Page 106 of February

“I can’t imagine it would be bad with us,” Monica replied. Then, she bit her lower lip and added, “And, honestly, I don’t know if Iwantto take over for my father anymore.”

“Really? Since when?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since I got down here. This place is so different from New York.”

“Tell me about it,” Sophie replied as their drinks were placed in front of them on the table.

“I’ve been so lonely, Soph,” Monica revealed. “I knew that before I came here, but I know it now more than ever, and when I go home, that loneliness will return.”

“Not if you have this new woman in your life, right?”

“She wouldn’t be there all the time. She’s not ever going to move from New Orleans. I know that. And I wouldn’t ask her to do that, either. You should see how she lights up when she talks about it. She loves it here. She even makes me love it here, too. I wouldn’t want to ever take that away from her. So, I’d be alone there unless she visited, and then, we’d have a weekend at a time, and she’d be gone again. Where would that leave us?”

“Eventually, you’d have to move here,” Sophie replied with a shrug. “If it works out. Is that what you’re thinking?”

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot, yes.”

“Really? You just told me how new this thing with her was. So much so that you didn’t know if you wanted it to continue. And now, you’re thinking of moving here for her?”

“No, moving here because I actually like it here now. It’s such a change of pace that I feel like I need. Besides, it’s possible Aaron will go to Tulane. Lily wants him to stay in New York, but he’s more interested in Tulane and LSU than he is in going to school up there. He’d be here for at least the next four years, so I’d be able to spend more time with him.”

“And there’s this new woman who also happens to live here,” Sophie said before she took a sip of her tea.

“Yes.” Monica smiled. “I haven’t decided anything yet, and I’m still here to work through the possible acquisition, but I’m trying to take the time to figure out what I want.”

“Who isn’t?” Sophie replied. “And I can definitely understand the loneliness. I feel like I’ve been single for so long, my parts are just going to shrivel up from lack of use. And when I finally do meet the woman of my dreams, she’s going to take one look down there and shake her head before she runs.”

Monica laughed and took a long drink from her cup.

“I don’t think that’s how it works. At least, I hope not. It’s been a while for me, but as far as I know, everything still works down there.”

“Being single sucks,” Sophie said. “For once, I want to meet someone whom I’m excited about from the start; so excited that I’m in lust at first sight, and it builds into love, and we get married and have babies, and it’s all just perfect.” Sophie laughed a little. “And since that’s a fantasy world, I’d settle for an excellent kisser, someone who knows how to cook would be great, and someone who makes me laugh. Is that really too much to ask?”

“No, but I don’t think you should settle, either. I never thought I’d meet anyone else, and I stopped looking. Then, suddenly, there’s this twenty-seven-year-old gorgeous redhead with these perfect green eyes, a sassy disposition, and an intelligence that she undervalues herself, and I’m smitten.”

“She’s twenty-seven?” Sophie asked a little louder than she probably anticipated.

“She is. Way too young for me.”

“Who cares?” Sophie replied. “Go for it. You’re in the prime of your damn life, Monica. You deserve happiness and to find love from someone who won’t be looking for a younger girlfriend and cheating on you.”

“So, the rumor mill made it all the way to you, huh?” she asked.

“Yeah… Sorry.” Sophie gave her a sympathetic expression.

“It’s fine. It happened. We had a few good years in there, and I got Aaron out of it.”

“And now, you have a new woman who sounds great.”

“We’ve been on a few dates, if you can call them that. I don’t know that Ihaveher.”

“When are you seeing her again?”

“Technically, at the office when I get back after lunch.”

“What? You met her at that company you’re trying to buy?”

“Yes,” she said. “That’s bad, right?”

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