A bone-deep shudder rocks through me as I come to the easiest conclusion.
I want Aiden.
Just like he said he’ll always choose me, I’m ready to choose him, and I’ll work my butt off to prove to him that he’ll always come first.
“I want Aiden to take the job.”
“Good.” Edna’s smile shines bright. “He deserves it.”
Dear God, I’ve been a complete bitch. Will he be able to forgive me for the words and accusations I flung at him? Will he give me a second chance? I hope so. And I hope that he hasn’t already turned the job down.
“He does. And I want to go with him.” I want to fight for him—for us.
“Yeah, you do.”
“I need to talk to him before he turns down the job.”
“Ummm…” Edna worries her bottom lip between her teeth and taps a finger on her cane. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t turn the job down.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he left a little while ago for the airport.”
My heart stops. “What day is today?”
“Friday.”
“Oh, God. His flight. He’s going to San Francisco. Without me?”
“If you hurry, you might be able to catch him. But, Lizzie, if you go to him, you have to be confident in what you want.”
“I am,” I say, rushing to grab my purse and keys. “I want Aiden.”
I fling open the front door and find Calvin standing outside of Aiden’s apartment door. “He’s not here. He left.”
Calvin doesn’t look happy with me when he glances in my direction. It’s okay, buddy, I’m not happy with me either. “I know.”
Okay. Nice talk. No time for chitchat. I hike my purse onto my shoulder and move toward the stairs.
“Lizzie is going after him,” Edna says, poking her head out my door. “You should probably pack a bag, dear,” she adds.
“Why?” Calvin turns toward Edna and frowns. “He’s going to be—”
“Moving there, I know,” Edna says, her eyes burning a hole through Calvin’s head. “Which is why she might want to pack a few things. Who knows when she’ll be coming back.”
Calvin narrows his eyes at Edna and tilts his head. I glance between the two weirdos and growl.
“I don’t have time to pack a bag.”
“Then you better hurry,” Edna says, waving me back into the apartment. “Calvin will book your flight.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Are you going to move across the country so that my baby brother can live his dream?” he asks. I nod, tears building in my eyes. “You’re going to walk away from your twin sister and her unborn baby? From your family and Edna, and the job that you love?”
My stomach churns.
“Calvin,” Edna scoffs, slapping him upside the head.