Page 12 of Cold Mercy

“I brought your early wedding present.”

“What is this?” he asks.

“Your wedding gift,” I say, looking at James, then shifting my gaze to Elizabeth. “For both of you.”

“Sophia, no,” Elizabeth shakes her head frantically, moving to push the keys back toward me. “We can’t take this. It’s too much. It’s... it’s Noah’s car. We can’t.”

“It was,” I correct, my voice steady, though my pulse spikes at the name. “Now it’s a car sitting in a garage gathering dust. It’s metal and glass, Elizabeth. It doesn't have a soul. I want you two to have it.”

“Soph, are you sure?” James asks, his voice quiet. “This isn’t just a car.”

“I don’t need the memory parked in my garage,” I say, softer this time. “I need it gone. Take it and drive it like you stole it.”

James looks at Elizabeth, then back at me, eyes shining. He picks up the keys reverently.

“You’re insane,” he whispers. “Thank you. Seriously, thank you.”

Elizabeth swats his arm, but she’s smiling. She’s emotional in a soft way. Not dramatic, just touched. Behind them, Thomas whistles under his breath.

“So that’s what being your friend gets you? A free Porsche? Should I start taking notes?”

I look straight at him.

“Start working instead of writing fake IT tickets, and maybe you can buy your own.”

Elizabeth makes a distressed sound.

“Okay! Let’s not fight before noon.”

James laughs.

“No, no, let them. This is great entertainment.”

I ignore them and take out a folder.

“I brought options. Photographers, florists, DJs, planners. The best ones.”

Elizabeth sits beside James, and they go through everything together, whispering and pointing like kids. When they’re done, Elizabeth looks up at me.

“We picked,” she says. “But I bet everything in here is too expensive.”

“I didn’t ask about the budget,” I remind her. “Just what you liked.”

She hesitates but then shows me the list. I step aside, call the vendors, and book them. While I talk, I can feel Thomas watching me from across the room. Not in a flirtatious way, just focused, like he’s trying to scan me. I finish the last call and return to them.

“All done,” I announce, dropping the phone into my back pocket. “The photographer has a cancellation in thirty minutes. It’s the only slot he has left before next month, so we have to go now to secure the date.”

Elizabeth freezes, looking up from the folder with panic in her eyes.

“Wait, today? Now?”

“Yes, now,” I say. “It’s just a formality to lock him in and pick the package.”

“I can’t!” She throws her hands up, pushing her hair back frantically. “My mom’s flight lands at twelve. I have to pick her up, or she’ll guilt-trip me until the golden anniversary.”

I look at James, hoping for a solution.

He winces, pointing at his watch. “Conference call with the investors. I can't move it, Soph.”