She looked at me intently with an expression somewhere between a smirk and a grin. “Sounds like that might be something you’re open to. Hadn’t ever heard you say that before. I was obviously occupied those four days you were here for my wedding, so I must’ve missed it.”
“I may have fallen atinybit for the place.” My eyes met hers, and her smile widened.
“Really? Don’t tease me now, woman, and get my hopes up. Is that a real possibility? Could you really leave Italy?” she asked expectantly.
Setting my fork down, I said, “Maybe. I just know that I’m tired of working for other people, especially the likes of Mr. Lamont.” Just saying his name made us both grimace. “Tired of watching him take credit for my hard work.”
“Yeah, I mean, Elena is a wonderful mentor, but I get so excited talking to Miles about owning something of our own, you and me. And he’s so on board. His tech company is prospering, so we’re both storing away a nest egg for the baby and MJ, and for our one-of-these-days business.”
“Vicky, that’s amazing. Miles really is a real-life prince.”
“Yeah, he is. He calls me ‘Little Fairy,’ but he is the one who makes our lives a fairytale. He’s so supportive, so giving.” She got a mischievous look on her face. “I tease him about being eight years older and needing to put away for his impending retirement.”
We both laughed at that. “I’m sure helovesthat.”
“You know I haven’t stopped praying for you to find your prince, too. Having a man who will walk beside you through this crazy life is such a beautiful thing. I love my independence, but having Miles there to hold when things get tough is a blessing.” She lowered her eyes and squeezed my hand again. “Sorry, didn’t mean to flaunt my happiness. But I do believe you will find this too. You try to act tough, but you want this. Deep down, you want romance. Don’t think I’ve forgotten your secret list on Netflix.”
I scoffed, but didn’t answer right away. I used to date often, but none of them ever became serious. After the firm was sold, I spent all my free time working harder than everyone else to keep my position there. Besides, as much as I wanted to be swept offmy feet some day, I knew marriage wasn’t for me. Not after what I’d witnessed growing up.
We let silence pass between us as we went back to eating. A few minutes later, when our meal finished and the plates were cleared off, I said, “You know how I was raised, though. I don’t know what that kind of loving marriage even looks like. Besides, no man would want to deal with my headstrong independence. Plus I’m not even looking.”
The words stung even though they were true. I wanted to admit how much I dreamed of having what my best friend had, but my stubborn heart kept that from the world. Less chance of yearning for something I’d never have. Vicky could already see too much that I was trying to hide. Saying it out loud would make it that much harder to accept that it wasn’t going to happen.
“I know your parents had a strange relationship, amor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have something different.”
Shaking my head, I gave her a sad smile, then looked down at my lap.
“So…Mike,” she said gently, making me pop my head up.
“What about him?” I asked suspiciously.
“Have you worked out what you’re going to do about this crazy idea of his?” she asked, drinking the last of her water.
“No, I haven’t spoken to him yet today. Told him to think about it for a few days and text me. You think it’s a bad idea?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know his grandmother as well as Leyla and Niko do, but it’s a risk he’s taking. She’s going to fall in love with you and then be disappointed when you ‘break up.’ That’s my fear.”
I pushed my empty espresso cup away and nodded. “I mentioned something similar. He knows her, and what she can handle, so I’m leaving it to him.”
“What will the fake dates involve?” she asked, her smile growing.
“Stop it right now. There wouldn’t even be a date.” I squinted my eyes, giving her my strongest ‘don’t even dare’ look.
“Ask Niko and Leyla when you meet them about how fake dating went for them,” she said as she laughed.
“Listen, woman, I’m just going to meet his grandmother a few times. Then he can tell her we didn’t want to do long distance. He seems to think it will appease her for a little while.”
Vicky’s eyebrows raised. “I’ve met her, and Rose is no dummy. She’s still sharp. Her mind and her tongue. He’s underestimating her. I predict she’s going to fall head over heels in love with you, and you’re going to end up with a boyfriend for the whole month you’re here.”
I tossed my napkin at her, which she caught deftly. “Not going to happen, little miss matchmaker. I came to San Diego to rest, pray for direction, and hang out with you as much as your husband will allow. Nothing more. And just so we’re clear, I did tell Mike that maybe this little experiment would make him want to start looking for a wife for real.”
Why those words made my stomach clench again, I wasn’t sure. Realizing I hadn’t schooled my contemplative expression, I looked up and was met with the most mischievous eyes ever. “What?”
She held her hands up, palms facing me as if giving up. “Nothing. Just that it was evident to anyone sitting on that beach the day I video called you that Mike was enamored with you.”
Feigning ignorance, I asked, “What do you mean?” I wiggled in my chair and leaned forward slightly since the table next to us had become loud.
“Just that he babbled like an excited kid who’d just seen Disneyland for the first time. He might’ve asked me questions about you back then, and when I asked him about going to pickyou up, he didn’t hesitate for a moment. He seemed very happy to accommodate my request.”
