Page 82 of Until You

“Okay.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “Never a dull moment with you, Lane.”

“Personally, I’d love to have a dull moment or two.” She hung up as Stephanie walked through the door.

“Dull moments are overrated,” Stephanie said as she dropped her purse on her desk.

Lanie’s stomach turned flips. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this on edge. “Steph, I have to talk to you about something.”

“It better be all about what happened after you left with that hottie from the wedding.”

Saturday night seemed like ages ago. She took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you after I talk to you about this first.”

Her grin fell. “That sounds ominous.”

Lanie looked her in the eyes. “After all the crap Eve’s put us through…I decided I was done. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of them giving us a new boss every six to twelve months and having to kowtow to their demands. So yesterday I turned in my notice. But don’t worry,” Lanie added when she saw Stephanie’s shock. “I’m not deserting you. I’m staying until the opening. I wouldn’t leave you high and dry.”

Stephanie stared at her. “I can’t believe it.”

“I know,” Lanie said, her stomach balling into a tight knot. “I’m just tired of fighting a losing battle, you know?”

Stephanie nodded.

“In any case, I looked over my contract, and it’s to my advantage to quit rather than let them fire me. I’ll get a bonus package.”

Steph nodded, looking devastated. “No, that’s smart. Do you know where you’re going?”

Lanie gave her an apologetic smile. “Well…as luck would have it, the reason Aiden was here was to offer me a job.”

“In Atlanta?”

“Yeah.”

Stephanie turned to look out the window, then back at Lanie. “Did you take it?”

“No, I haven’t decided yet. But it’s a really great offer.” She gave Stephanie the details, including the part about finally finding a place to call home.

“Wow,” Stephanie murmured. “That’s quite a change.”

“The idea of working for someone who appreciates me is exciting.”

Stephanie’s eyes turned glassy. “I already have that.”

“The hardest part of this is leaving you.”

Steph smiled, but it looked forced. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m still going to give this opening one hundred percent. I’m not going to drop this all on you.”

“I know you won’t.”

Lanie took a breath. “I owe you, Steph.”

“No. I owe you for not only teaching me just about everything you know, but being my friend, too. I don’t think I could have handled the past three years without you. Phoenix is going to be lonely.”

“You won’t have time to be lonely,” Lanie said in a light tone. “You’ll be busy setting up a store. And then you’ll have your own Stephanie.”

She wiped at her eyes, grabbed her purse, and stood. “I’m going to head over in case the delivery guys are early.”

“Okay.”