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She laughs and I hear emotion hit her throat. My hard-ass, sassy, bitchy best friend is getting emotional, and I love it. “I love you, G, you got this. Now get up, go shower, and let’s go out. You stink.”
She pushes me back and I roll my eyes. “I so do not smell. I showered earlier.”
“I promise you, there’s a smell coming off you. Shower again, get pretty, and let me take you out on a date.”
I smile and stand up as I shake my head at her. “You’re nuts. And I love you too.”
Chapter 16
Grace
Monday morning when I walk into the office, Rachel has a smile on her face and a coffee in her hand. “You had quite the weekend, boss; I thought a coffee would be in order.” Her lips tip up in a smile and I think back to the texts I sent her Saturday night. I may have been a teensy bit drunk when I told her to put together a list for Cash ASAP so that I could get over him quickly. I immediately texted her again saying “get this contract over with, I mean.” Clearly, my texting was useless because she knows precisely what I meant.
I roll my eyes and take the coffee. “The list?” I ask, holding out my hand in annoyance.
She follows after me as I walk into my office. “I emailed it to you this morning. There is also a copy on your desk. And the first three women will be here to meet with you this afternoon.”
Taken aback by her hard work, I stop and turn toward her. “Thank you, Rachel, I really appreciate that.”
She smiles sheepishly. “Anything for you, Grace.”
I get a sense from her tone she knows how much this means to me. I swallow my pride and sit down at my desk, prepared to move on with my life.
I make it through all three of the interviews feeling good about the list Rachel put together. The women are all professionals, with rich lives and strong friendships, or so they make it seem. All they are missing in their lives is someone to share it with.
Honestly, I could see sharing a cocktail with any one of them. I feel good about introducing them to Cash. They’ll make a good match, or at least be able to hold conversation through a date.
I’m rubbing my head, annoyed that I skipped lunch, when I hear a familiar voice in reception.
“Marion, it’s good to see you. How is Asher doing?”
I haven’t spoken to Steven since I walked out of our house last week, and he is quite frankly the last person I expect.
I listen to Marion make small talk with him while I try to decide what to do.
What is there to do? I can’t run and hide. What does he want? He never showed up here when we were happily married, so why now?
Out of habit, I flip open my cosmetic mirror and smooth my hair. Then I grab my tube of lip gloss and coat my lips, pinching them together and making a pop sound before shrugging in acceptance of my appearance. I don’t really care how I look for him.
Or maybe I do.
Steven leans into my office, knocking on the door, despite the fact that I can see him, and the door is wide open. “Hey Grace,” he says with a warm smile. It’s jarring how charming it is coming from him. I can’t remember the last time he looked at me that way.
I pull a fake smile. “Steven, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I motion to the chairs for him to sit, and he looks at them tentatively before choosing one.
He looks good. He’s got dark hair and a strong jaw and pale-blue eyes that I used to get lost in. His shirt fits a bit tighter as if he’s been hitting the gym. Probably to impress the secretary.
After leaving me, he starts working out and I go and binge eat so that my clothes can fit more snug. How fucking fair.
“Thought maybe we could grab dinner?”
A laugh escapes my throat, and he looks at me surprised.
“I’m sorry, you’re serious?”
The tic in his jaw shows me that the old Steven is still there—as if my bitchiness summoned him. We are clearly toxic for one another. “Yes. We have things to discuss.”
I look down at my hands, trying to maintain my cool. The idea of dinner with Steven is ludicrous. Pure idiocy. He came into the city without calling and assumed I’d just agree to dinner at his command.
