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“That’s sweet.” Laney beams with a honey-sweet smile.
My heart thunks in my chest. “Right, well, when things…changed,” a polite way to say their relationship came crashing down in a spectacular fashion, “it was too late to cancel most of the plans, so we made it a guys’ weekend.”
She laughs, her head tipping back. “I can just imagine you guys feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries.”
I snicker too. “It was a bit like that.” Except more food fights than romantic feedings.
“Did you guys have fun?”
That weekend does hold a lot of good memories. But the one that sticks out breaks my heart to this day. “We did. Until the classical violinist I’d flown in from Munich arrived with express instructions to play romantic music for you guys to dance to.”
Laney frowns. “Oh…”
Mason totally lost it at that. But we salvaged it. “Don’t feel bad. She ended up being the soundtrack to our drinking game around the fire.”
“That’s so classic.”
“Anyway, we don’t have to go there.” I give a nervous laugh. “I just thought–”
“We shouldn’t rush things. You never know, sometimes regression happens and–”
My father’s voice infiltrates the conversation. “I think it’s a great idea.”
Laney and I both turn to find my dad a few feet away, whisky in hand, a sentimental smileon his face.
“Thanks for the privacy, Dad,” I roll my eyes.
He chuckles. “Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear.”
I don’t think Laney and I were being that loud but given how everything shook out at the end of dinner, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was trying to listen in for clues about what’s going on between us. Or what isn’t.
“Two weeks should be enough to really unwind. I know it’s a lot to ask of you, Laney, but I’ll pay you double.”
My insides twist.
I’m trying to make itnotabout money. I want it to be about us.
If Laney goes of her own volition, then that means something. But with Dad offering her a small fortune to take me on a fucking vacation, I don’t know shit.
“Really, Edwin, you don’t have to–” Laney begins.
“I insist. I think it will be good for Nate’s morale to get out of the city for a bit. I know New York is a far cry from California, but–”
“Dad…”You’re embarrassing me.
“But if you wait for the weather to warm up just a bit, it could be really pleasant for you.”
Laney and I exchange a look. “Only if you want to.” I soften my voice. “Seriously.”
“Will you use the crutches?” She gets on a sneaking smirk.
I grin. “If that means you’ll go, I’ll do whatever you want.” And I mean it.Whatever.
“Then deal.”
Though I had been dreading this birthday, my thirtieth, spent living at my father’s penthouse recovering from a spinal cord injury, single and, at the moment, jobless, I fall asleep with a smile on my lips.
Not only am I going to get two weeks with Laney all to myself, but until then, she’s not going anywhere.
