Page 72 of Movers and Shakers

She was wearing a simple T-shirt, jeans, and a hat. I knew people were dying to get a glimpse of her, as they had been ever since the breakup went public, so she had to hide, even when she was in a new city.

I let out a long breath when I saw her.

She’d come back.

For me.

She smiled as she saw me. “Wow, your hair is longer.”

“I still let it go even when I get my regular trims,” I said, stepping to the side to let her in.

“So, are you ready to hear this album? I have an interesting new featured artist.” She winked as she walked inside. But thenshe saw the changes I’d made to the apartment. “Wait a second. Did you redecorate?”

Her eyes trailed to the table, now with two chairs and a full-sized couch. It hadn’t been planned on my part, but when she said she would return to show me the album, I knew my bachelor pad of an apartment needed more room for her.

“In a way.”

“There’s two of everything.”

“Call it wishful thinking, but I hoped I’d have a guest soon.”

“Like a night guest?”

I shook my head. “Like a pop star guest.”

“You did this forme?”Her jaw dropped and her eyes shot back to the newly furnished apartment. “Oh my God. I don’t know what to say.”

Shedidn’t know what to say? She was a world-renowned songwriter. I didn’t think it was possible.

But I was still ridiculously proud of myself. “You don’t have to say anything.”

“I owe you at least a thank you. Unless it was for a different pop star. Then I might die of embarrassment.”

“It’s for you. It’s always for you.”

She turned to me again, eyes wide. “Wow. That’s twice now you’ve left me speechless.”

“How are you?” I asked. As much as I would love to keep torturing her, I knew she’d been through a lot in our time apart.

“I’m good. I’ve been busy dealing with the fallout of everything. But it’s fine.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really?

“It’s an adjustment. All of it is. I’ve deleted all of my social media apps from my phone, which has helped. Malia told me she would let me know if there was anything I needed to see.”

“Good. You don’t need it anyway.”

“And how are you?”

My family was better than ever, for once. Tom was a good dad. Ruth was living her best life. Mom was trying to get me to come out to her new place in the middle of nowhere, but I’d turned her down. While I was fostering a slight connection with my siblings, it was because they were the only ones I’d seen make a decent effort to change.

“Everything is good.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, for once.”

“That’s good!” she said. “I know for a bit there it was tough.”

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