I smiled.It felt surprisingly good to be so bad.No wonder Delaney had done it. But more to the point, maybe this would help even out the scales.
Mom demanded, "And when are you coming home?"
"You mean to Chicago? I dunno…maybe never?" Until I actually said it, I hadn't realized it was true. But now that it was out there, I saw no reason to take it back.
Since quitting my barista job, I'd been working really hard to stay busy – desperate to earn some cash and even more desperate to forget Ryder.
I'd been a failure on both counts, especially after confirming with the property management company that Ryder had, in fact, paid my rent – and this wasbeforewe started dating. I even had a copy of the check sporting Ryder's signature.
And to think, he hadn't said a single word – which meant I had never thanked him.
Regardless, Iwouldpay him back. I just had to come up with the money. And then, I could mail it to him, nice and neat, on a check of my own with a polite note, thanking him for the loan.
Not a gift.
Not charity.
Just a loan.
By the time my mom and I hung up, she was blustering, and I was calm – but not so calm that my heart didn't hurt whenever I thought of Ryder, wondering where he was and what he was doing.
97
Buyer's Remorse
Ryder
The office was immaculate, the view unbeatable, and my calendar was packed.
I should've been happy, but I wasn't.
When my assistant cleared her throat in the doorway, I looked up to hear her say, "There's a woman here to see you, but she won't give her name."
This again?With a wry smile, I said, "You know the gig."
"I know. No name, no meeting. But she wasreallyinsistent. She said she knows you from Mackinac Island?"
My heart gave a single thud. "What?"
"Um…yeah. She said you have unfinished business?"
I was already on my feet. "Send her in." If I were a better man, I would've gone to greet her myself, but the truth was, I needed a minute to think.
I didn't get that minute, because thirty seconds later, there she was, bursting into the office, bringing the island with her.
Her sweater was lavender, her skirt was floral, and her hair had more silver than I recalled.
It was Franny Mulberry.
My chest loosened, leaving something heavier behind.
Before I had time to process it, Franny was already barreling toward my desk, saying, "Well, this is awkward."
Yes.
Yes, it was.
As words failed, Franny filled the silence by announcing, "I sold you some bum goods, and I'm here to make it right." But then she paused. "Hey, aren't you gonna say hello?"
