If only I was busy, it would give me the distraction I needed from missing Joe so much I ached.
“I do. Is the Starbucks downstairs okay?”
Bella nodded and followed me to the elevator. We traveled down in a weird silence. From what Joe had told me about Bella, she looked every bit the financial executive in a black pencil skirt, sky-high heels, and button-down white blouse. Advertising and marketing was a casual industry unless we had a client meeting scheduled for the day. I felt like a college kid standing next to her in my dark jeans and sleeveless blouse. She had a strong resemblance to her mother, which was why I thought I recognized her.
She insisted on treating and led me to a table in the corner.
“I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a flash drive and an envelope. “This is for you. From my brother.”
I eyed the tiny device after she slid it across the table.
“It’s probably the photos I asked him to get of the restaurant so we could figure out fall decorations. Not sure why he sent you all this way and didn’t email them to me, but thank you.” I stuffed it into my wallet, feeling the weight of her stare in a way that made me uncomfortable.
“My office is only around the corner; I didn’t have far to go.” She leaned closer and tilted her head. “Long distance is hard. Owen and I did it for years. My husband, Owen, he’s Joe’s idol, so I’m sure he mentioned him a time or two.” She chuckled and took her coffee cup in both hands. “It’s tough and frustrating. As much as I always loved him, sometimes, it was too much. Especially after long periods of time when we had no choice but to be apart.”
I nodded and took a sip of coffee. “It is. Your brother deserves better than a part-time girlfriend.”
“What doyoudeserve, Caterina?” She arched a brow.
After what I blurted out to Joe ruined everything, I was tempted to say not much.
“Let me tell you something about my baby brother. He has more passion and heart than anyone I’ve ever known. We all worried when he moved away to run his own restaurant, but we shouldn't have. He knows what he wants and is smart enough to know how to get it.” She leaned back in her chair and held my gaze. “But before he mentioned you, I’d only ever heard him so passionate about a goal—not another person. He loves you. It’s pretty obvious.”
I swallowed the lump in the back of my throat, too overwhelmed to reply.
“Judging by the way he sounded when he asked me for this favor, he’s as miserable as you look.” As much as it should’ve relieved me that Joe was as miserable as I was, I hated it.
“Have you … spoken to him recently?” I stammered.
“This week, when he asked me to deliver this to you. I won’t tell you what to do, but he wants you to look at whatever is on that drive. At least, give him that.” She patted my hand. “I better go. I have a meeting in a few. I’m glad I got to meet you.” I stood from my chair when she rose from her seat.
“You too. Thank you.”
After Bella left, I drained the last of my coffee and rushed back to my desk. I shut my door and plugged in the thumb drive, clicking the first folder open, I found a bunch of pictures of us Joe had taken with his phone.
My eyes clouded as I sorted through the images. Happiness radiated off both of us in each shot: one of us on the beach on my last day there, one of me sleeping with a sloppy “See? The entire bed!” in handwritten scrawl across the image. A sad laugh escaped my lips before I clicked open a folder with audio files.
The first song was “Summer Nights” fromGrease. I laughed and paused it after recognizing the opening chords. When I played the next song, the air drained from my lungs once I realized it was the same one we danced to after dinner on my last night. The lyrics punched me in the gut in the very same way now as they had then. The singer pleaded not to give up on him because he wasn’t giving up. That was exactly what I’d done after I’d promised Joe I wouldn’t.
I stopped the song and unplugged the drive before opening the small, plain white envelope.
We knew it would be hard, but it’s too good to give up.
So don’t. Love, Joe
I stared at the letter in my hand for a few minutes before popping off my chair and heading into my boss’s office. After days of moping and afraid to do something about it, once my decision was made, I couldn’t wait another minute. I’d already wasted enough time.
“Emma?” I knocked on her door. “If you’re free now, can we talk?”
She motioned to the chair in front of her. “Absolutely. My next meeting was just cancelled. Let’s talk about what we can offer you.”
“Before we do that, I’d like to ask about the new remote policy.”
42
Joe
“Busy is good,but it’s nice to be able to breathe just for a moment.” Dominic shut his eyes as he leaned against the wall, letting out an exaggerated breath.
