“Stop that. You know what I mean.” He’ll still be hot and single well into his forties, maybe even his fifties, sleeping with women half his age.
Meanwhile, I’ll be getting older and wrinklier but not wiser because my curse is to fall for guys who disappoint me. Sad, but true.
Elliott finishes his steak while I take my sweet time with mine, both of us falling into companionable silence that I feel no need to fill. For some reason, the blurting isn’t quite as bad with Elliott. Maybe because we’re not romantically involved and there’s no pressure to go down that path.
Thank goodness for that.
He’d break my heart the moment I offered it to him.
Elliott sits back, resting one hand on his stomach as he sips his wine, watching me finish my last few bites. “So are you going to move back home since it didn’t work out with shitbag?”
Talk about bringing down the mood. “Not if I can help it. I love my parents and all but their opinions on what I should be doing with my life do not line up with mine.”
“How so?”
I set my fork and knife aside in favor of my drink, leaning back in my chair as well. Where do I even begin? “They think I should take over the family business.”
“Which is?”
“A funeral home.”
He blinks at me. “You’re joking.”
“Afraid not.”
“I can’t imagine you working in a funeral home. You’re too full of life. You’re like bubbles.”
“Bubbles?” That’s a new one.
“Yeah. Always rising up, effervescent, giddy. Shiny. Iridescent.” A wince. “Sorry. That’s weird, isn’t it?”
“You’re fine. I’ve decided to take it as a compliment.”
“Good. Because I meant it as one.” He glances down at his empty plate, his smile faltering. “I know what it’s like to not live up to your parents’ expectations. My mom always wanted me to be CFO of a Fortune 500 company. She was so disappointed when I quit to work at the bar with August.”
Are we the same person?
Who knew I’d have so much in common with this guy? Does this officially make us friends? Heaven knows I could use another friend in this place, especially after losing the reason I moved here.
I could be friends with Hot Elliott as long as I don’t let myself get hypnotized by his blue, blue eyes. “Elliott Grant, CFO. I can see it.”
His nose wrinkles. “Really?”
“Yeah. I can.” He’d look so hot in a three-piece suit. He’d look hot without one too. Moving on… “Did your mom threaten to disown you too?”
“Every single day since.”
I hate that for him. For both of us. “Well, I’m proud of you, Elliott.” His eyes widen. “I am. It’s important to do what makes you happy, even if the people you love think you’re wrong.”
He holds up his glass of wine. “To being wrong.”
Sounds like the perfect toast for tonight.
Smiling, I clink my glass against his. “To being wrong.”
CHAPTER 23
ELLIOTT
