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“Thanks. Paige’s idea.” He takes the whiskey the bartender hands him. “Rockwell. How’s that sister of yours?”
“Great. Kicking my ass when she sees fit but otherwise, doing well.”
“God.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “The way her mind works with numbers—I can’t keep up. When you had me interview her for your business, I was thinking you were just trying to do a family member a favor, to give your sister a job. Then she pulled out that laptop of hers.”
“She’s insatiable when it comes to investments,” I agree.
“Paige has her looking at our portfolio. We’ve got plenty for retirement, but with Claudia behind a desk, Paige thinks we could double the kids’ inheritance.” He gives me a nod. “Great job getting her involved.”
“Thank you. And thanks for being willing to give her a shot.” I glance down at my watch. “Speaking of Claudia, I’m meeting her for dinner at Café Fresca. I’d better get a move on if I’m going to be on time.”
He puts a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Tell her hello for me, will you?”
“Of course. And congratulations on this place. It’s incredible. I can practically feel the testosterone in the air.”
“That was the plan.”
I say goodbye to a few friends, making my way out the door. Fresh cool air caresses my face as I step outside, my eyes adjusting to the sunlight. The sound of feminine laughter draws my eye across the street to Daughtry’s.
I step forward, taking a closer look. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
“This can’t be happening.”
The universe has once again placed her in my path. My stomach sinks right into the soles of my black leather Prada loafers as I try to process the scene before me. I run a hand over the back of my clammy neck. “I need to move on. I have to move on.”
I stroll to the café, tightness looping a restrictive band around my chest. My life is a fog, the moment lost in a haze. I feel out of it, nauseous and confused as I walk down the sidewalk, sounds of cars and people somehow missing, a soft, high buzz filling my eardrums.
What was she doing in a wedding dress?
My sister waits for me, two glasses of red wine on the table. I greet her with a kiss on the cheek, requesting the chicken pesto pasta. The waitress smiles at me, telling me that Claudia’s already ordered it for me.
“You’ve got dark circles under your eyes,” Claudia says as I sink into my seat. “Are you sleeping at all?”
“Sleep. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
I haven’t slept in nights. I can’t sleep because I can’t stop thinking of her. I lie there, staring up at the ceiling, missing her, wishing she was in my bed, in my arms.
In my life.
God. I’m going to lose it.
Lack of sleep and one too many whiskies make my stomach roll.
“Hello?” She waves a hand in front of my face. “You need sleep. You look like shit.”
“Sleep. Got it. But that won’t make this ugly bastard any better looking.” She laughs and I say, “Sorry to break the news to you. You got all the good genes.”
“I am brilliant. Aren’t I? And you aren’t too hard on the eyes. At least that woman over there doesn’t think so.”
A woman dining in the corner, facing our table, gives me a smile. After giving a polite nod, I look away. “Not interested.”
“You’ve got to move on, Rock. You’re the one who broke up with her in the first place—which, by the way, you still haven’t told me why—and now you’re walking around like you’re the one who’s been dumped.”
“Get sleep. Move on. Smile,” I say. “Got it.”
The food comes. She jumps heartily into her meal while I end up pushing mine around the plate with the tines of my fork. I’ve got no appetite.
Is she getting married? She can’t be. It’s only been a few weeks since we broke up. She can’t have moved on this quickly, can she…
