Page 72 of Worth the Wait

“Afternoon, ladies,” the driver said as soon as we neared. He took our bags, popped them into the trunk, and promptly held the door open for us to slide inside.

Once we were in, I buckled myself in. “Sarina, put on your seat belt,” I demanded.

She grumbled and hesitated as I shot her a look that told her I’d reach over her body and fasten her in myself if she didn’t do it. “Fine, fine.” She threw up her hands before pinching the belt between two fingers and snapping it across her body. “Happy?”

“Yes. Why is that so hard?”

“It ruins the outfit,” she mocked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Being dead would ruin it more,” I countered and heard the driver chuckle under his breath as the car lurched forward quickly.

I stared out the window as the city rolled by. Brick homes lined the streets as far as the eye could see, with older buildings that matched. Sucking in a long breath, I turned away from the scenery and toward Sarina.

“So, what’s your decision on my life?” I asked, and she jumped slightly, like she’d forgotten she’d ever mentioned it.

“Oh, right!” She smiled. “It’s obvious, Addi. I think you should turn down Frederique’s offer and go back to Sugar Mountain ASAP.”

I felt my jaw go slack with her words. Mostly because they were so blunt and to the point. And exactly what I’d needed to hear. Like I’d needed her permission to leave somehow. Or maybe it was her approval that I craved.

“You do?”

“I totally do.” She enunciated each word.

“You won’t miss me?” I felt sadness creep in.

Sarina was the one person I’d grown the closest to during these past few years while I’d been here. I would definitely be beside myself without her, and that fact weighed on me because we’d missed so much time together already.

She swatted my shoulder. “Are you kidding? I’ll miss you like crazy, but I’ll come see you. And Dad. Just because I don’t want to live in Sugar Mountain doesn’t mean I didn’t like it there. It’ll be the perfect escape when the city becomes too much and I need a break.”

“You’d really come out? You’re not just saying that?” I asked the question because a part of me knew that if I moved out of Manhattan, I most likely wouldn’t ever come back.

“I definitely want to go back there at some point. I have a room now, you know?” she said, and it reminded me instantly of little Clara and Patrick. “Plus, we’ll still talk every day. Maybe more than we do now with the time difference.”

That was actually a good point. Neither one of us had typical work hours, and the time difference would work in our favor. She’d be up at the same time I was.

“So, you think I should turn the offer down? I mean, it seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’d have my own restaurant, and I could choose my staff and I could give some of the people I’ve worked with a chance to rise in this industry.”

People that I didn’treallyknow. It wasn’t like I was overly close with anyone here in New York; no matter how much time we’d spent together in a kitchen. I had a handful of acquaintances who I admired and respected and did feel somewhat guilty about letting down, but to be truthful, I didn’t owe anyone anything and their success wasn’t my responsibility.

“Yes. One hundred percent.” She waved her hand like that was a nonissue. “Because if you take that offer, you’ll only be disappointing yourself,” she said before continuing, “You’ll be miserable, Addi. Sacrificing and compromising your own happiness for what? More experience? Who cares? Do you really need it? If you don’t see yourself staying here or moving to another big city, then what’s the point?”

I’d been thinking the exact same type of things, but I’d been afraid to give those thoughts a voice. Almost like they were too selfish to say out loud. If I admitted them to someone else, they could no longer be ignored.Once they were out in the universe, there were no take-backs.

“Not to be mean, but you don’t belong here. I always knew it, but I never realized just how much until now. And the longer you stay here, the more time you’re wasting,” she added for extra emphasis. “For no good reason.”

That subject had also been the theme of my thoughts lately.Time.How quickly it passed. How you had absolutely no control over it. How easily it was wasted. Time moved without any regard for your feelings. It didn’t stop or pause because you wanted it to. No, it kept ticking by, hour by hour, minute by minute, until you looked back and wondered where it had all gone.

“And the way Patrick O’Grady looks at you and loves you? My God, Addi, it’s what fairy tales are made of. I want someone to love me like that. Like, truly love me.”

My heart felt like it jumped up in my throat before settling back in place. Then, it started to ache.

I sucked in a steadying breath before grasping my sister’s hand and interlocking our fingers. “Thank you. I needed to hear all of that.”

“It wasn’t too harsh?”

“Not at all.”

“Mother’s going to be so pissed.” She laughed.

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