AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Twice.
I was still glowing from it – so much so that Elaine made a comment about my “dewy skin” during our meeting at a beautiful restaurant on 18th and Broadway. She picked the place because of the ornate floral arrangements and slightly retro feeling that matched much of what I wanted for my own shop. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, we covered everything about the upcoming project, from décor to location – down to the street.
I wanted to open near home, in Gramercy Park. For such a small, aristocratic neighborhood, it was incredibly diverse, full of both old money and young students from the famous art schools in the area. It was my dream spot for opening my first storefront and in order to find the perfect listing, Gail provided me with several business cards from her most trusted realtors.
I was all set and completely reenergized. I was so completely over the moon that my smile barely faltered when my phone buzzed with a text from someone unexpected.
Ritchie.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I stared down at my phone. The edges of my lips finally twitched back down as I swiped my thumb across the screen to read his first words to me in over two years.
RITCHIE: Hey Lia I hope you’re well. Actually I know you are… saw your dad at the store this morning and he was pretty ecstatic for once. Said you got some big investment deal over the weekend? That’s crazy. I’m so fucking happy for you and I mean that. This has been your dream for so long. It kind of pains me that Mom isn’t around to see.
RITCHIE: So… aside from congratulating you I wanted to text you to let you know I’m finally selling the house. Thinking of getting out of town like you did. Maybe starting my own business. Long story short I was cleaning when I found a box at the back of Mom’s closet that she labeled for you. It says FOR LIA in her crazy ass handwriting lol. I lifted it and it sounds delicate so I’m not about to ship it. And since there’s still a bunch of other stuff that was yours here, I figured I’d see if you’re interested in coming up here to get it.
RITCHIE: That’s all. Sorry for the random text. Hope this is still your number. And I hope you do come by because me and everyone else would be happy to see you and hear about your successes. You deserve all of them. Talk soon I hope.
Thanks to the unexpected message, which prompted a twenty-minute call with Sara, I was late to meet Lukas for drinks – or as he called it, a “date.” His need to make that clear on the phone had put a giant smile on my face, as if I needed any more reason.
Of course that smile was finally wavering now, thanks to the shock of Ritchie’s message. We hadn’t spoken in so long. The last words he’d said to me were cruel and bitter. He’d gone as far as to mention that our old friends wished me the worst for what I did to him. He’d said so many terrible things that stuck with me for years and still did.
So why the hell was I considering going back to that house?
“Miss, please follow me.”
The host I’d given my name to grabbed one of the matte white menus and ushered me through the sexy lounge area, to the back and through French doors that led to the garden patio. It was a sprawling area with ivy walls separating each table and the most breathtakingly up-close view of the Empire State Building I’d ever seen.
Damn.
I was going through a distinct I made it moment as I strode across the roof and followed the host up a short flight of steps to what seemed like some VIP area.
“Here you are, miss. Your party’s right here.
“Oh. Thank you.”
I was surprised when he left me standing there in front of a long table of beautiful people, half of them women – most of those women beaming brightly as they talked to Lukas, who smiled politely despite multiple glances at his watch.
When he spotted me, he practically jumped from the table.
“Thank God,” he breathed out when he came to me. “I was getting ready to get out of here and find you.”
“What’s going on?” I asked. But before he could answer the question, I spotted Emmett coming back from presumably the bar because he had a tray of drinks with him. Trailing at ease behind him was Julian.
“Oh! Hey! I thought you stood my boy up so I made it a party,” he said brightly, spilling several shots as he switched his tray to one hand and held out the other. “Heard all about you, Lia. I’m Emmett, by the way. This is my brother, Julian.”
Julian and I laughed upon looking at each other.
“Yes, of course. Nice to meet you, Julian,” I said as Lukas slipped his arm around my waist. “You know, I never got to thank you for that time you
eavesdropped on my very personal conversation and relayed every detail to Lukas. So, thank you.”
Julian smirked. “Hey. It sped up the process of – ” He gestured vaguely at us. “Whatever this is. So you’re certainly welcome.”
I snorted. Whatever this is. It was a vaguely rude but strangely apt description so I took no offense. Lukas, however, was amusingly wary of my feelings as we approached the table.
“For your information, I’m an asshole but Julian puts me to shame on a daily basis,” he said, holding me closer to his side. “Nothing you can’t handle but feel free to ignore anything he ever says.”
“Got it,” I giggled as everyone at the table adjusted themselves to face Emmett, who gestured grandly at us.
