"Gladly,” I say. I trail after my sister as she hugs Dad, Martin, and Lucy before forcing an awkward hug on Nini. "Happy horrible birthday, Nini, you big old meanie."
Nini swats her away. "What kind of a thing is that to say to an old woman? I hope you get wrinkles early. And is that a gray hair I see?”
Annica grins and turns to me.
“Ready?” I ask.
"If you mean, am I ready to head back to my quiet, luxurious apartment on the beach, why then yes, I’m ready."
I crack open the door. "Why are you so mean?"
We laugh as I follow her outside. Annica drives a convertible BMW Z8, which was named one of the sexiest cars of the year in a recent article.
A sliver of old-fashioned envy shudders through me. Annica is a successful wedding planner who’s become very good atenjoying the fruits of her labor. And though I have worked as hard as she has all these years, I'm stuck in this crowded condo driving the Camry we bought almost fifteen years ago because, as Ross says, we remain the sole owners, and the thing’s in mint condition.
"Hey," Annica says in my silence. "You could have everything I have. You know that, right?"
I look at her like the notion is ridiculous. Then, I make my eyes wider in case she's not reading my mind anymore. My expression says,no, actually, I can't.
"Ashley, you makegoodmoney. Plus, you guys sold a house you owned outright, and you have half of that profit sitting in the bank. You could call Liam Wheaton tonight, tell him what you’re working with, and he’d have a handful of places to look at by morning.”
The mere mention of calling Liam tonight makes my stomach twist and my face sweat. “I’m definitely not calling him tonight,” I say, sounding like the chicken I am.
Annica keeps her searching gaze on me. “Just because Ross wants you to hold off on buying the car you want or the house that you want… Let me rephrase that: Just because he wants you to keep livingoutsideof town with a trio of old people instead of mingling with the hot singles in town doesn't mean youactuallyhave to do that."
“That’s not why he’s doing it,” I say with an eye roll. “There’s not even a sliver of him that still wants me, and I feel the same way about him.” I think of the plan Ross came up with, which was to wait for at least one year. “Staying put is the best financial decision."
My face flushes with a new dose of heat because that last part wasn’t exactly honest. I mean, maybe itwouldbe the smartest financial choice, but it’s notmychoice. I’m just going along forthe ride like I always have. I glance down at my foot as I tap the side of Annica’s tire.
"Then tell me this,” Annica says, a challenge in her tone. “Is it the best decision for your mental health? And the kids—think about them. They're not even sharing abedroom. They're sharing a den. And they have to put up with Nini day in and day out, after getting ripped away from their school and their friends in Oregon, after their parents got divorced…”
“Geez, Annica,” I scold. “What happened to the pep talk?”
“I’m just saying…” She drags the word out like when we were kids. “They need to see that you can make decisions for yourself. What kind of example is it for Lucy if you just bow down to a man you're not even married to anymore?"
I narrow my eyes at her. "I'm a really good mom.”
“I never said you weren't," Annica says. "In fact, you're a terrific mom. But is this what you would tell Lucy to do in the same situation? Or even Martin, for that matter? Heck, actions speak a lot louder than words.”
I nod. "I know. So, you’re suggesting that I look for a place in town now and commute?”
“Not commute. Find a dentist you didn’t used to be married to and work for him.”
I give her atsk.“I’ll think about it.” But the fact is, Ihavebeen thinking about it nearly every minute of every day since we moved here three months ago.
“Call Liam,” Annica urges. “Or better yet, come to one of the forty-something meet-ups, and you can talk to him in person.”
A clash of dread and delight shudder through me at the thought.
“I know you said you don’t want to go to any of those yet, but I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Someone to swoop in and snatch Liam up for herself?”
The delight is vapor now—a ghost in the wake of a new and rising fear.
“He’s a great guy,” Annica continues, “and there don’t seem to be a whole lot of them around.”
Ugh,I hate how right she is, but it’s true. My heart feels like it has feet of its own because, suddenly, it’s racing wildly out of control. “You haven’t told him I’m back, have you?”
“No.” Annica taps her key fob so that her car unlocks. “Oh, and one last thing: what I said about you attaining everything I have, that’s true. Sadly, it doesn't go both ways."
