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“Yes, thank you.” Mason and I both take one. “Tell me what you think of this champagne. It’s no Veuve or Moet. It’s from a completely new vineyard.”
Mason raises an eyebrow. “Okay, Mr. Vendor.”
“It’s very good,” the waiter adds with a grin.
I give her a smile. “You’re selling it, thanks.”
She flushes and begins to step away.
Before she does, I down my glass of champagne and grab another one. “It’s a celebration, right?”
She blushes even harder if that were possible before heading over to the next group of people who have their glasses almost empty.
“She’s…” Mason trails off. His expression is dower.
I can fill in the blank. She’s cute.
Yeah, she is. But she’s not Laney.
“You want her?” I tease.
Mason shakes his head. “I’m good. Swearing off women for a while.”
“Good call.”
We both take a sip of champagne.
“Mm. Good.Dry,” Mason says.
“I tried it while I was in France. You know, making the usual rounds, got wind of this new place–”
“Fuck, you’ve been busy,” he interrupts.
I nod. “Had to be.” It’s the only thing that keeps my mind off Laney.
And the truth is it’s never fully off her. Every trip I’ve taken over the past two months, I think about her being with me. Seeing the world with me. Making memories. Kissing at the Eiffel tower.
I’m such a sap.
“I get that.” Mason gives me a sad smile. “Proud of you, though.”
“Thanks…how’ve you been? Busy?”
He rolls his eyes. “Same old soulless office buildings and condos.”
I shake my head. “You’ve got to get your own firm going.”
Mason shrugs. “Maybe. That’s a lot of work.”
I elbow him. “You can do it.”
“Thanks, man.”
We’re talking about everything but what we want to be talking about. I can feel it.
Laney is at the fringe of every word. Every breath.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath. “Look, I’ve been…struggling.”
