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I frowned. “You think I’m jealous?”
Austin gulped what was left of his beer. “What else am I to think? You never come around. I invited you to my wedding, and you haven’t said a word about it.”
I looked at the mixed salad on my plate. “I need a fresh start. I need to do it in a new city.”
“You hate the cold. New York isn’t for you.”
I leaned back against my chair. “I got used to it.”
“I’ll never see you.”
“You’ll visit Edith, and I always see her.”
“I come out to Manhattan twice a year. I won’t see you that much.”
“The deal is done. I move next week. I need to find an apartment. Charge is paying my moving expenses.”
“And your house?”
“I’ll put it up for sale as soon as I move. It’s worth more now than when I bought it.”
He put his hand over mine and squeezed. “I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
I pulled my hand from his. “You won’t have time for me soon. Eventually, you’ll be married and thinking about kids. The semester will start in another couple of months.”
“I would always make time for you.”
“We’ll see each other, I promise.”
Austin shook his head. “Somehow I doubt that’s true.”
“When you come out, you can introduce me to Kat and Gavin.”
“I could. I might be out with Jessie in August before school starts.”
“I’m happy for you, Austin. I’m glad things are going well.”
We chatted over our meal, which I barely touched, and he hugged me hard, planting a soft kiss on my cheek before we parted. I watched him walk away and wished I’d told him the secret I was harboring. It didn’t matter, just like me, he would never meet little almond.
I went home to continue packing. The movers would be here in three days, and I still had so much to do. Spotlight was interviewing my replacements, but for the time being, the president of the company, George Clint, would be filling in as interim CEO. The last thing I needed to do was clean out my office, which would be easy since I had very few personal items.
Marina handed me a box for my personal effects when I came arrived the next day.
“Do you need me to help you pack?”
I chuckled. “I have very little to take. Most of my office is company business. If I fill up part of this box, it will be a surprise.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
I stared at her. “Marina, you don’t have to lie. I know I’m not the easiest person to deal with. I appreciate all your help.”
“You’re not as bad as you think.”
“Now I know that’s a lie. You put up with a lot of my shit. Why did you stay?”
“Because even though you could be gruff, you were always fair.”
“I hope the next CEO won’t be as harsh. I want to apologize for my bad moods. You were a trooper.”
