“Probably. But watching you moon over Ina is more entertaining.” He came in and sat in one of my chairs. “How are you really doing? Now that she’s not here to keep your complicated schedule from imploding?”
I leaned back in my chair, considering the question. “My girlfriend is exactly where she’s meant to be. The matchmakers are finally happy to be out from under IT’s thumb and in their own department with proper resources and support.”
“That’s very diplomatic. But I asked howyou’redoing.”
I shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“You miss her.”
“Of course I miss her. But I see her every day.
Lucas’s grin widened. “When is she moving in?”
“Sooner than she thinks,” I replied with a laugh.
“I don’t even want to know, but I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I am. And the best part is I feel like it only goes up from here. Like life is just getting started. There’s a whole future ahead.”
I owed Norma everything. She’d handled the board politics, made sure every regulation was followed to the letter. She’d been prepared for this from the beginning, like she’d known it was inevitable that I’d fall for my assistant and would need a plan to make it work.
Norma might have been the best matchmaker at Cupid’s Arrow, even if she’d never officially held the title. She was my own Cupid.
“When are you having us over for dinner?” Lucas asked.
“Never.”
He waved a hand. “I’ll just ask Ina. She wants us there. I can’t believe we’re both old married couples. We should plan a vacation together this summer. That’s what married couples do.”
“I’m not married.”
He rolled his eyes. “You basically are. We both know neither of you is going anywhere. You two are forever together.”
“Let’s hope.”
“Have you heard from Keith?” Lucas asked, his tone shifting to something more serious.
I shook my head, feeling relief. “No. Last I heard, he was moving to Florida.”
“Good riddance.”
“Agreed.” My eyes automatically went to the framed picture on my shelf. It was me and Keith taken about ten years ago. “It’s weird, you know? We were friends for so long. I thought we’d always be friends. Turns out I was wrong about a lot of things.”
Lucas leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “You weren’t wrong. You just outgrew him. He stayed the same entitled asshole he’s always been, and you evolved into someone better.”
“Maybe.” I wasn’t entirely convinced. Part of me wondered if I could have handled the situation differently. If there was a way to have kept both my friendship with Keith and my relationship with Ina. But deep down, I knew that was impossible. Keith had forced me to choose, and I’d chosen Ina without hesitation.
I would choose her every time.
“Don’t do that,” Lucas said, reading my expression with the ease of someone who’d known me for decades. “Don’t second-guess yourself. Keith made his choices. You made yours. He’s the one who couldn’t be happy for you.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because you’re sitting here looking like you feel guilty about firing someone who absolutely deserved to be fired.”
I sighed. “It’s not guilt. It’s disappointment. I wish he could have changed or evolved, as you say. I think the guy is missing out on real joy. It’s sad.”
Ina appeared in the doorway like I conjured her just by thinking about her.
