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“I understand. I promise.”
“But, off me and back to the Grinch. How’d that happen? He went from hanging up in your face to funding your business.”
“His wife died,” I explained.
My throat thickened. Capping my words and the details I gave until I fully understood them felt like torture, but so would trying to convince another person of my belief—even if that person was Jae.
“Shut up!” She gasped.
“She did.”
“My God, Aeir. And, they have a two-year-old? I’d be mad at the world, too. Now I feel awful for judging him so soon. He’s just grieving. It looks differently for everyone.”
“Jae, that’s not it.” I cringed as the words fell from my lips.
“What?”
I think her death restored my life, I wanted to share, but couldn’t.
“We—”
“Good!”
“What? I didn’t even finish.”
“The man is funding a business and hired you without even fully interviewing you? Aeir, it was only a matter of time. Am I surprised that it happened so soon, kind of, because it’s you. But, if I hadn’t had my coochie rubbed in two years, I’d be eager to jump on a pogo stick, too. I don’t blame you, not one bit, babe. Just tell me one thing.”
“Yes?”
“Was it good? Does the Grinch have a good shot?”
“Jae, I’m not disclosing that information. That’s private.”
“Oooooh, yeah. That thing is good. You’re keeping the details for yourself and you’re still there. It had to be.”
“It was,” I admitted, giving in with a sigh.
“Ahhhhhh!” she screamed on the other end, cheering me on.
“And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”
“I respect it. So, where do you guys go from here? Was it just something to do or something more?”
“It’s complicated, Jae, honestly. He’s still hurting, still mourning his wife. I don’t want to be something to soothe his pain for a little while until he needs something stronger, something new. You know? If I can’t be his remedy, I can’t be anything else.”
“I know that’s right, babe.”
“I’m beyond the point of settling for anything less than I deserve. And he deserves more than that, too. He deserves someone who can care for his heart and continue to nurture his soul. I can do that… if he lets me. If not, I’ll still be here, doing the job I was employed for.”
“Who is this mature, very fucking wise woman I’m speaking to right now?”
“It’s me.” I laughed. “Aeir.”
And, a little bit of Anna.I think.God, Jae. I have so much to tell you.
“I almost need proof,” she responded.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have any. You’ll just have to trust me on this. Something changed and I’m just trying to adapt.”
