“No, it’s not.” I sigh. “This meeting with Cole is playing on my mind.”
“Ria,” she says in that tone that only moms have, “you shouldn’t be thinking about that now. This is a trip to have fun and forget about the real world.”
“I know, Mom, but you know I’ve never been able to switch off. And this could be big for Bright.” I move the champagne around in my glass and stare down at the liquid swirling around. “I got an email from Ezra this afternoon.”
“Saying what?”
“That he has a meeting with Cole this week to discuss his portfolio.”
“Do you know if Cole approached him or the other way around?”
“Why does that matter?” I frown.
“It matters because Cole approached you. That in itself is telling. He wants you to manage that portfolio, and he’s going through the right channels. He’s doing his due diligence.”
“How do you know he didn’t contact Ezra?”
“You know how the industry works. Men like Cole West know what they want and they act. They will wait for the right person for the job. He asked you to arrange the meeting and confirmedthat he would be there. I would bet my entire bag collection that Ezra begged for a meeting.” She nudges her shoulder with mine.
“I guess.”
“That man. I can’t believe all these years later he’s still playing games.” Tugging gently on my hand, she forces me to look at her. “You don’t let that man suck the life out of you again. I have my girl back. My beautifully strong, fierce, intelligent girl with so much heart is back, and I thought for a long time I was never going to get her back. I will not let that dick do it again.”
“He won’t, Mom, I promise, but this is so much more than just about me as a person. This is our family business. This portfolio is huge.”
“And you think that is more important to me than your mental health?”
“Of course not. But I have something to prove. Ezra always liked to say that he would be better at running a company than I would—”
“I’m sorry? He said what?” She rears back. “I can’t believe you never told me that.”
“Mom, you were gunning for him when he left, and I didn’t want you to ‘sort’ him.” I tilt my head to the side, giving her a knowing smile.
“You should have let me.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“You’re crazy.”
“Your dad loves my crazy.” She sips her champagne. “I may still do it if he hurts Trixie.” Her gaze drifts across the room to where Trixie is laughing with Lily and Jade.
“I think Jade and Lily would be ahead of you there, Mom.”
“I think a certain firefighter would be in front of us all.”
She’s not wrong.
“Why are my two favorite Stone ladies sitting here surrounded by all this”—Grace waves her hands around at the elaborate decorations—“with faces like someone kicked their puppy?”
“We don’t have faces like that.” I giggle at my best friend.
“You definitely wouldn’t if you took that fine specimen of a man home, who hasn’t stopped looking at you since you walked in.” Her eyebrows bounce and my eyes widen.
“Grace, don’t say things like that in front of Mom.”
“Oh, hush now. I’m not stupid, Ria.” She waves me off and turns to Grace. “Which one?”
“Mom!”
“The one over in the corner. Sharp black tux with muscles that are threatening to rip the material, perfectly strong jaw, at least six foot two, and piercing blue eyes that have tracked this stunner’s movements all night." She kisses my cheek and because the bubbles from the champagne are slowly taking effect, I hiccup and cackle at her description.
