Page 12 of Summer Sweethearts
“Well, it’s not a fancy financial advisor job, but I’m looking for a partner in my company. Construction is on the rise, and I can’t keep up. I’ve been wanting to hire someone to run another crew, but I want them to have as much stake in the company as me, so they push for success as I do. Also, after the wedding, Aiden and I are exploring adoption or surrogacy, so I need someone I can rely on to hold down the fort if we’re pregnant or have kids.”
“Cain, you’re saying a lot of something and not making your point. What are you getting at?” I groan, just wanting to lie back in bed and sleep this feeling away.
“Sorry, I want to know if you want to help me run Morale Construction? Equal owners, just you and me. You used to like to work with your hands, and I know you’re knowledgeable about construction. You just liked that fancy job more.”
“I-I-I… I don’t know what to say. Can I think about it and let you know?” I ask, praying he lets me go. I’d have to move there. I’d have to see her. Shit!Fuck!
“Yeah, just let me know before the weekend, please?”
“That’ll work. Bye, Cain.” I hang up and drop my phone back onto the table before heading back to my room, falling face-first onto my bed, and groaning loudly.What the fuck am I gonna do?
* * *
Cain needs to know the answer tonight. I have thought about it, and I just don’t know what the fuck to do. It would be a major pay cut and I’d, of course, have to move back to Kingston, wheresheis. Now that the company I moved here for is no more, I have nothing here. I don’t have friends or a lover since I’ve always been too busy with work. Well, that and none of them were Loretta. Every woman I’ve dated has been compared to her and none of them held a candle to her beauty, her heart, or her soul.
Maybe this is a sign that it’s time to go back to Kingston and tell her I fucked up all those years ago. I should have asked her to come with me or turned down the job and stayed in Kingston with her. Back then, I was sure that if I did either of those things, we would grow to resent one another, so I broke it off and left. Now here I am, years later, terrified to see her again. Don’t get me wrong, Iwantto see her, but her reaction is what worries me.
Slapping my hand down on the table, I grab my phone and find Cain’s number. “Fuck it. I let her go to come here and have nothing to show for it. It’s time to go back and face her,” I say out loud, speaking to myself and the walls of this fancy apartment. Who knows, maybe she’s single, and this is all the universe’s way of pushing us back together. I hit call on my phone and put it on speakerphone, Cain answers on the second ring.
“Hello.”
“Cain, it’s me. I don’t wanna keep you ‘cause it’s the weekend and you’re busy with work and wedding stuff, but I’m in. Tell me how much you want as the buy-in so we can be equal partners and when you need me there,” I tell him, and a feeling of peace comes over me.
“Man, I’m glad you said yes. I promise, although it’s not a fancy corporate job, you’re going to love it,” he assures me. “Fifteen would make us equal partners, and can you be here by next weekend?”
“Yup, I have minimal shit since the apartment came furnished. Anyway, can I give you half the money when I arrive and half after I settle everything here? I have two vehicles, but will only need the truck in Kingston, so I’m going to sell the Porsche. I have some custom suits I won’t be needing, so I’m thinking I’ll take them to the resale shop in town and get some of my money back,” I tell him.
“Yeah, that’s fine, Mikey. You’re family. If you need longer than that, just let me know. I know you’re good for it.” Just like that, he hangs up. I set my phone on the table and let out the breath I’ve been holding. Holy fuck, I’m moving back to Kingston, and hopefully, I’ll win back my girl.
Wasting no time, I go to my room, open my walk-in closet, and start pulling my suits out. Armani, Sebastian Cruz, Dolce, and Indochino pile up on my bed. Tomorrow I’ll take them down to the Suit Exchange and see what I can get for them. I’ll get some boxes while I’m out to pack the rest of my shit. The only thing left to do is place an ad online for the car. Sitting on my bed next to the pile of suits, I open my laptop and create an ad online. Porsche Panamera in Olympic Blue, sixteen thousand miles; eighty grand obo. Uploading a few pictures to go with it, I hit the post button.
Happy with what I’ve done so far, I get up and walk to the bathroom. I need to shower and go to bed so I can get the rest of this shit done tomorrow, making sure I take care of everything so I can head to Kingston at the end of the week. Turning on the water, I shed my clothes, set a towel out so it’s ready when I’m done, and step into the shower. The water helps release some of the tension I’ve been holding all weekend while stressing about my decision. I wash my hair and body and quickly tidy up my manscaping since I don’t know if I’ll have time later this week. Stepping out, I grab my towel, wrap it around my waist, and wipe the mirror with my hand. My golden brown eyes stare back at me, heavy-lidded with exhaustion. I run the towel over my chestnut hair before brushing my teeth.
Shutting off the light as I leave the room, grab my gray sweats off the top of the dresser and step into them. I head to the bed, just climb in opposite the suits, crawl under the comforter, and close my eyes. I can feel myself drift off to dreamland, picturing a blonde-haired goddess with glasses and a beaming smile.
* * *
Today is the day. I’m packed and all my belongings are in the bed of my truck downstairs. I’m three thousand dollars richer, thanks to the Suit Exchange, and, in about twenty minutes, I’ll be ready to go. My Porsche hasn’t sold, but the dealership I bought it from has agreed to put it on their lot for me since I’m leaving town. They’re charging me a storage fee, so don’t start singing their praises just yet, but hopefully, that’ll be a drop in the bucket compared to what the car brings.
I head outside, and as I’m locking the door and dropping the keys in the drop box for the property manager, the guy from the dealership pulls up. He steps out of the car and comes over, shaking my hand. “You sure you want to sell this beauty?”
“Yeah, I’m moving and where I’m headed, there is no need to be flashy. Plus, I’m hoping to use the money to invest in my new business venture,” I tell him.
“Well, we’ll take her up to the lot, advertise, and show her off. You already signed the contract, but just to clarify the terms. Fifty dollars a day for storage, and when she sells, we’ll just have you come in to sign the title and get your money. If all that still sounds good, then I brought Rossi here to take our car back, and I’m going to drive your baby.”
“Sounds good. Just call me and I’ll come to handle whatever needs to be done.” I hand him the keys and shake his hand. He gets in the car and honks as he pulls away from the curb, driving away with his coworker following behind. Now that he has the car, everything is handled, and there’s nothing left for me to do here. I walk to my truck and climb in. Taking a deep breath, I look out the window at my apartment one last time before backing out of my driveway and heading out onto the road back to Kingston.
Ready or not, Mike, we’re headed back to where our heart broke and our dreams began.
LORETTA
Aiden came into work today with anxiousness surrounding him, and all day, he’s been acting really weird around me. I don’t know what his deal is, but I intend to find out. I ring out the guest that I’m helping; as they take their bag and head to the exit, I go in search of my boss. I find him in the new addition that he and Cain have been working on when they have time. He’s hunched over a catalog looking at children’s book displays. Walking up to him, I tap his shoulder. He squeals and jumps up, whirling around to face me. “Christ, Loretta, you scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry, Aiden. I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?” he asks, earmarking his page and closing the catalog.
“You’ve been avoiding me all day, and when you do talk to me, you avoid eye contact. Oh, and you’re very jumpy every time someone comes in. What is going on?”
