Antonio opens the door for us, and we climb inside the towncar. “I will but not until my father retires. I think he’s planning to stay on as CEO for another five years or so.”
“Your place?” Antonio asks, taking his seat in the driver’s side and looking at me through the rearview mirror.
I turn to face Aster. “What do you want to do? I know I said I was going home alone earlier, but if you need me…”
She shakes her head and rests a hand on my arm. “I actually feel better after talking through everything with you tonight. I think I’ll go home and take a long bath.”
I look up at Antonio, who’s still awaiting my response. “We’ll take Aster home and then head to my flat. Thanks, Antonio.”
Once we reach her place, I walk Aster to the door and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for everything.”
Her eyes hold mine. “Why do I feel like this is goodbye?”
“It’s not. I think I just need time to process. I’m all in my head after my last visit home.”
She nods and squeezes my arm. “I’m here if you need me, Remi.”
“I’ll give you a call. We’ll get together soon.”
As Antonio and I head to my place, I feel like tonight’s conversation healed something inside me. Or at least transformed it.
Because instead of the longing I’ve felt for so long, all that’s left is a deep and abiding anger. Yes, at Minnie, but also at myself for allowing this obsession with a one-night stand to continue all these years. For allowing her space in my head and in my heart.
Well… that ends now.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
New beginnings
Mindy
“Aunt Lorraine!”I call, walking through her front door and kicking off my heels.
She comes in from the kitchen, eyes bright with excitement as she wipes her hands on a magenta dish towel. “How did your interview go, sweetie?”
For the first time in a long while, I feel like I have sunshine and rainbows shooting from my ass, and I do a wiggly little dance on the spot.
“It was amazing. Mr. Hale is so nice.” My aunt beams, and I jog over to squish her into a big hug. “Thank you so much for letting me know about this job opening so I could apply.”
She returns my embrace, and oh god, it’s so much like my mother’s, so I hold onto her for another beat. Aunt Lorraine leans back and holds me by the shoulders, her face bright and proud.
“Well, you look stunning, baby girl, and you have such a lovely personality. Mr. Hale would have to be stupid not to hire you.” She releases me and pats my cheek. “So you think it went well, huh?”
“Definitely. He asked me to call him Haywood, and that’s a good sign, I think. Our interview was during lunch, so we met at a restaurant. His current executive assistant went with us, and I noticed themcasting glances and nodding at each other from time to time when I would answer a question.” I inhale a breath and let it out on a nervous shudder. “I think I have a good chance of getting the job.”
“Of course you do,” Aunt Lorraine scoffs. “When will you find out?”
“Today was the last day of interviews, so they said I should hear something by Monday. Then I can get out of your hair and get my own place.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I enjoy having you.” Her nose wrinkles in disgust. “I can’t believe that asshole husband of yours got you fired and then changed all the locks on your house.”
“Soon-to-be-ex-husband,” I correct as we take a seat on her comfy tan couch. I worry my bottom lip with my teeth. “Aunt Lorraine, do you think I gave up on my marriage too soon?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not at all. You gave him the chance to work things out in marriage counseling, and he only went to… how many appointments?”
“Two,” I answer.
“Right. He went to two appointments before calling it quits. He didn’t even try, and a marriage takes two people putting in the work. One person can’t carry the entire load.”
