She hung up without a goodbye, making me laugh. Usually, I could hear her talking to herself about how to hang up the phone after we said our goodbyes, but this time, she must’ve hit the button before she got to sign off. She was something else.
At least there were no Facebook announcements today. I hoped Tom Cruise and his alien baby were doing well. I guess she would’ve told me if they weren’t.
When I arrivedat Willowgrove Gardens after work, my phone lit up with Vicky’s name.My phone hadn’t been this busy in weeks, I thought with a chuckle. Smiling, I answered. “Hey there, stranger. What’s going on?”
“Mike, I’m so glad I got you. I’m in a mess, and I need your help,” she said, her voice sounding flustered.
“Are you alright?” I waited outside the front doors so I could finish the call before heading inside, wondering what the problem could be that she was calling me and not her husband and my friend, Miles.
“I’m fine, and I’m so sorry to ask, but no one is available. I’m over an hour away at a client’s house, and they’re taking forever to decide about the furniture. Miles is stuck in a meeting, and Leyla and Luke?—
I interrupted her as she sounded as if she were about to cry. “Vicky, just tell me what you need me to do. I promise I’ll do whatever it is.”
She sighed in relief. “You’re the best, Mike. Thank you so much. I was supposed to be at the airport at seven tonight, but there’s no way I can get there on time with the traffic. She’s had such a long flight with a ridiculous delay in Atlanta, and she’s exhausted. Should’ve worked in my favor, but I think I’m being held hostage here.”
Pulling the phone from my ear, I checked the time. “Well, I’m at Grammy’s now. She needs me to fix a leaky faucet, but that won’t take but a few minutes. I can leave from there and be at the airport in plenty of time.”
“Gosh, I owe you so big. She’s going to be so happy she doesn’t have to wait for me to get there.”
“Text me the flight info. I’m your Uber driver tonight. No worries.” I started back to the entrance when I said, “Oh, and who am I picking up?”
She paused for a minute to answer someone. I waved to the receptionist as I headed to the apartment side of the building.
“Sorry, sorry. Ah, what did you ask? Oh yes! You’re picking up my best friend,” she said excitedly.
My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to remember who she was referring to. Niko’s wife, Leyla, and Leyla’s friend Sofia were her closest friends here in San Diego.
My feet stopped mid-step as a memory slid into my brain.
It couldn’t be.
Vicky had only one other best friend she talked about often. I spent a minute on a video call with the beautiful, curly-headedwoman months ago. The one who took my breath away like no other woman ever had.
“Mike, you still there?” she asked, her voice muffled.
“Still here.” I held my breath.
“You’re picking up Renata, well, we call her Ren. She’s coming to stay for a month. Can you believe that? Gotta go, but thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome,” I mumbled as we hung up.
Renata Valenti. The Tuscan beauty who stole not only my breath but my mind that day. I had forced my brain to tuck away that memory out of pure self-preservation. And now she was going to be in San Diego for an entire month?
Apparently, this was her second trip to San Diego, having come for Vicky’s wedding, but that was before I had met any of them.
One month of hanging out with my friend group. Meals, beach days, game nights. I was both elated and terrified.
I groaned when I realized it was even worse than that. I had just offered myself up as tribute to be her Uber driver. Alone with the woman who had taken up more of my daydreams than I’d ever admit.
I was almost to Grammy’s door before realizing the constant heaviness in my chest had lifted slightly at the thought of Ren coming. I had no idea what that could possibly mean.
I was still rubbing awaythe warring thoughts in my head when I got to Grammy’s door and knocked.
Smiling as I heard her slow footsteps coming toward the other side, she called out, “Coming.”
When she opened the door, I immediately sensed something was off. Not medically, but from the smell of fruity candles and the slow jazz playing, I knew I was about to be ambushed.This wasn’t the first time she had invited me over under false pretenses, only to introduce me to the granddaughter of one of the residents.
“Grammy,” I growled. “No, please. Just no.”
