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I swing it open with a flourish expecting to see my mom.
Aurora’s boyfriend, dressed in his police uniform, greets me instead. “Hey, Trina.”
I smile at Eldon. “Hey.”
He glances over my shoulder. “Aurora wanted me to open a missing person’s file since you haven’t been around much. She’ll be glad to know you’re alive and well.”
I let out a light chuckle. “I’m good.”
“Do you have a minute?” he asks, adjusting his belt. “I could use a friend to talk to.”
I step aside, surprised that he wants to talk.
It’s not that we’re not friends, but Eldon and I have never had a discussion alone.
I’ve only ever spent time with him when Aurora has been around.
“Of course,” I answer with a smile. “Please, come in.”
Before I shut my apartment door, I peer down the hallway, wondering where Aurora is and hoping everything is all right.
Eldon runs a hand over his short-cropped brown hair before he takes a bottle of water from me.
He cracks open the lid and swallows more than half of the water in one gulp.
Something isn’t right.
His top lip is peppered with sweat, and his left knee has been bouncing since he sat down on my couch.
I take a seat in a chair across from him, crossing my legs before I lean back. “How’s Aurora?”
When he glances up at me, I see a glint in his eye. “Beautiful. Perfect. She’s great, Trina. She’s so great.”
That lures a gentle smile to my lips. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Nodding, he finishes the water that’s left in the bottle. “What’s been going on with you?”
I can’t exactly tell him the truth. Hell, I can’t go anywhere near the truth, so I skip around it. “Work’s been busy. I spent some time at the bakery. That’s always fun.”
“I love the peanut butter cookies from there.” A deep belly laugh escapes him. “They’re my addiction, but I have to limit myself. I stop in once a week for one.”
“For one?” I question with a perk of both brows. “How do you stop at one?”
“It’s not easy,” he confesses. “But, the job requires me to be in shape, so sugar is off-limits for the most part.”
Nodding, I breathe a sigh of relief at the fact that I avoided saying anything about Graham.
I’m semi-surprised that I didn’t since I haven’t stopped thinking about him since our conversation in his study.
The last few days he’s been immersed in work from daybreak to sunset. I viewed that as a gift since I’m still contemplating what he said about us sleeping together.
I want to go to bed with my husband, but I know my heart. Getting emotionally attached to a man I’m divorcing soon isn’t the right move for me.
“Can you keep a secret, Trina?”
I almost laugh out loud at Eldon’s question. I’m keeping the biggest secret of my life from everyone I care about. It’s locked up tight inside of me.
I study him, wondering where this conversation is headed. “I can.”
He leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “Aurora’s folks are out of town right now. I wanted to talk to them face-to-face, but they’re in Indiana for her cousin’s wedding. I met the guy once. He was in the city for a night. We invited him to dinner, but he took us out to a restaurant in Tribeca. I admit it was great, but…”
“What is it, Eldon?” I interrupt because that’s the most he’s ever said to me at one time, and I can tell that he’s nervous. “What’s going on?”
He scrubs at his forehead while his blue eyes search my face. “Aurora’s birthday is coming up.”
I’m aware. I’ve been planning out the perfect gift for her for the past two months. I finally decided on a scarf from the Ella Kara boutique. It’s pricey, but I picked it up last month and tucked it away in my closet. I know Aurora will love it.
When I was at the café one day, a woman came in wearing the same scarf. Aurora asked her about it. As soon as the woman left, Aurora made a comment to me about how expensive it must be.
“I know.” I smile. “I can’t wait to give her my gift.”
“That’s why I’m here.” He taps his shoe against the floor. “I need your help with my gift for her, Trina.”
“I’d love to help.”
“I got her a ring.”
“What?” That pops out in an almost scream. “Are you going to ask her to marry you?”
“Damn right I am. I’m doing it on her birthday.” He chuckles. “I want the night to be perfect. I’m planning a surprise party. You’re invited, of course. One of her brothers is flying in from Arizona to be there. The other is driving up from Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to give her the ring. I think she’s going to love it. I hope she’ll want to wear it forever.”
