Page 25 of Suddenly Single

“Yeah. But I have to get over him, since he never wanted to be married in the first place.”

“Florida and I talked on the phone last night.” Georgia placed the brush on the bathroom counter and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “We think you’re blowing everything out of proportion.”

Why the hell were they talking about me behind my back? I must have made a face because she backed out of the bathroom into the hallway.

“So, what brought you to that conclusion?” I grabbed the styling gel out of the medicine cabinet and began fixing my hair.

“Never mind.” Georgia spun around to leave.

“Wait.”

She didn’t turn around, so I addressed her back. “Please enlighten me. Why do you and your sister think I’m overreacting?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Well, what happened was a mistake, and Asher was trying to make things better by getting married again.” She turned around and held her hands out like she was praying. “That man is miserable without you, and from what I can see, you ain’t much better.”

My eyes shut, and all I could see was Asher’s face. “I miss him. Hell, I miss all the Yates family.” I felt Georgia’s hands smoothing out the front of my jacket, so I opened my eyes to behold the warmest smile on her face.

“There’s an easy way to make things better, Carter.” She inhaled. “Forgive him and make things right between the two of you. You’re both crazy about each other. Asher didn’t mean what he said about not wanting to be married. According to Florida, you two had a fight the night before, and you kicked him out of the bedroom. So the next day, you ask him if he still wanted to be married, or if he had to do it all over again. Shit, I can’t keep this mess straight in my head. Anyhow, can you blame him for saying, 'No, I wish I wasn’t married to you'?”

She had a point. My sinuses burned, the first signal that waterworks were on the way. “I can’t cry right now. My date will be here any minute, and even though this is the only date we’ll go on, I can’t open the front door blubbering about Asher to his friend. Hell, I doubt they’re friends anymore after tonight.” I grabbed a few tissues and put them in the inner pocket of my jacket. The way I was feeling, I’d probably need them at some point tonight.

The doorbell rang, and I froze.

“Want me to get that?” Georgia patted my shoulder, and I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue.

“Yes, please.”

“What a charming little restaurant.” I forced a smile on my face as a hostess seated us in a booth toward the rear of the dark dining room. A French disco song was playing in the background, and whatever was cooking in the kitchen smelled amazing. “I’m shocked Asher and, oh, sorry. Shouldn’t mention him, I guess.”

Cort grinned. “The elephant in the room has already made his presence known.” He reached across the table and patted my hand. “It’s okay to talk about Asher. I mean, he was your husband.”

“Sort of.” I mumbled, though in my heart he always had been my husband. Even the drama of our former relationship couldn’t erase my feelings for Asher. “Okay. Well, Asher and I never came here. You know, to this restaurant. What neighborhood is this again?”

“Oregon Hill. I own a couple of apartment buildings on Laurel Street. Being a lawyer is my job, but renovating old buildings is my passion.” Cort picked up the menu. “Do you like Zinfandel?”

I nodded.

“The Tom of Finland Zinfandel is wonderful. Let’s order a bottle when the waitress returns.” Cort said, and for the first time in my life, I struggled to think of something to talk about. I was so used to being with Asher that I didn’t know what to say to this man.

“So, um, you’re into real estate?”

“Yeah, it’s in the blood. I grew up on the family plantation, Sherwood Forest.” Cort pulled his phone out, tapped on the screen, then handed it to me.

“Oh, wow. This is a stunning home.” I handed him the phone back. Normally, I would love to talk about houses and design. It’s what I did for a living, but I felt empty. “I bet it takes a lot of upkeep.”

“It’s been in the family since my great-great-great-grandfather, President Tyler, bought it in 1842.” Cort drawled, and I was unimpressed with his obvious bragging. “It’s constantly being renovated, otherwise it would’ve fallen apart decades ago. My Dad taught me everything there is to know about the care and upkeep of older homes. When a few properties went up for sale in Oregon Hill, I snapped them up. Now a real estate management firm rents them out for me. My goal is to have a real estate empire so I can retire from practicing law.”

“You don't enjoy working for…”

“Gentlemen, my name is Elisa, and I’m your server tonight.” A woman with red hair the same color as Cort’s interrupted. “What can I get you to drink?”

Cort ordered the bottle of wine, and I was curious about what he’d said earlier. “So, you don't enjoy being a lawyer?”

“Well, it’s okay. But let me tell you a little secret.” He leaned over the table and whispered, “I hate working for Marjorie.”

“What?” I was genuinely confused. She was like a second mother to me.

“When her husband passed away, she took full control of the business.” Cort began, but the server dropped the bottle of wine off. After filling our glasses, I urged him to continue. “He was a great guy, easy going, and relaxed. Well, relaxed for a lawyer, that is. Then Marjorie took over, and everything changed.”

---