Page 34 of Falling for You Again

“I did. I found out yesterday.” Emi smiles.

“That’s awesome! Why didn’t you tell me?” For over a year Emi has been vying for a senior designer position that comes with a raise and a team to manage.

“It didn’t feel right talking about it after your news with your uncle.”

“Not all my news is bad,” I announce before I have the sense to stop myself.

They all look at me. I should make something up but I don’t. Because somewhere between reading Savant’s letter of intent and negotiating with Aaron, I’ve lost all sense of reason.

“Aaron and I are getting married.”

They gape at me.

You could hear a pin drop.

Two hours later, after Shae and Tam leave, Emi roughly handles the dishes, scrubbing hard at the plates before putting them in the dishwasher. I spoon leftovers into plastic containers.

“You didn’t have to stay,” Emi says, keeping her back to me. Water sprays in the sink.

“You’re angry.” Once the gals got over their initial shock, I shared the plan Aaron and I had devised, clearly explaining to them that this is a business arrangement. We aren’t committing to forever.

“I’m not angry. I’m disappointed.” As I knew she would be. She slams off the water. “Okay. Maybe a little angry.”

“People marry for convenience all the time.”

She turns to me. “People do. Not you, not my friend.”

“Does this have to do with Paul? You didn’t want me to marry him either.”

“Because he didn’t love you, not the way you deserved.” My parents’ lack of interest in and affection toward me always bothered her. She thinks them living in the same building as me, barely talking to me, and rarely visiting is toxic. That it eats at my mental health like a cancer. Maybe so, but they are my family. “Besides”—she dries her hands with a dish towel—“your heart was never really into him. I could tell.”

Emi is a romantic. I can’t fault her for that.

“Love doesn’t have anything to do with Aaron and me.”

“Are you sure?”

I frown. Why would she even ask that?

“That’s not what this arrangement is about.”

“You keep saying that, and I think that’s why I’m sad for you. I’d hoped ...” She shakes her head.

“Hoped what?”

“I don’t know. The way he was looking at you—the way you looked at him, and don’t you dare deny it—you guys were into each other. There was a spark there.”

I know that. I felt it. I refuse to pursue it.

“I guess after everything that happened with Paul and your parents, I kind of hoped you’d hold out for someone who really loves you. Who sees in you what I do. You deserve to be loved, Meli. After what I saw last night and hearing that you went home with him, I thought it could grow into something meaningful one day. You’d been celibate for five years.”

“You make me sound like a nun.”

“You practically are. Or were. Come on, Meli. I’m your best friend. I know you’re lonely.”

I lift my chin. “Am not. I have you, the shop. I’m not losing the shop.”

“You don’t know Aaron. You haven’t even given yourself the chance for something to develop. But marriage? For business?”

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