NOW
The hotel refurbishmentswere slowly but surely moving along. Restoring the original trim to look new and modernized. Working with the contractor to make sure the installations for new carpeting, drapes, and countertops were completed on time. Getting my hands a little dirty with minor paint duty and some maintenance cleaning. Finalizing the last of the furniture orders with Roberta. I’ve been keeping myself busy, making sure to be present during the more important renovations. It’s more than I usually do. Normally, I’d let the construction teams check in with the design-build contractor and I drop in on an as-needed basis, but this project feels different. I want to be there. To make sure things run smoothly. To make sure I’m available if anyone needs me.
There’s also this niggling, poking thought in my head. Maybe I’ll run into Everett. Maybe I’ll see him in passing. Ever since our trip to LA, I’ve been more and more curious about his life. What he talks to his therapist about. If it has anything to do with us, what happened and what drew us apart. If he’s okay. A small fraction of the persistent worry that’s been consuming me thinks maybe he’s not okay. Maybe even after all that time he’s spent in therapy, he’s still not who he used to be.
I’m overlooking the new curtain and drapery installation in the grand ballroom, making sure the layers are arranged correctly, when my phone buzzes in my hand.
“Hey, Mina,” I say, answering the phone with a smile.
“Vegas, baby!” A loud hoot follows, and I pull the phone away from my ear. “Are you excited?”
“Yes, Mina. Baking in 112-degree heat at Encore, stewing in a pool at a day club with a hundred drunk people, and the DJ playing loud ass house music is my ideal weekend. And let’s not forget those thirty-dollar drinks I could be mixing together at home for free.” I release an exasperated sigh, regretting this weekend already.
“Come on, Teen! Be excited! It’s my last night of debauchery as a single woman.”
“So why is your future husband joining us?”
“To ward off all the weird men, duh. Anyway,” she adds. “They’re going to do some gambling while we do some shopping.”
“Now that I’m excited for.”
“What time’s your flight tomorrow?”
“Noon,” I tell her. “I just have to come back to the hotel and check in on a few things before I head to the airport. What about you guys?”
“We’re driving.”
My face twists into a disgusted grimace. “Ugh, on a Friday? Have fun sitting in six hours of traffic.”
“That’s why Josh is driving, and I’ll have plenty of snacks.” A loud boom interrupts us, and I turn to see one of the workers add to the pile of rubbish full of dusty fabric and rusty metal rods. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the…uh, the hotel. The one I’m?—”
“Oh, you mean Everett’s hotel?”
“Yep. That’s the one.”
“So, um,” she says in a low whisper. “Josh told me about Everett. You and him.”
“What did he say?”
“That you two were…” She sighs before adding, “In love.” She says it like she’s talking about a fairy tale. Some far-off happily ever after Everett and I got to live out where we parted ways amicably, and we remained fond of each other and the memory of us.
“It’s so much more complicated than that. You have no idea.”
“Well, he told me you two were disgustingly cute. And he thought you two would end up together until you met Leo, and?—”
“Mina,” I interrupt, begging her to stop. “Me and Everett?—”
“Me and you, what?”
My heart shooting up into my throat has me gasping for air. I grip my hand against my stomach, hoping that too won’t jump out of my body with the sudden appearance of Everett. It’s almost like he has some Spidey sense, and they started tingling as soon as his name was spoken into the air. “Everett!” I shriek, turning around only to come face-to-face with his amused smile.
“Everett’s there?” I hear through the phone.
“Uh, um. I’ll talk to you later, Mina.”
“Okay, call me,” she instructs.
