As I’m opening the door for Aimee, my phone chirps in my hand. I look down and find a text message from Cole.
No letter, baby. Keep me posted. The box is yours.
I purse my lips before my mouth goes into a wide smile. I can feel Aimee’s eyes on me, but I’m too concentrated on my phone to pay attention to her right now.
It’s beautiful.
A second later I get his reply.
So are you ;)
The combination of his words and the little wink smiley face makes me smile like a teenager as I stuff my phone into my back pocket.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Aimee says when she sees me. We kiss on both cheeks, like the Europeans we aren’t, and make our way to the kitchen. She sits down on a barstool around the island that surrounds my stove.
“Are you hungry?” I ask Aimee as I pour her a glass of red wine. I always ask if people are hungry as if their answer is going to deter me from wining and dining them. I got my love for cooking from Maggie. She’s a much better cook than I am, but I try to stay on her level regardless. My favorite part about cooking is drinking red wine while I do it.
“You know I’ll eat anything you make as long as you keep pouring that wine,” Aimee replies with a sly smile. “So...anything new you want to tell me about?” she asks with a raised eyebrow as she eyes the shorts I’m wearing.
“Not really. It was just Cole being Cole.”
She shakes her head. “I have got to meet that guy soon.”
I laugh lightly. “Oh, before I forget, by any chance, do you know if Mark will be in town this week?” I ask nonchalantly.
“Hmm...he should be. I heard my dad talking about a big trial coming up next week. He probably has a lot to do to prepare for it. Why?”
“Just wondering. I have to go by there this week, and I wanted to meet him. So I figured if he was here, maybe I’d request to see him.”
“I still don’t understand why he would be your attorney. I think you must be mistaken. He doesn’t practice estate; he only takes on criminal cases. The one who dabbles in estate law is Morris. You should speak to Russell about it.”
I don’t know why Shelley took her business to Mark, but I know that I’m not mistaken. He’s the one that signs off on everything. I’m only allowed to meet with Mark’s assistant, Veronica Stein, about my estate. I know this because I have asked to meet with Daniel Morris in the past, and my attorney has stepped in and declined the request. I asked Daniel about it one day when Russell took me to his house for dinner, and he said that Mark liked to deal with his clients personally. I didn’t mention to him that I’d never even seen Mark in person.
“You’re probably right. I’ll ask Russell,” I reply quietly as I serve our angel hair pasta with vodka sauce. As we eat sitting around the dining room table, we discuss the usual—school, fashion, and boys. Aimee has had a crush on Aubry since they met last year, but Aubry had a girlfriend.
“So Aubry and that Haley girl finally broke up,” she says smiling over her wine glass.
I stare at her for a moment. “Is that why you came over looking like you were going on a hot date?”
She gasps and puts her hand over her heart. “Blake Brennan! I would never!”
We both break out in a fit of laughter before we continue eating.
“Aimee, I love Aubry like a brother. Hell, that’s what he is to me—a brother. He’s an amazing guy, but he always goes for the bad girls. You know, the ones who step all over his heart just for fun. Well, yeah, that’s what Haley did to him. He’s taking the break up better than I expected, but still. I just don’t want either of you getting hurt.”
Aubry is a hopeless romantic, but it’s as if he enjoys getting hurt. I wish Aubry and Aimee would get together though. Aubry needs someone stable in his life. They would make an adorable couple, too. I just don’t think Aimee is crazy enough for Aubry.
Aimee leans into the table and places her hand on mine. “I know, Blake. I get that, but I really like him. He’s funny, and he’s sweet. Just don’t worry about him...or me,” she adds in a soft voice. I search her face for a while before nodding slightly.
I don’t know if it’s a wine or food coma that I’m slowly seeping into as I sit here pretending to listen to Aimee ramble about God knows what. My eyes are locked on her fingers drumming against the table, and the strangest feeling washes over me. I’m still lost in the familiarity of the drumming fingers when Aubry comes in and interrupts my train of thought.