Enzo
Thank God. But you act like Sully doesn’t give us all a play-by-play of every thought in his mind.
Sully
Hey, there are no secrets between us.
Sly
Vinnie hasn’t felt well since returning from lunch so I would like to stay close, but I will go wherever you need me to locally.
Nixon
I’ll help, too. Just tell me what you need and from where.
Sully
Adventure time. I’ll fuel up the jet. Tell me where I’m heading.
I appreciate it. Time is limited, so I’m grateful for the extra help. Let me make a list of items and locations and I’ll send it shortly.
Enzo
Fine. I’ll help too, Paladino.
Thanks.
Keep your phones on you. I’ll circle back in twenty.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Idrum my fingernails against the side of my thigh, the soft cashmere from my dress doing little to soothe my nerves as I wait patiently for the elevator to lead me up to the fourteenth floor.
I’m not sure what possessed me to apply for jobs this week, but I was shocked to receive an immediate request to interview at Avery Marx, an up-and-coming design firm located in the heart of Manhattan. I never thought I’d hear back from them considering my only experience is as an intern, and the position is for an associate designer, so, needless to say, I was surprised when they called.
Although I’m going into this with no expectations, I could really use a win this week.
Luciano’s called a couple of times, but I haven’t answered them purely out of spite. He needed time, and now I need time, too.
The more days that passed without contact between us, the more I realized how upsetting his behavior truly was…is.
When I think about my ideal partner, trust is at the top of the list. Without trust, a relationship hasnothing, and if thissituation has shown me anything, it’s that Luciano doesn’t fully trust me.
For whatever reason, there’s doubt in his mind about who I am as a person, or at least that’s how it seems.
But as much as I want to be angry with him and keep him at arm's length, every piece of my soul craves to be near him. I’m mad, but unfortunately, my heart hasn’t gotten that memo and has already forgiven him. Not a single ounce of my love for him has faded, and I’m not sure it ever could. I know in my heart if he simply muttered the wordsI’m sorry, I’d fold like a lawn chair.
Still, he’s made me wait for any attempt to communicate with him. It’s taken him over a week and a half to contact me. He can wait a few more days forme.
As the elevator door opens, a young woman sitting behind a reception desk glances up at me from her computer. She has a short and drastic bob and is wearing wire-frame glasses that are too large for her features. For whatever reason, though, it works for her.
I step forward and smile. “Hi. Raina Lancaster here to see Avery Marx.”
“I’ll let her know you’re here. Feel free to have a seat.” She gestures to the white plush chairs near the corner of the room.
“Thank you.” When I sink into the soft cushion of the chair closest to the wall, I cross my legs and I tug on the edge of my boot to pull it further up my calf. My heart gallops in my chest, so I try to calm my breathing and reassure myself that whichever way this goes, things will be fine. Applying for jobs was an impulse, anyway. An endorphin rush I was chasing in an attempt to make my heart hurt less.
“Raina?” An incredibly tall woman calls out to me less than five minutes later. She steps through an open office door across from where the reception desk sits, and as she gets closer, she extends her hand. “I’m Avery. Nice to meet you.”
