“You called her the Mayor of Fartville.”
A smile crept over my face. “Listen, that’s a high honor.”
“Aldridge!” Nori screamed.
“I was vulnerable and scared. And my father never loved me.” I threw out buzz phrases in an attempt to excuse my behavior.
Nori planted her face into her palm. “So we need to find a new realtor.”
“No, I have a realtor, we just need her to change her mind.”
“Maybe she would’ve before but after your text tirade I’m not so sure.”
“Have you met me? I’m a?—”
“Asshole?” Nori interrupted me.
“I was going to say charmer.”
“Your plan is to beg for forgiveness?”
“I’m going to apologize like it’s 2004 and I’m Ruben Studdard.”
“Why doI get stuck with Aldridge?” Anika asked while rearranging items on my desk.
“Because he’s a client of the agency and one of us has to service him.”
Her expression turned mischievous. “He wants you to serve him up that ass.”
“Shut up. That’s not what this is about.” I shuffled papers across my desk.
“Nessa, I know men. Aldridge isn’t over you. The fact that you can’t see that is alarming.”
“I know you believe everyone is in love with you, but I live in reality.”
“I don’t think everyone loves me, but I do think everyone should.”
“Just think of the commission we’ll get to share.” When I wanted my sister to do something I led with what was in it for her, and splitting a potential million-dollar commission was a huge incentive.
“Yeah, about that. If I’m showing him the homes, I should get the full commission.”
“Not after I did all the reconnaissance. Fifty-fifty that’s the deal.”
“So, I sell him a house and then what, you never see him again?”
“That’s the plan.”
“You have the worst plans. Aldridge is back in your life for a reason.”
“It’s more of a coincidence, a fluke.” I reached for my iced coffee which practically melted by the time I got back to the office because it was as hot as the devil’s balls out there.
“Lying to me is one thing, but lying to yourself is a whole other level of lunacy.”
No one was lying. Two weeks ago I wasn’t thinking about Aldridge Mosley. He was just one of my many exes. The only reason I quit was because it was clear my presence was making him uncomfortable. So I decided to put us both out of our misery.
My mother entered my office hidden by a bouquet of white roses. “Someone has an admirer.” She set the vase on my desk.
“Who are they from?” My eyes narrowed as I examined the arrangement suspiciously. I couldn’t think of one suitor, past or present, who’d be sending me such a beautiful bouquet.
