting my restaurants, and in the evening we can attend the awards ceremony. It’s up to you, but I think you should accept my offer. Tell you what, think about it and get back to me later.”
“You don’t like taking no for an answer, do you?”
“I do find it difficult when there’s something I want, and I want you to come with me.”
“I’ll give the invitation some thought,” she hedged.
“Progress.” He leaned toward her. “I hope you come. If you do, I promise you won’t regret it.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Marissa had no business being in Home Goods, but this was her favorite store. She could lose her entire paycheck here if she wasn’t careful. She always spent more than she intended and almost always grabbed one of the trinkets lining the shelves on the way to the registers, whether chips or a mug with a cute saying or another candle she didn’t need.
Mainly, though, she liked buying items for her future house. The closet in the living room was stuffed with bags and boxes of items she’d purchased over the years in preparation to decorate the home she’d buy later this year.
“What do you think of this?” Lark held up a silver platter.
“Nice, but I could almost swear you already have one of those,” Marissa said.
“I do, but mine is smaller.” She placed the dish back on the shelf. “I don’t know why I’m shopping. You’re the one who’s looking for stuff. You’re such a bad influence.”
Marissa laughed. “Me? You’re the one who wanted to hang out today. I only suggested we stop here before we get something to eat.”
“Mhmm. Like I said, a bad influence.”
Marissa peered into her basket, which contained a frying pan that could go from the stovetop to the oven, a comforter set, and new curtains for the windows in her bedroom. “I should buy something for Theo.”
“Like what?” Lark asked absentmindedly, turning over a white casserole dish in her hand.
“I don’t know.”
Her friend glanced at her. “We’re at Home Goods, not Walmart. Your son doesn’t need anything from here. You can’t replace his bed sheets, because if they’re not Spiderman, he won’t be happy.”
“You’re right, and I can hear him now. ‘But Mommy, that’s not Spiderman.’ That’s all that matters in his world.” Laughing, she shook her head and steered the cart toward the checkout.
She got in line behind a man clutching three decorative pillows.
“Guess what?” Lark whispered.
“What?”
“I met someone.”
Marissa slapped her friend’s arm. “Have you been holding out on me?”
Lark laughed. “Not really. We weren’t serious at first, but I’m starting to really like this guy. I guess I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to jinx the relationship.”
“How long have you been seeing him?” Marissa asked.
“Three weeks now, and he wants us to take a weekend trip together, to Mobile for a little fun at the beach.”
“Are you going?”
