“What do you mean, he wants Keri? For what?”
“He wants her to be the face of his new luxury perfume. That’s why he posted her photo on his website. He fell in love with her through one photo. We have a Zoom meeting with his team tomorrow.”
Roxy is shocked, eyes wide and mouth open in disbelief. “And you and Keri are moving forward with this? Does that mean you’ll be coming back to California?” She squeals with delight, hope breaking through her initial shock. “Or maybe they need you to move to Paris, right?” She turns bright-eyed toward her husband. “I’ve always wanted to visit Paris.”
Justin smiles and drags the back of his index finger down her cheek. “I’ll take you to Paris, babe.”
I clear my throat. “I’m not coming back to California, and I’m not moving to Paris. My home is here, in Heartsboro.”
Roxy’s head jerks so she’s looking right at me. “What about Keri?”
“What about her?”
“Is she…” Her eyebrow peaks with realization. “Is she doing this without you?”
I reach for my sweet tea and take a long swig, my throat closing up with emotion and my hands slightly trembling. I swallow hard. “I don’t know. That’s why she’s not here. She’s trying to decide.”
Roxy slumps in her chair, her face falling in disbelief and sympathy. “I can’t believe it. After everything you two have been through, I can’t believe she’d leave you here by yourself.”
“I won’t be by myself. I have Molly.”
She growls. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
Roxy turns toward Justin. “Do you want to explain it to him or should I?”
“Go ahead,” Justin replies, waving his hand out in front of him.
I watch my cousin lean forward, her forearms pressing into the tablecloth as she fixes me with a steady, intense stare. “What Justin and I witnessed over our wedding weekend was something unmistakably real.”
“What do you mean?” I try to stay calm. All this talk of Keri reminds me of what I’m about to lose.
“We witnessed two extraordinary, beautiful people choosing each other in real time with their whole hearts. She’s the one, Adam. You must know this to your core. And it’s only going to continue to grow and deepen over the months and years to come.”
I drop my gaze, voice tight. “Not if she moves to Paris.”
“You can’t let that happen.”
“Is there anything you can do to convince her to stay?” Justin asks.
“Not if I want her to respect me. The last thing I need is for her to resent me for the rest of her life.”
“Hmmm,” Roxy hums. “He’s got a point.”
“I know it sounds cliché, but I have to let her go. She’s been wanting to get out of this town for years but never had a clear path.”
“And you just provided her with one,” Justin adds with understanding.
I can almost hear the imaginary thud of a nail sinking into my coffin, a heavy emptiness filling my chest as the three of us look at each other in defeat. “But hey, I told her I’d make sure she was well taken care of if she chooses to go.”
“But maybe after talking business tomorrow, she’ll need more time to decide. Maybe the contract won’t be to her liking,” Roxy says.
I exhale an exasperated breath. “Roxy, we’re talking glam—more photos, campaign appearances, possible commercials, meet-and-greets at high-end department stores. She’d be the ‘it’ girl for this perfume brand.”
“And the money?” she asks.
“Dan said it could be very lucrative for all parties involved.”
