“Goodbye,” she whispers.
“Until next time.” I give her one last kiss on the forehead before releasing her and leaving.
When I find my family, Callie is complaining about her seat.
“I don’t understand why I have to be in the middle of Mom and Dad. One of you should be there.”
“Because you get to sit in the first row,” I explain to her. “We’re going to be at the back of the plane.”
Callie huffs, stomps her foot, and heads to where our parents stand.
“She’s becoming a brat,” Nyx complains.
“Were we that annoying when we were her age?” Persy asks.
“You’re still annoying, Persy,” I remark.
She sticks her tongue out. “Who was that?”
I arch an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“The pretty girl who came to say hello to Eros,” Nyx adds.
“Oh, that’s… this girl I met at the airport a few years back.”
“The one stranded with you during the blizzard?” Nyx asks, then elbows Persy. “Airport girl.”
“No wonder she wasn’t falling at his feet trying to get his attention.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Every woman you meet wants to get you in bed. This one was perky and happy, but I can see that’s her personality. She wasn’t touching you and rubbing herself against you while you two were talking.”
“Were you spying on me?”
“Just for a couple of minutes,” Persy confesses. “So, we assume the airport girl is just a friend.”
“More like someone I know. We don’t know that much about each other.” I’m not sure if that’s a lie. There’s a lot that I’ve learned about Liv throughout the years.
Liv is a spark in the night… she’s so much. She’s someone I like and who I’d love to see again. There’s a special bond between us, but I definitely won’t tell these two. They are going to give me a hard time.
“She’s pretty,” Nyx says. “I could see you settling down with someone like her.”
“Let me figure out what I’m going to do next before you start setting me up,” I warn her.
“I can’t believe you quit without a plan,” she says, exasperated. “Not only that, but you dragged your friend Misty along with you.”
Nyx is wrong. I didn’t drag Misty. My sisters swear she has a crush on me. She doesn’t. We’ve known each other for years. There’s a difference between being close and being in love.
I met Misty Wilfred in college. Getting along with her is effortless. We became friends within days. She reminded me of Nyx and Persy. Unlike those two, she’s beautiful, funny, and easy-going. I don’t remember if I was attracted to her when we met.
“Wait, that’s not true. She found a job in Denver. It wasn’t because of me.”
Persy gives me a glance that says, I can’t believe you’re so gullible. “Misty followed you. She’s in love with you.”
“She’s not.”
“Oh, please.” Nyx rolls her eyes. “Stop and smell the diehard crush for you. I wouldn’t move to another state for any guy. She moved for you. At least she was smart enough to get a job before following you—unlike you.”
“He wasn’t happy in New York. I think it was wise,” Persy intervenes.
“It’d be fine if he knew what he’s doing next. You bought a house, a car, and… what is next?”
“I have some investments and savings. It’s not like I came back to live with my parents. Give me a couple of months. I’ll figure this out.”
Chapter Ten
Eros
So, things didn’t turn out the way I imagined. Fuck, I can’t even say as planned. Maybe Nyx was right. I should’ve had a strategy before I quit, packed my belongings, and changed my life drastically.
It’s been almost three years since I left my steady, well-paying job because I thought I could do a lot better. Instead of moving forward, I’m taking several steps backward.
I’m a fucking failure. Eating through my savings isn’t a good strategy either. Now it’s time to snap out of my pipe dream and go back to what I do best, working for others. The options are limited. Today, I’m interviewing with a big consulting company in San Francisco. Getting this job isn’t optional. I’m a few months from having to sell my house and move in with my parents.
What a fucking joke. From trying to avoid my parents’ fate, I’ll end up being forty and living in their basement.
San Francisco is my last chance to do something with my life. Will it be hard to move away from my family? Probably. I know it sounds terrible. What can I say? I got used to having my two sisters visiting me with food, decorating my house, and just making decisions for me.
Can I do all that on my own? Sure, but that keeps them entertained.
As I make my way through the San Francisco airport toward the exit, a woman bumps against my chest.
“Sorry,” she says. Her gaze is locked to her phone.
Before I scold her for not paying attention to where she’s going, I ask, “Are you okay, ma’am?”
The woman looks up at me and laughs.
My heart drums inside my chest when I realize it’s Olivia. “Hi, Liv.” I smile at her.
Would it be weird to say that earlier today, I thought about her? It’s logical, right? This is where her father lives, and it’s been too long since the last time we saw each other.
“I had a feeling that you were around,” she states.
I lift both eyebrows. “You did, huh?”
She shrugs. “Ignore my quirkiness. What are you doing here?”
I sigh. “It’s a long story.”
“It always is with you. Are you coming in to town or about to leave?”
“Just arrived,” I state.
She checks her phone and then looks up at me. “Where are you going?”
“Le Méridien Hotel,” I state.
“Hmm, the Financial District?”
I nod.
“Interesting.” She bites her lower lip. “Let’s go. My car is in the parking lot. I’ll give you a ride.”
She takes off without waiting for a response. Actually, she didn’t ask for my input. When did she become bossy?
I follow right behind her.
“So, they make cars your size?” I ask when we approach a small two-door sedan.
“Careful, or I’ll tie you to the roof,” she argues.
I laugh and shake my head.
“So, why are you here?” she asks once we’re inside the car, buckled up.
“I have a job interview, and you?”
“I work for Dad.” She sighs.
“But you didn’t want to work for him,” I state, confused.
“You were setting up a business, and yet, here we are,” she refutes.
Olivia isn’t wrong about it, and this makes me feel worse in some ways. When I met her, I remember telling her that being an adult had consequences. I forgot to tell her that sometimes we can’t even do what we love. Sadly, she realized that all on her own.