Page 26 of I Choose You

Still are.

“And you’re supposed to be the nice one.”

10

BROOKE

The Wagner Industries partnership had been big news at work all week. Todd was thrilled, Sandra reminded everyone to pull their weight for the new and promising future, and I’d dealt with the schedule of the account. After that meeting with Kaden, I couldn’t stop thinking about him or working with him.

I woke up on Saturday and wished it wasn’t a rest day. Burning off extra energy would have helped me get over the constant thoughts that pulled me back to him. I’d made that mistake before, though. Going too hard and ignoring the need for one rest day would strain my muscles and set me back again. I was notorious for working out too hot too soon, but I knew better since the last time I’d pulled my hamstring.

At least my mind circled back to the Kaden who’d barely fit in the chair in my office. That tall blond with piercing blue eyes who’d tried his damnedest to steer the conversation to anything but the contract I’d perfected. Dwelling on the old Kaden would put me in a glum, pissy mood, and that just wouldn’t do. Not today.

It’d been a while since we’d indulged, but today was our girls’ day. Rena had texted me last night to double-check we were still on. At first, I worried she was trying to reschedule because she’d found a date. Instead, she’d bombarded me with memes about being excited and counting down time. Her emojis were equally enthusiastic. She couldn’t wait to tell me something big.

A promotion? She’d received one a few months ago.

A sale at that artisan jeweler site she liked? But she’d recently decided to downsize her collection. It wasn’t hoarding, according to her, if the items being collected were so small to begin with. But come on. How many pairs of funky earrings did she need?

I didn’t know what she was so excited about, but I looked forward to it. Rena had a stubbornly bubbly personality. It was impossible to stay down or confused in her company. She would distract me from thinking about Kaden or work. Plus, it’d been too long since we’d made a day of it.

Lunch, pedi, movie, then ice cream.

At the Mexican bistro we’d chosen because their tacos were heaven, she practically wiggled in her seat.

“How in the hell are you here before me?” I grinned as I slid into the booth.

“Guess what?”

“I have been! All night I tried to guess. Ever since your text. You win the lottery or something?”

She beamed, turning her phone around on the laminate tabletop to show me the screen.

Images of beaches and gorgeous architecture slid as I swiped. Contiki Tour, one flashy caption read.

I gaped at her. “You didn’t!”

“I so did.” Her smile pulled so tight I thought she’d combust. Booking one of these vacations had been on her bucket list since I met her. Traveling to Spain, Greece, and Portugal was her dream, and here she was going for it.

“Wow!” I raised my brows as I skimmed the images again. All that warm sand, the vendor marts, the cuisine, beautiful hotel suites. “I’m shocked.”

She giggled. “Really? I’ve always wanted to do this.”

“No, no. I know.” I shrugged, still smiling. “You just booked it?”

“Why not, though?”

“You’re going alone?” I glanced up from looking at the images.

“You wanna come?”

I snorted. She’d asked it almost as a dare. A joke. “Well, I mean, yeah, I’d love to, but I can’t.”

Rena’s sigh was expected. “Uh huh.”

“Hey. You can book something spontaneous for yourself all you want.” Or maybe it’s not that impulsive if she’s wanted to do it for so long. “But I’ve got commitments.”

“Such as?”