“That may be true, but you have criminal law classes dog-eared.” She pointed to the open course guide in front of her.
“I’m just weighing my options.” I gathered the brochures and admission packets from various colleges and universities and stuffed them into a nearby drawer.
“And how are you going to pay for tuition?”
I bounced a lazy shoulder. “Loans, a part-time job.”
Anika’s face lit up. “You could ask Aldridge.”
“Aldridge, my client?”
“Aldridge, your ex who’s still in love with you.”
I sipped from my coffee mug, convinced my sister was being paid under the table by the Aldridge fandom to push this agenda. “As many times as you say that it’s never going to make it true. We’ve both moved on.”
“He’s single, you’re single.”
“The doorman is also single. Should I try for a love connection there too?”
“Not the same. Nessa, don’t make me call you out.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Just because you moved on doesn’t mean you’re over the past. Have you dated? Sure. Has anyone compared to Aldridge? No.”
Anika was acting like I’d been stuck in purgatory since the breakup. I had a robust dating life. There was an adjustmentperiod, but I’d successfully moved beyond my college sweetheart. “I was engaged to Marcus. Remember him?”
“I remember you getting cold feet and calling it all off three months before the wedding day.” She picked a seed from her teeth.
I didn’t really have a comeback for that. Marcus held a special place in my heart, but marriage was a big commitment. It made sense on paper, he was a restaurateur with a string of successful properties in Vegas, California, and Portland. Jemini loved him, mostly because of his portfolio and proximity to the rich and famous. We were damn near a perfect match. Despite all that, I could never shake this nagging sense something was missing.
“And do you remember what you said to me the night before the shit hit the fan?”
Swallowing hard, I fessed up. “I said I wished Marcus were someone else.”
“Not someone else, Aldridge.”
“To be fair I was hormonal, tipsy, and an emotional wreck.”
“Excuses, excuses.”
Anika was trying to use my statement a few years ago as a gotcha moment. Did I miss what Aldridge and I had? Of course. I’ve been fortunate than most. I’d dated several men who were emotionally intelligent, self-sufficient, and good in bed. However, it was difficult to find a connection like I’d had with Aldridge. He just got me from day one. We could communicate through silence. And when we did speak even the ordinary chitchat had a way of making me feel safe and seen. I could be my authentic self with Aldridge, something I couldn’t do with Marcus. The thought of donning a mask for the rest of my life was exhausting.
“Look, can we talk about something else?”
“Okay.” Anika wasted no time redirecting our conversation. “Let’s go on a double date.”
“With who?”
“Dante, me, you, and one of Dante’s homeboys.”
“Ugh, no that sounds like a horrible idea.”
“What? Dante knows tons of eligible bachelors with deep pockets.”
“You and I don’t have the same taste in men.”
“I know what you like. I’ll make sure he ticks off all your requirements. Strait-laced, handsome but not pretty, tall?—”
