Page 10 of Why Not Forever?

“I need some time to consider this,” she says, which I know is code for discussing it with her closest friends.

“No problem. Let’s go out for dinner tonight. Take the rest of the day to consider and we can talk more about the details then.”

She shakes her head. “It’s game night at Derek’s house,” she says. “I never miss it if I don’t have to. And I especially won’t be missing tonight.” She purses her lips, considering. “Tomorrow night. We’ll go out for dinner. I’ll have a decision for you then.”

I smile and stand, holding out my hand for her to shake. “Perfect. Shall I make a reservation?”

She stands and takes my hand, and a spark of recognition zips through me at the touch of her palm against mine. I haven’t touched her in over seven years, and I suddenly don’t want to stop. I take my hand back slowly before I do something stupid.

“Fine,” she says, clearly unaffected. “Make it for three. I’m bringing Spencer.”

“I expected nothing less. I’ll make it for four and I’ll bring Wyatt.”

She nods and comes around her desk, leading me out. “How is your brother doing?” she asks as she walks me through the corridors back to the front door, ever the good hostess.

“Great. He and his wife had another baby a few years ago. Hunter will be five this year.”

She gives me a genuine smile this time. She’d liked Wyatt the few times she’d met him. He and his wife Addison had come out for a night when Vic and I were still friends, leaving their daughter Riley with our mom for a much needed date night.

“That’s nice. What does that bring your count up to now?”

She’s asking about my nieces and nephews. I have a few.

“Eleven. Hunter was the last. I think everyone is done now, so there probably won’t be any more.” I bite my tongue on the urge to say,unless someone has another oops baby. Vic doesn’t need to hear my thoughts on my siblings’ lack of sexual responsibility.

She nods to Denise when we get to the lobby and turns to me. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“I’ll text you the details once I have the reservation.” I turn to leave, then pivot back, taking something out of my pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot. I made this for you last night.”

I smooth out the slightly crumpled paper crane, folding the wings and the beak back into shape, then place it in her palm.

She turns it around and around, staring down at it. Then she looks up at me, her blue eyes finding mine, one eyebrow raised.

“Let me guess,” she says dryly. “I’m not allowed to throw it away because you made it for me.”

My heart clenches at her reminder of the morning we’d spent together. Does she still have the paper flower I made her? For the first time, I wonder if I could have been wrong all those years ago. Could I have gotten her back if I’d done something as simple as make her some other silly piece of origami?

“That’s right.” I wink at her, not letting her see the emotions roiling within me. “See you tomorrow night.”

Then I leave the building before she can suspect how much I want this to go right. Because the truth is, I am playing a long game, but Sterling Properties isn’t the prize.

Chapter 4

Vic

AssoonasTanneris gone, I march directly to Spencer’s office and close the door behind me. He looks up, startled. We rarely close the doors to our offices at Blue Vista.

I take a breath. Because, now that I’m in here and no one else can see me, I’m starting to feel everything I’ve been holding in check while Tanner was here.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I start pacing in front of his desk.

“Tanner was here,” I say. “He brought me some interesting news.”

“Is your father okay?” he asks.

I nod, but don’t say anything else, my mind racing with everything Tanner had said and suggested. I hold the paper crane carefully in one hand. Why do I even care? It’s just a stupid piece of paper.

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