Several months later
I pace in my office, finishing a call. “Yes, we can absolutely add that clause into the contract.”
“Oh, good. That’ll make a huge difference with the next acquisition,” Geneva says.
“Almost as big a difference as in the last partnership.” As we talk, I check out the crowds below, New Yorkers scurrying by on Park Avenue.
“Yes. That deal was top-notch,” she adds. “I’m glad I stayed with you.”
“As am I.”
We wrap up and say goodbye, and I hang up the phone.
When I turn around, Jane’s standing in the doorway. “Still have her eating out of the palm of your hand?”
I shrug like it’s no big deal, when, in fact, it’s a huge deal that she stayed.
I didn’t chase her. I didn’t beg. She decided to stick around on her own, telling me that the work was good, that she appreciated me owning up to the ruse, and that if I lied to her again, she’d have my head.
That seemed fair and reasonable on all counts, so we finished the first deal and started working on a second one.
“Besides,” Geneva had said. “It’s your personal life, and honestly, you’re free to do what you want with it. I shouldn’t have cared so much or taken it so personally.”
“Don’t think twice about it,” I’d told her, all too happy to move on.
I meet Jane’s green-eyed gaze. “Aren’t they all eating out of my hand, Jane? Aren’t they all?”
“Ah, there’s that cocky nephew of mine.”
“And you wouldn’t have me any other way.” I glance at my watch. “And on that note, I need to meet the fellas.”
“Don’t stay out too late.”
“I promise to be good.”
I leave, catching a Lyft to Chelsea, texting my cousin in Paris on the way, who can’t stop reminding me that falling in love with Summer was exactly what he meant by an exit strategy.
Christian: When are you going to admit I was right about everything?
Oliver: You were right. There, are you happy?
Christian: Yes. And I suspect you are too. Happy, that is.
He’s right on that count. He’s completely right.
The car pulls over to the curb, and I thank the driver, then get out to meet Logan and Fitz for drinks. Summer’s teaching a kickboxing class at her gym now, but I’ll see her tonight when she comes home.
Since she lives with me now.
I open the door to Gin Joint, finding my mates quickly. They’re toasting to all sorts of good news.
I order a beer, then join them.
“So, we have loads to celebrate tonight,” I say.
“Yes, how good of you to grace us with your presence. Maybe you’ll have something to celebrate soon,” Logan deadpans.
“Maybe I will, but let’s start with you.”
Fitz raises a glass and stretches his free hand across the table to knock Logan on the shoulder. “To this cat finally getting on the apps. The ladies of New York had better watch out. They don’t even know what’s coming their way.”
Logan takes a drink. “Speaking of, remember that woman I told you guys about at lunch the other day?”
My ears prick. I know who he’s talking about. I also know what went down and it’s way more complicated than he ever expected. “The Snoopy lunchbox woman?” I ask just to make sure who we’re discussing.
“She’s the one,” Logan says, heavily. “Her name is Bryn, and she is the sexiest, most captivating, most off-limits woman I’ve ever met.”
“Did anything else happen since you and I last talked?” I ask.
“Yeah, stop holding out on me, bro,” Fitz says. “I want all the deets too.”
“It’s quite complicated,” I say, like a warning.
Logan scratches his jaw. “Crazy complicated,” he says, then catches Fitz up to speed on the details.
“Whoa. I do not envy you there, Logan. Good luck with that. It actually sounds mega complicated,” Fitz says.
“And you?” I ask Fitz. “What’s your news?”
