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“Who’s going to eat who for breakfast?” she asks me.
“I have no idea.” That’s the scary thing. My family is huge and disordered and hers… well, is exactly the same.
Maybe that’s why we’re so compatible. We know the pain of being the only normal people in our family groups. Though I’m sure my brothers would beg to differ.
“Imagine our wedding,” she says, then slaps her hand across her mouth. “Ugh, ignore that.”
But I can’t ignore it. I’m too fucking happy thinking about it. Thinking about marrying this woman.
Thinking about how lucky I am.
“It’s going to be a blast,” I tell her.
“If it happens,” she mutters.
“Oh, it’ll happen. It’s a matter of time,” I tell her.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
MACKENZIE
Going viral isn’t what it used to be, thank God. Within a couple of days Eli and Isabella’s kiss – and his subsequent fight with Danny Hart – is just an already-stale TikTok, replaced by the latest gossip du jour. We don’t get a call from Jimmy Kimmel. No hashtags trend.
My name is barely mentioned anywhere.
Isabella also makes it clear there’s nothing between her and Eli when she does aDirty Dancingroutine with Justin and the two of them kiss heavily afterward. I have a feeling she did it on purpose to take the heat off of me, which is kind of sweet.
And so life goes on and our own lives return to normal within a matter of days.
And I have to fly back to New York to face the music. Or ratherwedo, because Eli is sitting by my side on the airplane, holding my hand, telling me it’ll be okay. That I’ll keep my job.
I feel strangely calm as we walk through the arrivals terminal, where his brother Holden, is waiting for us. I already like him a lot. He’s the quiet one of the family. Last week when they all came back to Gramps’ place after we left the stadium – don’t ask – I got to spend more time with all of Eli’s family and I think I’m in love with them.
My younger brothers and his had a blast trash talking us all. And Myles and Liam gave me some good advice for when I talk to my boss about having a relationship with a client.
They even offered me a job if I end up getting fired.
But Holden, he’s different. He watches and listens. When he talks, it’s because he has something important to say. Maybe that’s what makes him a good doctor.
“You sure you want to head straight for the office?” Holden asks as he drives us into the city. I’m impressed by his patience when a car honks loudly because he’s stopped at a red light. I hate driving in Manhattan. I rarely do it.
But he doesn’t seem to give a damn.
“Yes, please. I have to meet my boss at twelve.”
Eli squeezes my hand. “I can come in with you.”
I shake my head. “You two go ahead and do… whatever it is you’ve got to do. I’ll call you once I’m done.” And by then I’ll either be packing my desk up or… I don’t know. What will I be doing? I’m not sure.
It’s been months since I’ve walked into Warner Power’s lobby, and everything feels completely alien. It’s too clean, too bright. People don’t shout at each other. It’s like the place has no soul.
Or maybe it was sold to the devil.
I press my security pass onto the electronic reader, waiting for the metal waist-high gate to swing open, but instead a red light appears. My stomach twists, because if they’re firing me this is a hell of a way to find out.
The security guard walks over and checks my pass. “When were you last here?” he asks.
“A few months ago.”
