Tears fill her eyes. “I came because I wanted to see if there could be some sort of future with you, not because I’m a gold digger.”
“In case you haven’t picked up on it,a futureis precisely what I’m offering you—and one that’s a damn sight better than what you’ve got sorted out for yourself—but if this isn’t enough for you, say no and I won’t bother you again.” I stuff my hands in the front pockets of my jeans and give her a hard look.
“So, that’s it then?” she asks, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I either give up my entire life and take your offer, or I can just fuck off?”
“It’s a hell of a good offer. Most women would jump at it.”
Lifting her chin, she says, “Well, I’m not most women, am I?” She gives me one last look before storming out of the kitchen.
I watch the doors swing wildly while my brain tries to catch up with what just happened. I’m not going to chase her. I offered her everything any woman could ever want. If she’s too thick-headed to take it, that’s her problem. Better to find out now, I suppose, than a few years down the line. Besides, if she doesn’t understand what all of this means, this never would have worked anyway.
Then why is every cell in my body telling me to run after her and fix this?
Because the body is prone to forcing you to do stupid things. Something to do with being biologically programmed to procreate. The brain, however, is smarter, and my brain is telling me to just let her go.
33
The Consolation Life
Emma
Text to Priya:Hey. On my way home—economy class on Cheapo Airline. They’re de-icing the sketchy-looking wings so I have a few more minutes with Wi-Fi, and maybe to live, if the engine is as dodgy as the rest of this aircraft.
Priya:Shit. So, it didn’t work out then?
Me:Not exactly. He bought me a restaurant in Valcourt.
Priya:Ummm…and that’s bad, why?
Me:Would you respect a head chef who only got the job because her boyfriend bought out the owner?
Priya:WHAT DOES THAT MATTER? HE BOUGHT YOU YOUR OWN FREAKING RESTAURANT!! I’d kill for a rich boyfriend who would buy me a restaurant. Or just a restaurant. Or just a boyfriend, broke or otherwise.
Me:I know it sounds insane but there are three very good reasons: 1) I didn’t earn it. 2) I’ll never respect myself if I take it. 3) He’ll likely lose all respect for me if I take it, so really it’ll be the beginning of the end and I’ll be stuck in a foreign country alone. 4) He thinks I shouldn’t have any say in where I live my life. 5) He just assumed I’d give up my entire life at the snap of his fingers. 6) Harrison and Libby are having a baby. They need me. I can’t just abandon my brother after everything he’s done for me.
Priya:That’s six reasons.
Me:I’m too depressed to do math.
Priya:In that case, maybe you should get off the plane and try to sort it out with him.
Me:It’s over. Trust me...
Priya:Damn.What happened to the whole mature, sophisticated globe-trotting thing?
Me:It didn’t come up. It was either take his offer or leave, so I left. I’m not the kind of girl who can let a man make all my decisions for me.
Priya:I’m sorry, hon. I wish it had worked out.
Me:It’s okay. The way he acted today is actually going to make it much easier to get over him.
I hope.
* * *
“What are you doing back here already?” Rosy asks as I climb out of the backseat of the jeep.
I had planned to sneak back to the resort, then take a boat and go back to Eden, tell Phyllis and Alfred to fuck off and leave me alone, then hide on the houseboat a few days. But it turns out two of the resort’s guests were on the same flight as me, and Justin was there to pick them up when I walked out of the terminal. He offered me a ride and I couldn’t think of a good excuse not to take it.
