We chat with him for a little longer before Tessa announces she needs to head home. I promise to come again on Monday, as I usually do, and we both leave.
“Is your ride coming back?” My sister asks when we step outside.
“No, I’m taking the subway.”
“I’m calling a cab. It’s really unfortunate I had to come all the way here because he misplaced an icon on his phone. I have two children and a lot of work, Cora. Next time, answer your phone so we can avoid these kinds of situations.”
“He was happy to see you,” I whisper, but I don’t think she hears me through her aggressive heel-clicking as she trots to the curb.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. The smell of lemongrass and sandalwood somehow still lingers on my skin. The whisper of the scent carries me back to the carefree afternoon.
I should never have accepted his invitation. What is it good for, getting a taste of the life that I can’t have?
No more Xander Stone for me.
Chapter 6
Xander
Ilean back in my chair and sip a coffee that tastes suspiciously like Roxy’s contempt. The woman is the best office manager, but she doesn’t hold back on any weapons when it comes to the four of us, the partners.
I catch her smirking as I spit the concoction back into my cup. Corm finishes a phone call as the other two partners walk into his office. Caleb takes a seat beside me on the sofa.
“I didn’t know you worked from the office today.” Corm pats his brother.
Declan’s been working at home ever since the paparazzi started stalking his family.
None of us knew his nanny wasn’t who she claimed to be, and none of us expected the media circus after the secret wasuncovered.
“Yeah, me being here is the least of my problems. Lily wanting to go out today, on the other hand. Fuck…” he grumbles and sits down, scowling.
“Oh, yeah, Saar told me it’s Cora’s birthday.” Corm sits down.
“It’s not a good idea for them to go out. The photographers will be relentless,” Declan scowls.
“No worries. I just spoke with Celeste. She suggested they all come to our house because of the baby,” Caleb says. “I was going to force one of you to entertain me, but she just texted me that the girls agreed to postpone the celebration and go out when things calm down.”
“Thank fuck for that.” Declan relaxes visibly.
Will Cora be alone on her birthday? The idea bothers me more than it should. Especially since she never called me after I dropped her at her dad’s.
I expected her to reach out once she had sorted out the situation with her father. I thought we would pick up where we left off. And even if she started overthinking it again, at least she could have let me know everything was okay.
Not that she owes me any explanations, but still…
Fuck. I have no business spending as much time as I do thinking about her.
It’s been a week since the luncheon and the spaafternoon, and she hasn’t reached out. I almost barged into her bistro once.
Or twice.
Okay, three times.
I distracted myself instead and went out. But the Manhattan nightlife doesn’t do it for me lately.
“Okay,” Declan says, adjusting his cuff like he’s about to issue a death sentence. “San Francisco.”
Roxy picks up her tablet and types before she looks up. For some reason, we all wait for her before we start talking. Sometimes, I wonder who is in charge here.
