Page 47 of Why Not Both?

“Yes. But I’m starting to think it might be okay with the right person.”

“Is that her?”

At first, I wonder if she’s referencing my statement. But then I see Lis and Cerberus running along the Seawall back to her apartment.

“Yes.” I sigh. “That’s her.” And now I’m not sure which I’m referring to: the statement or her physical presence outside my building.

Probably both.

“Now that you know why she wouldn’t date you, can’t you do something about it?” Vic asks. “Tell her Blue Vista isn’t like that other place. I’m not like that. Neither are you or Derek or Adalie.”

I shake my head as I turn, and we get our shoes and jackets. “I don’t think it’s something I can just say. I think it’s something she just has to believe. And, after what happened before, I don’t really blame her if she never does. She’s worked really hard to get to where she is. Do you know how many female head chefs are in Vancouver?”

Vic gives me a sympathetic look. “I just know how much you like her. And, while I don’t know her as well as I know you, I’m pretty sure she likes you just as much. I wish it could work out for you guys.”

We walk to work and I sit in my office, making phone calls, checking emails, and making sure everything that needs to be scheduled is. I check on what needs to happen for the weddings this weekend—one on Saturday and another on Sunday. Both are ceremony and reception weddings so there are rehearsals for both as well. Everything has to move like clock-work.

The corporate client arrives, and I get them situated in the hall for their seminar, but there’s not a lot for me to do during these events.

By the time lunch rolls around, I need a break from all the planning and rearranging, so I open my Internet browser and pull up a real estate website. I set my parameters and search the listings. Something I’ve done a few times over the past few weeks.

“What are you working on?”

I look up to find Lis leaning against the door frame. She looks gorgeous with her hair twisted up in one of those clips she likes and her red chef jacket on. She has a few different ones—a white one with black piping, another white one with red piping, a black one—but this red one is her favourite.

“Nothing. Just looking at some condos for sale.”

She comes into the office and sits down in the chair she usually sits in.

“You’re thinking of buying a place?”

I laugh. “For the last seven years.”

“You don’t want to live with Vic anymore?”

“I love living with Vic. It’s been great. But you were right when we went on that hike a few weeks ago. There’s something missing in my life and I think part of that is I want my own place. I’m thirty years old, for fuck’s sake.” I lean back in my chair, folding my hands behind my head.

“I’m sure she doesn’t mind having you,” Lis says.

“She doesn’t. But it was always supposed to be a temporary solution. Seven years isn’t feeling very temporary.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize you meant you’d been there that long. I just assumed you’d lived with that woman I saw at the bar.”

I have to think for a minute to remember who she’s talking about. “Lucy? No. I never lived with her. Or anyone else besides my parents and Vic. There was a time between when I lived alone.”

“Why did you move in with her, then?” She props her cheek on her fist, elbow on my desk. She looks at me with curiosity, like she wants to know everything about me. And I want to tell her everything. Even things I don’t normally share with anyone.

I sit forward, leaning toward her. “My girlfriend at the time asked to move in with me.”

Her brows draw down in confusion. “So?”

“I ended up breaking up with that girl and moving in with Vic right after. That way, no one could ask to move in with me again. If someone asks me to move in with them, it’s easy enough to say no.”

“But why is that an issue? Do you have some fear of commitment?”

I shake my head. “Not exactly. Do you know what the common-law laws are in Canada?”

“Vaguely. I know Daze and Sophie are common-law. It’s pretty much like they’re married.”

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