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2
London
With my phone in my hand, I busy myself with my morning’s schedule while I wait for Luca to show up for our regular after-shift breakfast.
When I moved back home from college, I had a business degree and disillusion that I wore like a warm fuzzy blanket.I was suddenly single, living with my parents again after years of freedom, and at a loose end.
Thankfully for me, Valentina Rossi, Luca’s sister and a part of the extended Firehouse 101 family, was looking for a receptionist for her boutique, high-caliber day spa.That was three years ago and since then, I’ve worked during the day and taken MBA classes at night.Now I’m her business manager, taking a lot of weight off her shoulders so she can focus on her work and expanding her empire, as she puts it.We have four other staff members I oversee, which allows me to have these morning meetings with my best friend when he finishes his shifts.
Violet: How’s it hanging, Bridge?
An instant message pops up on screen.The sight of my older sister’s pet name for me—the only person who’d ever get away with it—makes me smile.We’ve been as thick as thieves since the day I was born, and even though she lives in New York now, we talk so much that it’s almost like she’s here with me.
London: I’m good.Just waiting for breakfast.How are you, city slicker?
Violet: Breakfast with your non-boyfriend best friend again?*sigh* Whatever am I going to do with you, sister dearest?
London: *shrugs* Love me and tell me I’m pretty?
Violet: You know you’re pretty and I’ll love you till I die, but how can you meet your soul mate and future destroyer of your vagina if you keep being a non-girlfriend to the most clueless, ignorant man in the CFD?
I snort and shake my head.
London: Aww, come on.That’s a bit harsh.
Violet: Bridge, don’t get me wrong.I like the guy.He’s awesome.He’s just dumb when it comes to you.
Violet: Then again, you’re dumb when it comes to him too.So maybe you DOdeserve each other ...
I frown.Vi’s on fire this morning.
London: What’s crawled up your butt and made you cranky?
Violet: Nothing that I don’t want there ...
London: TMI, Vi.
Violet: Nothing’s TMI between us two.So, sister dearest, when’s the date?
Another thing about my sister is that she’s like a dog with a bone.Case in point: a client at work wants to set me up with her rather attractive brother, and gave me his card the other day.A card I have done nothing with.
London: I don’t know.I’m not sure if I should call him back or not.
Violet: How about you trust your big sister’s judgement on this and just call the man?What’s the worst that could happen?You get a free drink or two, and sit across the table from a handsome man—your words not mine ...No harm, no foul.
Violet: And if it makes you feel better, Luca doesn’t even need to know
Oh he’d know, because I’d have to tell him.I couldn’tnottell him.Luca knows me far too well not to realize when I’m keeping something from him.He hounds me every Christmas and birthday until I give in and tell him what his present is.
London: Of course I’d tell him.
Violet: *sigh* I know.I was kinda betting on that.Maybe it’ll prompt him to pull his head out of his ass and see everything he could ever want in a woman is right in front of him.
I take another long drink from my cup and set it back down on the table with a resigned sigh.
London: Vi ...
Violet: What?Am I wrong?No, I’m not.You know it and I know it.The only one who DOESN’T know anything, it seems, is the man himself.
