AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How could you assume that George would just forgive the debt? Or that I’d want him to? I’m an adult. This is a business. There are no shortcuts, I’m sorry.”
The server disappeared.
Nigel shook his head. “This isn’t the time to discuss this.” He lifted his glass. “To us.”
She didn’t lift her glass. Instead, she asked him, “Do you want kids?”
“What? Why are you asking me that again? Now?” His glass was still in the air. He lowered it.
“I just need a simple answer.”
“That’s not a simple question.”
“Then give me a complicated answer.”
“I don’t like being put on the spot like this.”
“I don’t like being put off.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” he said. “I asked you to marry me and you look pissed off.”
She was a lot of things, none of which were madly in love with the man across the table from her. That was suddenly as cold and clear as the diamond he’d bought with company money. Status quo wasn’t going to work for her. She was grinding away at a job and a life and a relationship, none of which were making her happy.
Edwina pulled the ring off of her finger and handed it over to Nigel. “I can’t marry you, Nigel. This isn’t working.”
“What? Since when?” He looked genuinely bewildered.
“Since forever.” She stood up and put her blazer back on.
She wasn’t in love with Nigel. She was in love with Sullivan O’Toole. She’d had a crush on him as a teen, but she’d fallen in love with him as a woman, over conversation and pancakes and laughter. And if she loved Sullivan, there was no way in hell she could marry Nigel. Even if there was no Sullivan, this wasn’t enough for her. She deserved wild passion, deep love, and fun. God, she just wanted to have some fun.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Nigel sounded dumbfounded.
“Home.”
“Fine, have a good rest, let’s chat in the morning over breakfast. You’re overreacting to the whole money issue.”
No, she really wasn’t. She was thinking clearly for the first time in a long time. Or maybe, it was that she was thinking for herself. She didn’t want to be with Nigel, she didn’t want to be in New York. It was over. It was all over. She was going home.
“We won’t be able to go to breakfast because I’m going to be in Minnesota. That’s what I mean by going home. Minnesota is my home, not New York.” She was free to be herself there and that meant everything.
“You’ve gone mad. There’s absolutely nothing to do in Minnesota.”
She reached down and picked up the flute of champagne. She threw back the entire glass, swallowing with an unladylike “ah” at the end, something she’d always wanted to do. “Oh, yeah? You think there’s nothing to do in Minnesota?”
“I know there’s nothing to do in Minnesota.”
That was just both rude and ridiculous to slam an entire state. Aside from the fact that Minneapolis was a world class city, small towns like Beaver Bend boasted natural resources and local charm. Ten thousand lakes, asshole. She felt offended on behalf of all of Minnesota by his New York attitude. She slapped her glass back down on the table.
“Then you’ve clearly never been to the Fish Festival. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have.”
He was staring at her like she was certifiable. “Sit down, Edwina. Everyone is staring.”
“Let them stare.” She grabbed her purse, feeling flushed and absolutely certain and fucking fabulous. “Goodbye, Nigel.”
She weaved her way through the tables like she was on the runway. She owned that aisle. She strutted triumphantly, chin up, hand on her hip. She made eye contact with a man around forty who was watching her in awe.
“Edwina has left the building,” she told him, tossing her hair back.
