“Can you keep a secret, Trina?”
I almost laugh out loud at Eldon’s question. I’m keeping the biggest secret of my life from everyone I care about. It’s locked up tight inside of me.
I study him, wondering where this conversation is headed. “I can.”
He leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “Aurora’s folks are out of town right now. I wanted to talk to them face-to-face, but they’re in Indiana for her cousin’s wedding. I met the guy once. He was in the city for a night. We invited him to dinner, but he took us out to a restaurant in Tribeca. I admit it was great, but…”
“What is it, Eldon?” I interrupt because that’s the most he’s ever said to me at one time, and I can tell that he’s nervous. “What’s going on?”
He scrubs at his forehead while his blue eyes search my face. “Aurora’s birthday is coming up.”
I’m aware. I’ve been planning out the perfect gift for her for the past two months. I finally decided on a scarf from the Ella Kara boutique. It’s pricey, but I picked it up last month and tucked it away in my closet. I know Aurora will love it.
When I was at the café one day, a woman came in wearing the same scarf. Aurora asked her about it. As soon as the woman left, Aurora made a comment to me about how expensive it must be.
“I know.” I smile. “I can’t wait to give her my gift.”
“That’s why I’m here.” He taps his shoe against the floor. “I need your help with my gift for her, Trina.”
“I’d love to help.”
“I got her a ring.”
“What?” That pops out in an almost scream. “Are you going to ask her to marry you?”
“Damn right I am. I’m doing it on her birthday.” He chuckles. “I want the night to be perfect. I’m planning a surprise party. You’re invited, of course. One of her brothers is flying in from Arizona to be there. The other is driving up from Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to give her the ring. I think she’s going to love it. I hope she’ll want to wear it forever.”
My gaze drifts to the pot of the houseplant and my rings hidden behind it.
I’m beginning to wonder what it would feel like to wear those rings forever.
His shoulders hunch forward. “I have a small favor to ask. Hell, it’s a huge favor, Trina. I’m not one to ask for anything, but this is for Aurora.”
“Ask,” I insist. “Please, ask me.”
“Your brother-in-law is Aurora’s absolute favorite singer,” he pauses. “Do you think there’s a chance that you can get him to sign a birthday card for her? I’ll buy the card. Having his autograph would blow her mind. It would be the icing on the cake for the night.”
I had no idea Aurora was a huge Asher Foster fan.
“Consider it done.” I skim my hands over the front of my skirt. “Don’t worry about the card. I’ll talk to Asher and handle that.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” I chuckle. “We’re going to make Aurora’s birthday one she’ll never forget.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” He smiles, pushing to his feet. “Who would have thought that a random hook-up would lead to a lifetime commitment?”
I stand too and chuckle. “Is that how you met? It was a random hook-up?”
Shaking his head, he laughs. “Aurora never told you that story?”
“No,” I answer quietly. “She never mentioned how you two met.”
“On an app,” he confesses. “It was supposed to be just sex. We agreed to that after our first meet-up. Actually, we agreed it would last through the summer, and then we’d part ways. No harm. No foul since we both were looking for something strictly physical.”
“It didn’t go as planned,” I state the obvious.
He pats the center of his chest. “My heart didn’t get the memo not to fall in love with her. That taught me that we don’t control everything. Sometimes, you just have to jump in headfirst and see where fate takes you.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Graham
My wife has gone above and beyond this past week when it comes to setting my schedule.
Today she hit a record for the number of meetings she could pack into a nine-hour window. I finished the last thirty minutes ago and decided to walk home.
It wasn’t far.
It gave me time to clear my head and think through the discussion I had with Trina the other night.
So far, she hasn’t refused my idea to consummate our fake marriage, but she hasn’t accepted either. That’s mainly because I’ve barely seen her since work has been my sole focus.
“Mr. Locke!” Eugene, the doorman, rushes at me as soon as I approach the building. He swings the door open with a flourish. “How was your day, sir?”
“Good,” I answer brusquely, then consider what my wife would do. “How was your day?”
“Sir?” Eugene asks from behind me as he follows me into the building.
I spin to face him. “How has the day been for you? How’s your wife?”
He studies my mouth like he’s trying to decode an alien language. “All right on both fronts.”
I dip my hand into the front pocket of my suit pants and drag out the bills I deposited in there after I bought lunch for myself.
The three dollar sandwich I picked up at a bodega was a hell of a lot better than the overpriced lunches I typically indulge in.
I glance down at the ten and five dollar bills in my hand. I shove them back in my pocket and reach for my wallet.
I pluck a hundred dollar bill out of that and shove it at Eugene. “This is for you.”
His blue eyes travel over my face. “That’s far too generous, Mr. Locke.”
The gray-haired man has opened the door for me for years now. The majority of that time, I grunted out a greeting to him or ignored him altogether.
Trina would never do that, and if I’ve learned anything from my wife, it’s to treat people with kindness.
I saw it in how she interacted with Bette, and I’ve heard from Lloyd how kind she’s been to the doormen, including Eugene.
“Buy something for your wife.” I reach for his hand and tuck the money into his fist.
His hand trembles. “I don’t know what to say, sir, other than thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Your beautiful wife arrived home twenty minutes ago,” he informs me as he slides the money into the pocket of his jacket. “Mr. Abdon left shortly before that. He told me he was headed to visit one of his favorite places.”
I was hoping to have a moment alone with my bride, so this is a gift.
“She’s lovely, sir.” Eugene smiles. “Mrs. Locke always lights up the lobby when she gets home.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “She’s an incredible woman. I’m going to head up to see her.”
“Enjoy your night.” He straightens his jacket. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
All I need is to hear my wife say she wants me as badly as I want her. Hopefully, that’s about to happen.