Page 80 of Some Like It Hott

“And you—belong in New York?” he asks.

“It’s who I am,” I say.

He tilts his head to one side. “I’d be more inclined to say,It’s what you do.”

“Isn’t it the same thing?”

Shane shakes his head. “Not usually.” He’s quiet for a moment, and I think he’s done, but then he says, “It’s okay to stick to your guns. But do it for your own reasons.”

I give him a sharp look. “What makes you think I haven’t?”

He shrugs. “It was a guess. I don’t know exactly what went down between you and Grandfather, but knowing you both, everyone probably got extra stubborn and dug in. I’ve always figured you stuck New York out as long as you did because the idea of slinking home wasn’t terribly appealing.”

“Maybe I stuck New York out because I love finance,” I say.

He gives me a sidelong glance. “You love problem-solving. You love challenges. Maybe you even love numbers. But finance?”

“What do you know about what I love?”

I expect laughter or mocking, but Shane just sighs. “You’d be surprised,” he says. “Don’t forget, it’s my job to get inside other people’s heads and understand what makes them tick.”

“Yeah, well—don’t flatter yourself.”

Still, he’s looking at me with such steady affection, I sigh and say, “I wanted to show him he was wrong.”

“About what?”

“That I couldn’t make it in New York. That Kali and I weren’t in it for the long haul.”

“Well,” Shane says. “One for two isn’t bad.” He raises his eyebrows. “You know it doesn’t matter what he thinks, right? One, he was kind of a dick.”

I snort.

“And two, he’s actually…dead.”

For some reason, that makes us both laugh really hard. We’re still laughing when Hanna comes up to me with Eloise in her arms.

“Pres,” she says. “I’m about to put El to bed. Want to say goodbye to her? You’re leaving super early tomorrow, right?”

“Right,” I say and take Eloise from her. Eloise reaches out and boops my nose. I taught her to do that, and my eyes sting a little, even though I’ll be back. Soon. “If she learns anything new while I’m gone, text me,” I say.

“Likeanything?” Hanna asks suspiciously. “Like, if she learns to like a new food?”

“Anythingfun,” I say. “Like nose booping.”

Eloise boops my nose again, for good measure.

“Bye-bye, Eloise,” I say.

“Buh-duh, Padda,” she says back.

I freeze. “Did she just say myname?”

“I think she did,” Hanna says, delighted. “She’s never done that before. Preston,” she says to Eloise.

“Padda,” Eloise says and boops my nose again.

I turn away so neither Hanna nor Eloise sees the tears shining in my eyes.

---