Page 23 of A Spot of Tea
“Thank you. I agree.” Joey sat back. “I’m happy to keep looking for this guy, especially with you as my partner. But you’ve got to show some faith.”
She looked over at him. “In you?”
“No.” His stare was unwavering. “In yourself.”
She groaned. “Fine.”
“Fine?”
“I said fine!” Eliza crossed her arms.
“Cool.” He put the car back into drive. “How about we go to a bakery to get some more scones and talk next steps?”
“Sounds good to me,” she said, turning to the window to hide her smile.
Nine
Mackenzie stared at the framed picture at her bedside, the one of the family at her college graduation: Emma and Shelby standing back to back like Bond girls, Mom and Dad smiling, as far apart as could be. Mackenzie was in her cap and gown, grinning at the camera, and Eliza was at her side, looking up at her with round eyes and an earnest smile.
Little sisters. They didn’t make them all the same. Eliza had always looked up to her, perhaps too much. Eliza’s face was the picture of adoration here. Like Mackenzie could do no wrong.
Mackenzie wasn’t perfect, though, as the past few weeks had clearly showed.
She heaved herself out of bed. How was this happening? She was supposed to be the one who had it all together. The big sister with all the answers.
She was twenty-seven years old! Too old to throw her life and everything she’d worked for away because of a – what? Because of a boy?
It was too shameful to say out loud, but it was eating her alive. Maybe the one person she could tell was Eliza.
Eliza never judged and she didn’t lecture. If anyone would listen, it was her. She might even be able to help.
Mackenzie’s phone almost slipped out of her sweaty hand as she hit call.
Eliza picked up after three rings. “Hey!”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“How are you doing?”
“Good,” she lied. “How are you?”
Eliza sighed dramatically. “Oh, you know, just in hiding since becoming internet famous. Or infamous. I’m not sure.”
Mackenzie frowned. “Has it been bad? I thought it would’ve blown over by now.”
“Eh, you know. Things linger.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be! It’s okay. What’s new with you?”
Mackenzie took in a shaky breath. “Ah, well—”
“Did you and Steve announce your takeover of the company yet?”
She shut her eyes. How arrogant she’d been with Steve, joking how they were the company power couple. How naïve she’d been to trust him at all. “No, but he announced something else.”
“Shoot, is he leaving? Did he get another job?”
