To Have and to Heist(113)

“Cristian got his rental with the big backyard and adopted his rescue huskies. He’s already started getting things set up for his new wildlife show, and his first episode is going to be about elephants.”

“No more life coaching?”

“He still does his coaching. I think he enjoys it more than he lets on.” I wasn’t the only person who’d gotten a few referrals after the wedding.

“What about Emma?”

“She’s still driving her Uber because she likes meeting interesting people, but she’s decided to get into Formula One like her dad. It’s an expensive sport but she’s excited to get started. She and Anil have been spending a lot of time together.”

“Is he still living at home?” He laced his fingers through mine. I’d missed our connection, our easy banter, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

“He moved in with Emma the day after we got our money. They’re both mechanically minded and they’re inventing a new kind of drone together. She promised she wouldn’t try to set him up with anyone although she seems to have a lot of cousins his age who come to visit. He sent you a bag of apples.” I gestured to the bag on the table beside a vase filled with peonies. No one knew where they’d come from, and they’d started to wilt after only a few days.

“And Rose?”

“She enjoyed her drop from the ceiling so much, she signed up for a course in aerial arts for seniors. She’s doing it all: aerial, cirque, trapeze, and pole dancing. She’s talking about leaving the theater and joining a circus. Chef Pierre finished his course and went back to France. She dumped Stan because he couldn’t keep up—her words, not mine—and now she’s with some guy she met in her new play. We’re going to see her perform next week. You should come.”

“I can’t stay,” he said. “I’ve got another job.”

“How long?”

“A week. Maybe two. As soon as I can travel.”

His words hit me like a blow to the chest. I hadn’t realized how much I had hoped he would stay, but now that I knew it was over, my heart felt like it was cracking in two.

I leaned over and kissed him firmly on the lips. “Then we’d better make the most of the time we have.”

Thirty-Three

Chloe and I sprawled on the bed in Rose’s partly renovated suite in a state of semi-inebriation. We’d spent the day moving my stuff from my parents’ house to my new apartment and had come to check in on Rose and say good-bye to my old place.

“Babe?”

“Yeah?” She twisted the knob at the end of the bed. It had been Rose’s bed when she was a girl, and even though it was badly water damaged, she refused to give it away.

“I found the perfect office space,” I said.

“Here?” She giggled. Chloe always giggles when she’s drunk.

“It’s only a few blocks from Olivia’s new school. You won’t have to worry about child care. She can come and hang with us after she’s done.”

Chloe turned to face me, resting her head on her elbow. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“I wanted to do that.”

“Cristian thinks we should change our name,” Chloe said. “He said Simply Elegant doesn’t fit a bunch of misfits.”

“What did he suggest?”

“Nothing.”

“Typical Cristian.”

“Yeah.”

“Anil had an idea,” she said. “It works for both heists and weddings. He suggested The Wedding Crew.”

“It’s perfect.” I typed it into my phone because I’d had so much to drink, I didn’t think I’d remember it in the morning. “He’s good with the ideas. I hope he finds a wife who appreciates his creativity.”

“Not you.”

“Not me. I’m taken.” I was stronger now. I’d made peace with my past. I didn’t have to sacrifice who I was or what I wanted to make other people happy. I didn’t always have to be good. I was brave enough to go after what I wanted, and strong enough to stay standing if I failed. I was worthy, and I had opened myself to love.

“What if he doesn’t come back?”

I gave her a wicked grin. “As Gino said, there’s a price to be paid for betrayal.”

I heard the crunch of footsteps outside. For the briefest of seconds, my breath caught, and then I heard Gage say, “I’ve got something for you.”

“Come on in.”

Gage slammed open the door and pushed a hooded man into the room, forcing him to his knees. “Your favor,” he said to me.

“What’s going on?” Chloe looked from Gage to me and back to Gage. “I thought you said you had to leave town for a job.”

“This is it.” He kicked the man at his feet. “A job for Simi.”

“I asked him to find the man who set you up,” I said. “I didn’t like the idea that he was still out there doing the same thing to someone else, and I thought you deserved some revenge. It was a loose end that begged to be tied.” I waved a hand in the man’s direction. “My gift to you.”

“Take off his hood.” Chloe’s voice was firm and hard.

Gage obliged, and Chloe and I gasped as one.