And this moment right now marks the first occasion that renders Roxy Moretti speechless. She stares at me for a moment, and then her lips stretch into a gleeful smile. “Well, well, well, Xander Stone.”
She closes the door and sits on the armrest of the chair in the corner. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ve already established I’m insane, so I don’t care much.
Roxy clicks a few times on her phone and then taps the headset she never takes off at work.
“Saar, sorry to bother you. I ran into Ed Reynolds, and he wanted a suggestion for a date-suitable restaurant. Since I happen to know who his date is, I thought I’d better check with you. Where would Cora like to go?”
She doesn’t even flinch. Impressive. And mildly disturbing from the woman who called me a liar.
“Oh, he already confirmed with you. I guess he was second-guessing himself.” Roxy fake-giggles and listens. “You’re right, it’s adorable, and that is a great space.”
She hangs up and winks at me. “One down.”
Scrolling quickly, she taps her headset again. “Hello, I’m Evelyn, Mr. Reynolds’s assistant. I’m calling to confirm his reservation tonight at seven.”
She listens, smiling triumphantly. “No, no, my mistake. Itisfor eight. You’re right.”
Roxy hangs up and types on her phone. My phone pings with a text. I open it to find the name of the restaurant.
“That was—”
“The last time I help you, Xander.” She stands up.
I frown.
“At least until you man up and call your father.” She reaches for the door.
“You’re strangely invested in my relationship with my father.”
“Just protecting my bonus.” She shrugs and leaves.
I glance at the text on my screen.
“And Xander?” Roxy sticks her head in the door again. “Don’t ruin that woman’s chances with a decent man.”
And for the second time in a few weeks, my conscience comes knocking.
Chapter 11
Cora
“Iwent to a few fancy events lately.” I shift from one foot to the other. “You would have hated it.”
The tombstone doesn’t answer, so I continue my monolog. “My friend is going through a rough patch, and she moved to London. You would have liked her.”
What do I know? I never got a chance to see what kind of person Ethan would become nearing his fortieth birthday.
“I have a date tonight. Geez, let’s hope it’s like riding a bike. I don’t even understand how the years went by, and I never truly moved on. Do you mind that I’m going out? Even if you do, I’m going to go through with it. You left me first, after all.”
I try to picture his face, his smile, but it’stoo hazy. As much as I try to hold onto the memory of him, it’s fading with time.
Right after he passed, I had to save the bistro, helping my dad. It was the best antidote for grief… or an avoidance tactic.
“I’m still mad at you for it. And I fucking miss you.”
I squeeze the bouquet in my hand, and a green leaf falls onto my shoe. I better save the flowers. Squatting, I lay them down beside the stone, because the vase that is attached to it is filled with roses.
Ethan’s mother must be coming here regularly. A part of me wishes I would run into her. We didn’t get along before, but perhaps we would now. Bound by tragedy.
