Checking on Cici again to see that she hasn’t moved and is still out, I head to bed, tossing and turning most of the night. I think I finally doze off for good around four in the morning.
The light from the window causes me to wake, and I glance at the clock to see it’s eight already. My stomach twists with dread. Quickly pulling on pants, I rush into the living room, where the blanket I’d covered her with is folded neatly on the back of the couch. Frustrated, I run my hand through my hair and go to the kitchen with one lasthope she’ll be there. The note on the counter causes the pit in my stomach to bottom out.
Eli,
Thank you for the ride last night.
Sorry about falling asleep and not finishing what I suppose we never started. Thanks for the blanket. I grabbed an Uber to meet Jackson for breakfast before flying out. Until next time….
XOXO, Cici
Well, fuck.
2
SHITUATION
Cici
Nine months later
What the hell did I just agree to? I’m sitting in my office at the real estate company I work for, elbows propped up on the desk, head face down in my hands after hanging up the phone with my brother, Jackson. I’m contemplating picking it right back up to change my mind. Dammit. How did I let him talk me into moving back home? Okay, that’s an exaggeration. It’s only for a couple months, but that doesn’t diminish the outrageousness.
Leaving San Diego after graduation wasn’t easy, but the need to forge my own path in life was necessary, and I knew I couldn’t do that under my parents’ watchful eye. The insistent pressure to follow in their footsteps throughout college was miserable, and I hated working for their property management company. Dealing with tenants, doing property inspections—I shiver just thinking aboutit. My heart wasn’t into it, and I knew it wasn’t what I wanted for a career.
Bozeman seemed perfect for a fresh start. I’d met a couple of people in the business program at college who were from here and raved about it, saying it was booming. Thank God it worked out. Passing the real estate exam and getting my license turned out to be a breeze with the knowledge I already had from the management side of things.
I hated leaving Lily and my brother. Lily was only slightly easier since she moved in with her boyfriend, Sebastian, after graduation. My brother, however, was more complicated. Putting him in a tight spot with my parents’ looming retirement and forcing him to shoulder the responsibility alone wasn’t an overnight decision. I’m lucky he understood and supported my choice, even standing up to our parents for me.
If only they had been as understanding. Mom and Dad were disappointed, to say the least. They said I was throwing away a perfect opportunity, disregarding everything they’d done to build a business for their children over the years. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate it, but whenever we started to talk, I got so frustrated by their guilt-tripping that I lashed out. Then they would counterattack, and so it went until we stopped talking altogether. We haven’t spoken since I moved away a year ago.
Jackson took the reins when they retired and exceeded all expectations. He’s grown their ownership portfolio by thirty percent and doubled the property management side since taking over. The business is doing way better without me, but my parents are too stubborn to admit it. They also have no clue I’m thriving here because how would they? If only I could rub it in their faces that I’m making good money and enjoy what I do. I’m excellent at real estate—my clients love me, I love them, and I adore helping people find the home of their dreams or at least one they can call their own.
I’m glad Jackson had a chance to witness how happy I am when he visited two months ago. I finally convinced him to look at property in Bozeman. It didn’t take long to realize my college friends were right that it was a hot market, and I’ve been begging Jackson to invest here ever since. We have two buildings under contract from that visit—further reason this decision is stressful. I have five other deals under contract, six houses listed, and ten clients who I’m actively locating property for.
This won’t be easy, but I’ll make it work because he’s been miserable since Mia left him right after their visit. I suspected they were dating the minute he said his temporary assistant would be coming along—the one he was trying to rid himself of weeks earlier, no less. I knew there was more to the story than wanting her here to take notes. And when I saw them together, it was absolutely frickin’ adorable. It was good to see my brother happy again after he lost out on my best friend, Lily, to her fiancé, Sebastian.
So here I am, having just agreed to return to San Diego because my brother is desperate to get Mia back. Rather than leaving for family issues as I was previously told, he just explained that she’s in the witness protection program for her testimony on a case involving a California crime family. Her dad’s testimony would be more substantial, but the FBI can’t find him. So Jackson is determined to find Mia’s dad and exchange him for Mia since they won’t need her at that point. He’d been using private investigators but is taking the search over himself because he hasn’t been the same since she left, so he’s motivated.
And that’s why I went against every grain in my body when I said yes to going home to run the family business while he devotes his time to finding Mia’s dad. Truthfully, I would do anything for my brother. We’ve always had each other’s backs. No matter what my issues are, I can do this. Hell, I can do anything I set my mind to. I’ll get everything situated in the two weeks I said it would take to godown there—and by down there, I mean to the pits of hell. Hey, did I mention I’m getting a sweet purse out of the deal?
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me. Who will I hang out with all summer?” Poppy says sullenly while helping me pack for my flight tomorrow.
We met at the office when I moved here a year ago and hit it off immediately, becoming fast friends. We’re both fun, single, and out for a good time, all while being badass Realtors. I’m lucky we became such close friends soon after moving here. I’d have been lost without her since I was so used to having Lily by my side. Now, I love my life here. I have my own place, a job that I love, and another best friend.
“It’s not all summer. Only a couple of months, if that. God, I couldn’t handle any longer. I’m already dreading this as it is.”
“Yeah, that sucks about your parents. At least you’ll have Lily, though. And I bet the dating pool is way better than here—especially since you’ve been through the entire singles selection in Bozeman already,” she teases as she sits on the bed, folding the clothes I’m throwing from the closet. My suitcase sits open and ready to be filled with enough stuff to last me who knows how long. If only I had an end date to this move.
“Ha. Ha. That’s sort of one of the problems. There’s this guy I have a history with, and I’m not sure how it’ll go. He wanted more before I moved away, and it might be awkward if I dated anyone else. He happens to be Lily’s future brother-in-law.”
“Oh shit. Eli Dubree? The most eligible bachelor in San Diego now that Sebastian is scooped up? Are you crazy? Why not just tap that while you’re home?” Poppy knows about Lily and Sebastian through the stories I’ve told her, and I’m sure she did her research, but I never mentioned my fling with Eli until now.
“As much as I’d love to—because, let me tell ya, the guy’s skills in bed are unique—I don’t want to lead him on. That wouldn’t be fair.”
Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve missed way more than just his cock.The problem back then was that my feelings had grown deeper, and that scared the bejesus out of me for some reason. It’s like my heart was on board, but my head kept putting up roadblocks and giving me reasons to run as fast and as far as I could. To this day, I don’t understand why I’m this way. Because it’s not just Eli—any man I’m dating will be tossed to the curb at the mention of exclusivity. So, hey, the fact that I was at least exclusive with Eli before I moved was a big deal. But the minute he suggested I stay, my brain went haywire, and it’s like I couldn’t leave fast enough. So, yes, I know I’m fucked up.
“It wouldn’t be leading him on since he knows you’re leaving. Isn’t that an enter-at-your-own-risk situation? Or didwanting morego both ways?” Her eyebrows go up speculatively.
