“You’re kidding.”
Laughter burst out of her. “Would I do that? I couldn’t make this up.”
My parents hadn’t had a day of downtime in years. My father thrived on discovering the next “big thing,” and my mother…well, she loved the spotlight, throwing and attending lavish events and being in the mix. I supposed it was good for them to disconnect and try and relax, but it threw a monkey wrench into my plans.
“When will they be back?”
“It’s a ten-day retreat, and they left last night. It starts today. Then they fly directly to Paris from there.”
Dammit.I’d forgotten about their annual two-week trip.
“What’s the matter? Maybe I can help. It’s not serious, is it?”
“No. I have to ask them something. It happened so long ago, they might not remember. In any case, it can wait.”
“Oh?” Her voice sharpened.
My phone beeped with an unknown number, and I wondered if it was Roe.
“I gotta go.” Without waiting for a response, I hit the button to transfer the call. “Hello?”
“Ezra?”
“Roe? That you?” My heart pounded. “Is Nettie…is she okay?”
“We’re at the hospital, waiting for her test results. My mother wanted you to know and to thank you again for everything last night.”
“Oh.” Formality had returned between us. I might as well have imagined the emotional conversation in the dark last night. “Thanks for letting me know. Please give her my best. Nettie too.”
“I will. Well, I better go. They don’t like people using cell phones. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Nothing was going right this morning. My parents were off on this mysterious retreat, and where last night I thought Roe and I had begun to take down the wall between us, this morning it seemed as insurmountable as ever. If I’d known he would be back to shutting me out, I would’ve kissed him last night, at least. I’d had nothing to lose.
“Well?” Sunny asked, peering into the room.
“My parents are at a retreat where they don’t allow any outside contact. It’s ten days long, and then they go to Paris.”
His brows flew up to almost meet his hairline. “No shit? They’re the last people I would have pictured doing that.”
I gnawed at a fingernail. “Yeah. Definitely suspicious, but there’s nothing I can do. And Roe called to say they’re running tests on Nettie. Makes me feel helpless that I’m here after everything that happened yesterday.”
Sunny leaned his long body against the doorway. “Then why don’t you go to the hospital and be there for Roe and his mom? I’m sure they’d appreciate it. Bring them breakfast. I can get something together for you to bring in half an hour. Just say the word.”
“I’d like to, but…”
“But what? You have a meeting? Postpone it.” Flicking the question mark of his sleek ponytail over his shoulder, he strode into the office and braced his hands on my desk. “I checked your calendar for today already. There’s nothing pressing or that you can’t reschedule. You have no contracts due for signing, only review. If you want, I can do that.”
Whoa.Take-charge Sunny was totally unexpected. “Who are you, and what have you done with my chill, no-fucks-given Sunny?” The more he talked, the more I wanted to do what he said. Chuck my responsibilities for the day and be with Roe, his mother, and Nettie. The past had never had a greater hold on my present than it did right then.
“I don’t give a fuck about material things, Ez. You know that. But when it comes to my people, nothing is more important. You haven’t been yourself since we came to New York, and I think it’s because you’ve got unfinished business with Roe.” He raised a questioning brow. “I am right, aren’t I?”
“Aren’t you usually?” I quipped. From the first, I’d known Sunny was special, but I hadn’t the foresight to know how much of an impact he’d have on my life. Wise beyond his years, he’d become the younger brother I never had.
He didn’t return my smile, and mine faded.
“You can joke all you want, but I’ve known you long enough now to see the change. Whatever it is, Ez, you need to clear it up. Lately you’ve been spinning your wheels and distracted. Not from your clients, because you always give them too much, in my opinion. But, man, you need to slow down a little and look around you. Life is passing you by, and it’s nice to have the money and shit like that, but where’s that get you late at night?”
