Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Several hundred thousand. Probably closer to seven figures.”
“You never questioned it?”
“Constantly. Especially knowing it was probably going to go to some scheme or another that wasn’t going to pay off. But I figured that was what friends did. Especially when it wasn’t hurting my bottom line to give it to him.”
“What did you get?”
“What do you mean?”
“If Matthew got money from you, what did you get out of your friendship?”
Well, shit.
Her words had me slouching back in my seat, just staring at her.
What did I get?
Honestly, nothing.
It wasn’t like Matt had been a great listener, someone who gave solid advice, a guy I could rely on when I needed help with something.
In fact, I almost never saw Matt unless he was asking for something from me. Money, time, connections.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you think about that. I don’t want to ruin your memories of Matthew just because my own are so… complicated.”
“No, it’s not your fault. I’m just surprised I couldn’t see what my brother claims he’d always seen about that friendship.”
“I think maybe you just wanted to believe the best.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. “I don’t have many friendships outside of my family. I think I was clinging to that.”
“Well, now you have a new friend,” she said, shooting me a shy smile. “Was that really cheesy?”
Not at all.
Even if it felt like a kick to the gut to hear that she saw me as a friend.
That was exactly what she needed. It was all we could be, considering.
“No, not cheesy. It would be nice to have a friend. Especially one close enough to share a meal with here and there. I—”
There was a knock at the door, making both of us jolt.
“Sounds like Zeno,” I told her, giving her an apologetic smile.
“How do you know?”
“He knocked once and got distracted,” I said, rising.
By the time I made it to the door, he remembered to knock again.
“Hey, man, I think I found… did you cook?”
“What are you wearing?” I asked, shooting his outfit a bemused smile.
He’d matched a pair of primary-colored polka dot shorts with a t-shirt printed in T-rexes. His hair was clean, though. And his face was shaved.
“Huh? Whatever I grabbed. What is that smell?” he asked, sniffing. “Why are you standing between me and—” He trailed off as he moved in, spotting Blair, who’d risen from her chair to face him, “this exquisite creature?” he finished.
Charmed, Blair’s lips curved up.
“Blair, this is my brother Zeno. Zen, this is Blair Langston-Ferraro.”
“Oh. Oooh,” Zen said, eyes going bright.
Before he could say something stupid, I rushed to cut him off. “That is Blair’s lemon chicken over rice you’re smelling.”
“Is there any left… oh, nice,” he said, spotting the mostly full roasting pan.
The laptop he had under his arm slammed down on the table as he stole my plate and piled it high with the spoon, snagging an asparagus spear and taking a bite.
“Any chance I can hire you to cook for me?” he asked.
Blair flushed again, pleased by the praise. Maybe finally starting to believe it when it wasn’t just me saying it.
“She’s probably a little busy with her three businesses,” I told him as he started to cut the chicken while still standing. “Sit your ass down like a civilized human being,” I demanded in that faux-firm voice I’d always used on my younger siblings.
He said nothing. His mouth was too full. But he dropped down in a chair and reached for my wineglass.
“I should get going,” Blair said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I have to locate my bath stuff before bed,” she insisted.
“Okay. Thanks for dinner. It was amazing.”
“He’s right about that,” Zen agreed, shooting her a quick thumbs-up before cutting up more food.
“Can I swing by tomorrow to pick up my pan and maybe steal your laser level?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be here most of the day.” I actually had two meetings that I was now going to cancel.
We walked to the door as we spoke.
Then she was suddenly on the other side of the threshold.
It felt wrong.
Like she belonged inside.
“Great. Thanks for the wine. And conversation. I needed it.”
“Anytime. Welcome to the building, Blair.”
With that, she walked off toward the elevator, and I tried like hell (and failed) not to enjoy the view.
When she was gone, I turned back to find Zeno watching me, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Don’t.”
“You got the love of your life living in the same building, and you think I’m not gonna give you shit about it?”
“She’s not the love of my life,” I insisted.
She wasn’t.
She couldn’t be.
Case closed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Blair
Honestly, I guess I could thank Ronny for one thing.
Her random drop-in at my old place was what had me finally make the jump on the condo in Nico’s building.
I’d been hemming and hawing it.
But one more Ferraro drop-in had me taking the leap.
Luckily, it was a condo, not a co-op, so the process had been quick, since both the seller and I were eager to get things over with.