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“I’m...” Good? Confused? Freaking out about what she was supposed to be doing with her life? “Doing well, thanks,” Lydia said after a beat, pleased to note that some of her nerves had vanished upon realizing that Angela remembered her. “The reason for my call... Well, I guess I’m calling...” Lydia trailed off.
“To talk about what we do here at Coleman and Associates?”
“Yes. Exactly that.” Lydia let out a relieved breath.
“Good. I was hoping you would.”
“You were?”
“I have a feeling we might share a creative vision. Now, before I tell you about our mission statement and our team, are you familiar with the Bosco Verticale buildings in Milan?”
Lydia’s interest immediately piqued. Bosco Verticale literally translated intovertical forest. She’d studied those skyscrapers in school, the building facades covered in over two thousand tree species. “You’re talking about metropolitan reforestation,” she said.
“Exactly. Now imagine that in Manhattan, and I think you’re really going to like what we have planned.”
Lydia sat back in her chair, engrossed, excitement bubbling free the longer they talked. She had the same feeling she’d gotten when Luke had taken her back to the youth center and showed her around. This was the passion she’d been missing in her career lately, the enthusiasm, and as Angela continued to talk, Lydia realized that maybe this was what she’d been looking for.
A place that valued sustainability, where leaders weren’t going to hold her back for the sake of their own careers. A place that believed in her, that wanted to watch her soar. A work environment that treated her the way Luke always had.
Twenty-Five
Luke
Trekking into Fitness Forum early on a Sunday morning was usually a quiet affair, but he’d walked onto the subway to find it crawling with runners and supporters carrying giant, handwritten neon signs. It was the first Sunday of November—marathon day. Part of him had thought about turning around and marching straight back to bed until all the chaos died down, but he had training plans to go over and clients to call, and he’d already wallowed enough. Avoiding the city today because it reminded him of Lydia was ridiculous and would do absolutely nothing to help him get over the hollow feeling in his chest. He had to start moving on. He could handle a little marathon madness.
He threw the gym door open, nodding to Dara at the front desk.
“Wow,” Dara said. “You look rough.”
“Do you ever say anything nice?” Luke muttered.
“I try not to make a habit of it.”
“What are you doing here?” Jules called, coming down the hall toward them. “I thought it was race day.”
Dara chimed in from behind the desk. “Oh, yeah, aren’t you supposed to be at the marathon with Lydia?”
A bead of guilt caught in his gut. He’d promised to get her across that finish line, but in the end, neither of them were going to be there. “Change of plans. She decided not to run.”
“What?” Jules asked. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure that’s what yelling ‘I quit’ and storming off means.” Luke avoided looking at Jules. Could she see right through him? Part of him wanted to turn and run the way he had the night he saw Lydia with Jack.
Jules still wore a look of confusion. “I thought I saw her here last night, outside your office.”
That was odd. “You’re sure it was her?”
“I thought maybe you’d told her to pick something up for the marathon. But if it wasn’t for the race...” She trailed off.
Luke immediately headed down the hall. His office door was already open. He flipped on the lights, finding it empty inside, but there was a folder on his desk, addressed to him. He crossed the room and put his bag down on a chair, picking up the folder.
He flipped it open, confused at first by the stack of colored sketches. He twisted the folder, reading off the tiny descriptors until he recognized the layout of the warehouse. This washisgym. A note fell out of the pile of paperwork. He caught it. Opened it. It was filled with Lydia’s loopy handwriting.Luke, it read.
I’m sorry about the way things ended between us.
I never meant to hurt you. When you confessed how you felt, I panicked. I wasn’t ready to admit to my feelings. That I liked you too. More than I should have. More than a trainer or a friend. And I’m sorry I let you think that your feelings were one-sided.
His heart thundered as he stopped reading. Did this say what he thought it said? Had Lydia just admitted that this was real between them? He found his place in the note again.
