Liv: You’re not funny.
Eros: What does it mean if you see your shadow? Another successful year. Six weeks of bad luck, or six months of good luck.
Liv: Hey, at least my birthday isn’t some distress call.
Eros: Happy birthday, Livy! I hope this is the best year of your life.
Liv: Thank you. Also, thank you for the care package.
Eros: I thought coffee, bracelets and candy were better than flowers.
Liv: I love everything, even the birthday card. I am not that old. Always remember, you’re older than me, Grandpa. Where are you?
Eros: I’m still in Costa Rica, finalizing a few details for the new distillery. Later today, I’m flying to Quito.
Liv: You’re a busy man.
Eros: It’s all about the hustle. Did I tell you that I have enough money to buy out my silent investors?
Liv: That’s great.
Eros: Gil wants to buy ten percent.
Liv: I heard that there’s only one season left of his show. He’s retiring. Does that have anything to do with your company?
Eros: As a matter of fact, no. He met a guy.
Liv: It’s never too late to find your soulmate.
Eros: I knew you’d say that.
Liv: I’m glad he’s happy.
Eros: Hey, I’m heading to my last meeting. I’ll text you later tonight. Happy Birthday, groundhog.
Liv: Thank you?
Eros: Can you believe Nova is two years old?
Liv: She’s so cute. I love her dress. (I secretly want one),
Liv: How’s the party?
Eros: If I were a kid, I’d love it.
Liv: Is that code for I want to get out of here?
Eros: Yes. Not only because there are like a million toddlers screaming. My sisters introduced me to “a friend.”
Liv: Ha! What happened to the last one?
Eros: Mimi?
Liv: No, there was someone after her. Colette?
Eros: Would it sound bad if I say that I lost track of them? I can’t remember their names or faces.
Liv: Tell your sisters to stop setting you up with the entire state of Colorado.
Eros: I already did. According to them, I’m too old to keep my string of one-night stands.
Liv: How long is that string?
Eros: Let me think… the last time I had sex was late August.
Liv: Seven months ago?
Eros: Yep.
Liv: You were with me then.
Eros: I know. I’ve only slept with you in the past few years.
Liv: Why do they think you are sleeping around?
Eros: They assume. I don’t correct them.
Liv: Do they know about me?
Eros: Do you want them to know?
Liv: You’re close to them, and yet, there are things they don’t know about you. That is weird.
Eros: I could tell them, but the implications might rupture the space-time continuum. Think about the consequences. You’d have to move to Colorado with me.
Liv: You’re diverting the conversation.
Eros: If I tell them about you, they won’t let the subject go until they meet you. They are relentless.
Liv: Well, then let them set you up with every woman in the world. Maybe they’ll find you a wife.
Eros: I doubt it. They have bad taste in women.
Liv: If you ever need a blind date, I have a few friends who might want to give you a try.
Eros: Har har.
Liv: Did I tell you I hired Calvin? He’s going to head the branch in Colorado.
Eros: Who is Calvin?
Liv: He’s Holly’s husband.
Eros: Didn’t he have a job here?
Liv: He did, but they let him go. Their options are to find a new job or go back to San Francisco and live with her parents. So, I offered him the job.
Eros: I can’t believe your friend has been here for a year, and I haven’t met her yet.
Liv: If I go to visit her, I’ll introduce you two.
Eros: If you ever come to visit, I’ll call that a miracle.
Eros: Hey, I need to leave. It’s cake time.
Liv: Send me more pics.
Eros: I’ll do it.
Eros: They set me up with a stalker.
Liv: Another blind date?
Eros: This one is worse than the others. She is a stalker.
Liv: You’re exaggerating. If she keeps calling or texting, just block her number. Every time a telemarketer calls or texts, I block them. If someone weird texts, I block the number. It’s easy.
Eros: This is different. She actually got my personal address, my company address, and my private number.
Liv: Are you serious?
Eros: I found her earlier outside my house, waiting for me. She wants to know when we’re going on a second date. She also wants me to meet her parents.
Liv: Wow. I’m sorry.
Eros: Not as sorry as I am. I told her that we’re not going out again. Let’s hope that’s the end of it.
720-5xx-xxxx: Hey, hottie. Text me.
Liv: Happy Thanksgiving!
Liv: Merry Christmas!
Liv: Happy New Year?
Liv: Are you okay?
Liv: What’s with the radio silence?
Liv: I’d go and visit you, but I don’t have your address.
Liv: Okay, I’m taking this as some kind of code for fuck off, Liv.
Liv: I can’t believe it? After all these years, I deserve a fucking goodbye.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Olivia
“I’m done unpacking!” I call my fathers once I set the last empty card box in the garage.
“That was fast,” Dan says. “Unless you shoved half of the boxes into a closet.”
“They’re in the basement,” I admit.
Moving isn’t as fun as many presume. I’m thankful that Dad convinced me to hire a moving company. They packed everything for me. The real work began when I arrived at my new place. It’s been a week since I opened the first box. Yep, it took me a week to put everything I need for now away. The rest can stay tightly packed downstair.
“When do you start your new job?” Dad asks.
“This Friday, but if you need anything, call me,” I assure Dad. “Mondays are my free days. I can always work at night—”
“Liv, everything is going to be fine. Holly needs you, and you need to take a break,” Dan assures me.
“I would if your husband wasn’t so stubborn.”
Dan clears his throat. “He knows his limits.”
“Well, as I said, I’ll drop by the offices twice a week to check in,” I promise.
“It’s not necessary,” Dad argues. “I’ve run this company since before you were born. Nothing will happen if you take a few months off, sweetheart.”
This trip isn’t exactly time off. Holly is pregnant with her first child. She was on bed rest during the holidays. The doctor ordered rest and zero stress for the next six months. She can’t just take time off. Her event planning business is on the rise. I offered my help.
How hard can it be to organize parties and weddings?
I’m sure it’s like project management but with tulle, ribbon, and flowers instead of wood, nails, and blueprints.