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He comes around the desk and sits down in a chair, motioning for me to sit in the other one across from him. At that moment, a stunning woman, who I also met thirteen years ago, comes busting into the room with Doug on her heels.

I pop up and point at Doug. “Him. Make sure you give him a raise. It was nice to meet you again, sir. Please heed what I said because other than getting tossed out of the building, I’m not going anywhere.”

I put my hands out as if Doug is ready to cuff me. He laughs and Mrs. Ladd covers her heart.

“Sit down, dear,” his mother says. Mr. Ladd tosses Doug his key card, and he salutes me and exits the room. “That man told me a woman broke in and was headed up here and I panicked. But he didn’t tell me it was you.”

I shake her hand. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Ladd.”

“Cheryl.”

“Really? Cheryl Ladd? My grandmother loved her.”

She sighs. “It’s unfortunate, but there are two of us. I’m more concerned with you, Ms. Preston, and what I overheard. Do you truly love Tony, or do you see him as helpful?”

I’m all in, or I’m all out right here.

“I’m aware I’m not the girl you saw for him or dreamed for him. I have a record and a sketchy past, but I worked my ass off to get the life I want and deserve. I graduated second in my class today with honors. I’m headed to medical school on scholarship and financial aid. I’ll be the oldest in my freshman class, but I did it on my own.”

I plant my feet and stare at both of them. I’m finally standing in my own light, and, for maybe the first time, I see myself clearly. I don’t see the shadow of the things I’ve done. I’m not judging myself for past mistakes but looking forward to making all new ones.

I say, “Do I find him helpful? Hell yeah. He helps me feel more myself than anyone or any place on earth. He helps me remember that life is worth pushing forth and finding adventure. He helps me feel fulfilled and hopeful. He helps me keep motivated to want more from myself and from the world. And he helps me know that I’m loved. But as for your skepticism, I’m going to be in his life if he’ll still have me, so why not drop your attitude? I’ll sign anything you want. I don’t want a dime. Not a penny. If you want to put some of your money in a trust for our kids—” She gasps, and I kind of do internally.

“That’s between you and Tony. But I won’t spend your money, and I respect your legacy. Look, I made him promise me he’d never buy me anything over a hundred dollars. All that other stuff he did was for my family and a debt I owed, but not one cent was for me. Except the Vegas stuff. That was a little for me and I did sleep in the suite willingly and eat all the Taco Bell, but I’m getting off on a tangent.” I put my hands in front of me and breathe in and out.

His mom whispers, “You’re doing fine, keep going.”

“Every bouquet of flowers he sent over the past eight weeks, I looked up the cost and they were always ninety-nine bucks. He listens to me, and I hear him. Something you two have forgotten to do. Listen when he gives you a good idea and tells you he’s in love with me for real, or back then. You banned him from dating me once, I won’t let you do it again.”

She nods at him, and he squeezes her hand. I’m going to burst into tears in a moment. I can’t believe I said all those things. My body is wrung out but my mind is pinging.

He speaks to me with a grin on his face, and I don’t know what the hell that means. “You’re wrong about one thing.”

I shrug. “Probably a million things, but what are you talking about?”

“You’re exactly who we dreamed of for our son.”

And I exhale.

tony

No one’s here, but I can’t drag myself home. I’m in a terrible mood and Laura and Teddy are all happy and at my house.

Mak won’t answer my calls. I’m out of my head with guilt over missing her graduation, not talking to her, and what the hell to do about my dad? I distanced myself for what? I’m missing the most important part of myself. I fucking gave it away in order to do what? What the hell? I’m choosing work over love? My father never had to make that choice, or maybe he did. Who the hell knows? I’m pacing my office, and I can’t be this inactive. I’m done. I’ll take my people and find the capital. I’ll live off what Claire’s made for me. I’ll sign everything away when I get back. Mak and I can find a double-wide without a hole in the floor and shop at Target for everything. Jesus, I love Target.

I dial her phone again, and it goes to voicemail. Fuck it.

TONY: Not coming to say goodbye to you but stay at the penthouse. There’s somewhere else I need to be.

LAURA: If it’s not by that girl’s side, you’re not the wildly romantic man I should have been in love with. Sit tight, things have a way of working out.

TEDDY: Being with the right woman can change everything.

I dial up the one number I’m not supposed to. If I bring down the company for this, then fuck it.

“Can you ready the jet? The smaller one. I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Sir, we have to get authorization.”