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“I would never dream of ruining your fun, Aunt Gia. You may have any kind of event you like so long as it happens in a week. I have to go now. Harlow’s hot chocolate is getting cold.”
I hang up so I don’t have to hear the cries that my timeline is inhumane. Also, the drink is getting cold. I carry the mug into the living room and present it as if I just created the finest dessert ever baked. “From scratch,” I say proudly.
“I have hot cocoa mix in the cupboard,” Harlow tells me as she accepts my offering.
“What is the fun in that? This is Nelson’s recipe, by the way, so you’ll have to lie to him if you don’t like it.”
“I like it,” she says, taking a sip.
“I made it so I’m going to accept that as a compliment for me.” I reach over my shoulder and pat myself on the back.
That earns me a small smile.
“Now tell your husband-to-be all about your troubles so we can fix them and plan our wedding.”
She sets down the cup. I feel like that’s a bad sign.
“We should give this up.”
“I don’t like where this is going.” I pick the mug back up. Our conversation seemed better when she was drinking the hot chocolate.
“I hired you for the week because I thought this would be over in a week, and it is, but not in the way I expected. I got fired because Mavis believes Stacy, so me requesting the CCTV was outrageous. Then I got a video of Mindy with some random guy except he wasn’t random. It was Rick, the man I was supposed to meet the day you sat down at my table, so she knows that it’s all a lie.”
This explains Gertie’s cold response at the door, too. She probably thinks I’m trying to take over the entire property, which wasn’t exactly wrong. Harlow wanted to keep her home, and I want what Harlow wants.
“Mavis is a shit boss.” I push the mug into Harlow’s hands. “Your company is one that I looked at acquiring, but it’s a personnel mess. I’m not saying you should be happy you got fired because that’s a shitty feeling, but you shouldn’t use that as a measure of your skill or abilities when your boss is a shit boss. As for your home, you’re going to have it.”
“How?”
She’s still holding the mug. Why I’m fixated on that, I’m not sure. “Because we’re meant to be. I would never have gone to that restaurant, but Aunt Gia saw on social media these special soufflé pancakes they make and had to have a plate. I saw you and knew that you were the one for me. Things are just meant to be.” I shrug and nudge the mug closer to her mouth.
She presses her lips to the side but doesn’t take a sip—yet.
“I can buy into insta-attraction, but marrying me? Seems extreme. There have to be better fish out there. Ones with jobs and a good family. No extra baggage.”
“I doubt it. Everyone has baggage. It’s the extra stuff that makes you interesting. Drink up. The hot chocolate is getting cold.” She takes a small drink. I view that as a win. We’re getting married. End of story. “Monday I’ll get the marriage license.”
“You’d think I was pregnant and my dad was standing on the other side of you with a shotgun.”
“Instead, I’m the one forcing you to the altar. It’ll be a fun story to tell our children. Now that we’ve solved that problem, what do you want to do about Mavis? I can buy the company and you can fire everyone. We can get lawyers to sue for the CCTV footage and then sue for wrongful termination.”
“Walk away.” She sits up and places the mug on the coffee table. “I want to walk away. From everything. I’m going to sell the apartment and use the money to set up my own ad agency. That solves all of my problems. I don’t have to worry about being fired. I don’t have to convince Gertie I’m worthy enough to live here, and we do not have to get married.” She gives me a smile like this is going to make me happy.
“These seem like hasty decisions. And this apartment, you love this place.”
“I love my grandmother, and I tied her to this place, but that’s wrong. She lives here.” Harlow pats her chest. “Not here.” She taps the coffee table. “Whew. I feel like a fifty-pound weight has lifted off my chest. You must feel good too.” She climbs off the sofa and heads toward the bedroom. “I’m going to change and then eat some leftovers. We still have leftovers, right?”
I reach over and pick up the mug. The hot chocolate is ice cold.
Chapter Seventeen
HARLOW
In the bedroom, my fingers shake as I try to unzip the beautiful dress. I don’t know what Cal will do with it. It’s probably not something he can return, but it’s not mine. I can’t keep it. I can’t keep him. I don’t know why he’s so insistent on marrying me. I’m guessing it’s because he made the deal in the heat of the moment and is honorable enough to see it through. Getting rid of Grandma’s apartment is gut-wrenching, but I wasn’t lying when I said that a weight had been lifted. It’s an anchor, a beautiful one, but it’s holding me down. Everything can be solved by selling it. I’ll still have all her stuff. I can find something for a quarter of the cost or even less if I move outside the city.
As for Cal, I don’t regret the time I spent with him either. Having him love me for even a moment is a gift. He made my first time amazing. He made me feel beautiful and desirable, and when I look back at this moment in my life, it will only be with happiness and gratitude. I brush the tears from my face. I don’t know why I’m crying. These are probably tears of relief, not crushing sadness at the lonely life that stretches in front of me without Cal. Why won’t this zipper come loose?
The door slams open. I spin around to see Cal undoing his belt buckle. He pushes me forward until I’m bent over the bed. The sound of metal clinking against metal sends a shiver down my spine.
