“I have a big problem. Areallybig problem.” I shift in my chair, the wooden legs scraping softly against the café floor, and prop my phone against a napkin holder. The low hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine fill the space around me as I tuck one earbud securely into my ear.
Nora blinks a couple of times on my phone screen. “Did Cocoa escape?”
“No.” I wrap my fingers around my warm mug, the heat seeping into my palms. “Of course, he didn’t escape. He’s just at home. He’s doing a lot better.” I feel like a proud dog mom because Cocoa isimproving. I’m pretty sure he may only chew up one pair of carefully staged shoes.
“Fair enough. I guess Dom has really made a difference in a lot of ways. That’s really good, though. So … what’s the problem?”
“I ended up talking to Cityscape about my apartment complex proposal—”
“Cityscape?!” Her voice jumps through the earbud. “No way! That’s so cool! What did they say? Did they go for it?”
I glance down at my coffee, the latte art already dissolving into nothing, and take a sip. “They did.”
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Nora’s eyes widen on the screen. “I can’t believe that! Connor has pitched to them multiple times and has never been offered anything. They must think your idea is amazing!”
I try to conjure up a smile, but I fail, my lips forming a straight line. “Yeah, but they want me to move to Miami.”
“Oh, that’s so nice! The beaches there are beautiful!” Nora’s voice is full of enthusiasm, and I wish more than anything I could bring myself to feel the same way.
“I don’t want to go to Miami,” I say quietly. “I like Los Angeles. Ifinallyfeel like I’mbuilding something here.”
Nora studies me through the screen. “And Dom’s part of that.”
I hesitate. “He is. But it’s not just him.”
“I know,” she says gently. “But itishim, too.”
I let out a breath, my shoulders sagging beneath my sweater. “Yeah. It is.” I stare down into my coffee. “He got some interest yesterday. From Texas.”
Nora’s expression shifts. “Does he want to go?”
“I don’t see why he wouldn’t,” I say, my voice softer now. “It’s his dream team.”
And I don’t want to be the reason he hesitates.
“Okay, well, Miami is closer to Texas than LA is, so long distance is totally possible. It’s not like you both can’t jet back and forth to each other whenever you feel like it—and then let’s not forget that Dom spends a lot of time away at games, traveling. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal…”
“Something about it just feels wrong, though,” I counter. I know my sister is making good points. I’ve already thought of all of them. “We literallyjuststarted dating. I feel like if we were to end up dating long distance, we’d be pretty much doomed.”
She shakes her head at me, her voice firm. “That’s not true.”
I look out across the boulevard to the ocean, feeling the weight of my thoughts. “And I’m not really ready to leave Los Angeles. I like it here. It feels like this is where my vision really seemed to come to life.”
She clears her throat. “I think you should send your proposal to Dad.”
“What? Why?”
“Because he’d be a lot more relaxed than those other investors.”
“But if I send it to Dad…” My heart squeezes in my chest. “He might assume that I’m going to fail again.” I swallow. “With Cityscape, it feels like it’s a blank slate. A fresh start.”
“Of course.” Nora nods over the phone. “I get that, but I also think you should at least give him a chance.”
“But I have to let Cityscape knowtoday.”
“Then call him, Nicole. Just call him and see what he thinks. Then make the decision that you think is best for you. If things are meant to work out with Dom, they will.”
I nod again, a swell of emotion rising in my chest. “Thank you.”
