Page 118 of Stone Vows

“I’m just glad it’s working out so well. At first, I thought she was taking pity on me by giving me a job.”

Skylar looks at me like I’m crazy. “But now you know her well enough to see how she didn’t do that, right? She hired you because you’re good. Because you had the qualifications she wanted.”

“I get that now,” I say.

“We fought over you, you know,” Skylar says. “Back when you were in the hospital. I thought that with your amazing personality and stunning looks, you’d make a great hostess.”

“Thanks,” I say, trying not to choke up. “I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot with you guys. I never thought having real friends could be so important. I’m grateful for all of you.”

They both put a hand on my arm. “We’re the lucky ones,” Piper says.

“Okay, young lady,” Spike says. “I’m all done. Let me wash it off and cover it and you’ll be good to go.”

I look down at my new tattoo after he wipes the soap off it. I stare at it, happy to have endured an hour of pain so I don’t have to stare athisname anymore.

Yes, this will do. This one is much better.

~ ~ ~

As I watch the odometer on the treadmill tick off another mile, I count all the things in my life that I have to be thankful for. Nine months ago, when I was sitting outside the hospital on a bench, bleeding, I never could have imagined what my life would be like now. Despite everything I endured with Grant, I still consider myself a lucky girl.

“Hi,” a deep voice says next to me.

I look in the mirror in front of me and lock eyes with the guy who has stepped on the treadmill next to mine. “Hi,” I say, breathlessly, not wanting to break my pace.

He quickly works himself up to a fast run, my brisk walk paling in comparison. I find him staring at me often. He’s good looking. Tall, with striking brown eyes. I’m sure lots of women would be flattered to get his attention.

But the only attention I want is from the man whose eyes can’t seem to choose a color.

Twenty minutes later, when I turn off my treadmill, Brown Eyes does the same. He grabs a towel, wiping his sweaty face before swinging it over his shoulder.

He holds out his hand to me. “Hi, I’m Conner Ridley from 2105.”

I shake his hand. “Elizabeth,” I say.

“I haven’t seen you here before. Did you just move in?”

“I’ve been here a few months,” I tell him.

“Which unit did you buy?”

I stare at him, unwilling to divulge the information.

“Right,” he says, cocking a brow at my silence. “You don’t know me from Adam. Well, Elizabeth, from somewhere in the building, it’s nice to meet you.”

Conner spends the next few minutes telling me about the quirky residents who live here. Mr. Jones on the fourth floor is always writing apocalyptic sayings on poster boards and hanging them in his front window for everyone to see. Then there is Mrs. Hannigan up on twenty-three, who brings her Yorkie to walk on the treadmill every day because she’s scared to go outdoors. And Hank Anderson, who is onmyfloor, he works on Broadway as a transvestite opera singer.

I look up at the clock on the wall. I told Greta, Charlie’s trusted babysitter whom she loaned out to me, that I’d be back by six.

Conner understands my cue. “It’s been nice talking with you, Elizabeth. I hope we meet again.”

“Thanks,” I tell him. “It was good to meet you.”

As I make my way up to the twenty-eighth floor, I think about what Skylar said earlier about how men sometimes need a nudge. Then I wonder what would happen if Kyle thought I might be interested in another guy. A guy like Conner Ridley.

A guy who wouldn’t care about a piece of paper. A guy who I would be enough for exactly as I am.

Chapter Fifty-five

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