AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know, Ethan,” she begins, her tone serious. “I’m really glad you broke up with Lysa.”
“Yeah, you never fail to tell me that,” I say with a roll of my eyes.
“But seriously, I mean, she never seemed like a good fit for you. You deserve someone who appreciates you for who you are, not someone who cheats on you.”
“Yeah, I know that, and that’s why I broke up with her, remember?”
“I know, I know,” she nods. “Guess who’s back in town?” She’s now smiling.
“Mom,” I respond, already knowing. I saw her message last night telling me she’s back in New York. I missed her call this morning and haven’t called her back.
Let’s just say that every time my mom and I have a conversation, it always comes back to the fact that I’m yet to be married. At thirty-one, no scratch that, I just turned thirty-two, I should be married. She and Dad had already tied the knot at my age so what was I waiting for.
Amy nods eagerly, her grin widening. “Yep, Mom. And she’s inviting us over tonight.”
I don’t look forward to that because with Mom, it’s always the same routine—she starts hounding me about settling down and bringing a wife home.
“I think it’s for your birthday. She wants us to have a celebratory dinner.”
“Thanks for letting me know; I'm very excited about it,” I say with fake enthusiasm.
“Well, I should get going and let you get back to work,” Amy gets on her feet as she speaks.
“You’re going with these, right?” I point at the treats that are on my desk, and she gives me an incredulous look.
“Of course not. You should call some of your staff and have them share it among themselves.”
As she heads to the door, she pauses in her tracks and turns to look at me. “I couldn’t help noticing the new girl at the reception.”
“Who are you talking about?” I ask, even though I already have a faint idea of who she’s referring to.
“I think the name on her tag reads ‘Jessica.’”
I raise my head to look at her. “Yes, what about her?”
Amy gives me a knowing smile as she walks back into the room. “Is there something that I should know about?”
“What?”
She shakes her head, smiling. “She’s beautiful.”
An involuntary smile curls up my lips. “Yeah, Jessy is…” I pause as I immediately realize my slip.
“Hmm, Jessy, huh…” Without saying another word, Amy turns and walks out of my office, still smiling.
Blowing out a harsh breath, I reach for my phone and call one of the staff to come take the cakes and treats and share amongst themselves.
I nod to myself as I watch Amy leave, feeling a mix of gratitude for her surprise and annoyance at her probing questions. But her mention of Jessica…
I can’t deny the flutter of excitement that flares up in my chest at the thought of her. There’s something about her presence that draws me in, something I can’t quite put my finger on.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I turn my attention back to the pile of work on my desk.
Later that evening, as I pull up to the familiar house where I grew up, a wave of nostalgia washes over me.
The white picket fence, the neatly trimmed lawn, and the cheerful flowers blooming in the garden all bring back memories of a simpler time.
Taking a deep breath, I push open the door and step inside.
