Page 81 of February

“What?”

“You look at Bridgette like she’s, I don’t know, something romantic,” he said and flopped back against the seat.

Monica laughed and asked, “Something romantic?”

“You stare at her and make a ton of eye contact. It’s weird to watch, but she does it with you, too.”

“Okay. Well, why don’t you leave Bridgette and me to Bridgette and me, and you focus on school?”

“You like it here, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” She shrugged a shoulder. “I didn’t at first, but I feel like I’ve gotten to know it a little bit better now.”

“Bridgette said you hung out with her friends.”

“We went out one night. She pitied me more than anything.”

“No, she didn’t. She invited you because she likes you. Why is this so hard for you to get? You’re supposed to be smart. You went to Yale.”

Monica practically cackled at that. Then, the car pulled over in front of their hotel, and the door was opened for Aaron, who got out first. Monica followed, and they were silent until they got into the elevator.

“What if you worked here?” Aaron suggested.

“Honey, I work–”

“You can work from anywhere.”

“Arnette is in New York, and I’m going to run it one day.”

“But not yet.”

“Grandpa will be retiring soon, Aaron.”

“So? You can travel there when you need to.”

“Honey, I live in New York. I work–”

“I’ll miss you,” he said softly before she could finish.

“What?” Monica turned to him.

“I won’t missLillian. I love her – she’s my mother – but… You’re mymom.”

Monica felt the tears well in her eyes and tried to hold them back. This was an important moment between the two of them that she needed to pay attention to and not be crying happy tears because her son said he’d miss her.

“Honey, you’ll be home for breaks, and I’ll come for visits.”

“I just think you should think about it. You can work here and travel to the office whenever. It’s not that long of a flight. And it’s not like Bridgette has been there. She told me. You could show her around.”

“Aaron, Bridgette is a friend. We’re not together. She wouldn’t be traveling anywhere with me.”

The elevator dinged, indicating that they had arrived at their floor, so they exited and paused in front of Monica’s door as she got her key out of her purse.

“It’s an idea, and I think it’s a good one. I’d be here – I’ll live in a dorm on campus, obviously – and you’d have your space tonotbe with Bridgette or anyone else.”

Monica rolled her eyes and said, “I want you to focus on making the decisionsyouneed to make. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m okay.”

She proceeded to wonder at the truth of that statement as she hugged Aaron goodnight and watched him walk down the hallway toward his room, which she saw him go into. Then, she let out a deep sigh and went into her own suite, flopping onto the bed in a seated position. As she stared out the window at the view outside, she thought more about what Aaron had said. Monica knew he was right. She hadn’t been happy in New York for a long time. She also knew that her father had at least another two years in him before he’d retire. On top of that, while she’d been bred to take over for him, there were also other candidates that the board could approve over her when the retirement happened.

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