Page 27 of I Choose You

“Work.” And just like that, the image of Kaden smiling at my lame slip of the tongue filled my mind. I cannot believe I teased him about masturbating too much. I resisted slapping my forehead.

“It’s always work with you.”

I handed her the phone and grabbed a menu. “Yeah. I’m a workaholic. I know.”

“I was watching that one girl on TikTok. Something she said just got to me.”

I arched a brow.

“Burn the fancy candles. Wear the expensive shoes.”

“Go on that dream vacation,” I finished for her, nodding. That philosophy could apply in some cases. “I hear you. But seriously, work is going to be intense for a while.”

“Oooh. You got that client, then? The guy you knew in high school?”

I nodded, but I wasn’t eager to talk about him yet. Rena’s trip was big news. As the expert patient listener she was, she’d drag out a conversation about Kaden until she felt she’d subbed as a therapist. “I’m excited for you. Really, I am.”

She pointed at me and narrowed her eyes. “Objection! Changing the topic.”

“This isn’t a courtroom.” Is that even a legal thing they can shout? “I am.”

“Changing the subject?”

“No. Yes. But the trip. This is huge. It’ll be awesome.”

Her inhale had a full-body effect, her shoulders rising and lips smiling. “It will be.”

Envy hit me, just a little. She looked so damn radiant and happy. “I’m proud of you, too. You’re not waiting for someone to go with you.”

She shook her head, browsing the menu. “Burn the fancy candles. Why wait for anything?”

I envied her attitude, wishing it could come so easily to me, too. Heading out on a vacation sounded like a luxury with my work schedule, but I refused to be jealous.

After we ordered, she shared more details with me about the trip. Her excitement only grew, but she was like a dog after a bone. Once our food arrived and we dug in, she reminded me. “Now, you. Your new client. Did the deal go through? I’ve been wondering.”

My news about the Wagner deal didn’t thrill her like her announcement of the vacation did to me. She paid sharp attention, though. I filled her in on the meeting yesterday. As I’d expected, she cried laughing at my dumb joke.

“It wasn’t a joke,” I argued.

“Of all things to say.” She wiped her eyes. “At least he was a good sport about it.”

I rolled my eyes then shrugged.

“I Googled him after you mentioned him that day. He doesn’t look like the kind of man who’d need to take care of himself.”

I shot her a stern look and frowned. I wasn’t commenting on how sexy Kaden was. He’d been cute in high school but was devasting as a man. “But the way he asked me to get a drink?” I shrugged.

“I thought you said he asked you to dinner.”

“Same thing.”

“Maybe you should go.”

My drink was empty, and I wished for something else to distract myself with. Anything but considering what she said. “How is that the first conclusion you come to?”

Rena held her hands up in a why not gesture. “Just see what he’s looking for. Why should you stay in limbo over it?”

You’ve got to stop taking TikTok videos to heart. They’re not philosophers.