Page 134 of Valentine Nook
I can’t even find any nerves swirling at the possibility he might say no. I don’t care.
All that matters is that I’m going to see Lando again.
CHAPTER 28
Lando
Idon’t think I’ve ever been so unhappy in my entire life.
It’s been five agonizing days since Holiday left, and for four and a half of them, I’ve been trying to figure out a way we can be together. The only plan I’ve come up with is for Alex to take over Burlington and for me to oversee operations from a New York HQ that doesn’t exist yet. But if Alex agrees, then I’ll be flying over to find an office as soon as the plane is fueled.
If he doesn’t, then . . . well, I haven’t gotten that far.
I’ve only made it to The One True Love, where I’m shivering next to the blazing fire with Hamish at my feet while I try finding my solution at the bottom of a pint.
One look at me and Eddie cleared the back room so I have it to myself, just like I did on my first date with Holiday.
My head falls into my hands. Christ. What a mess.
“Well, hello, fancy seeing you here.”
My head snaps back up at the sound of Miles’s voice. “How’d you find me?”
“Eddie called.”
Traitor. I scowl over at the bar, not that he cares. He missesHoliday as much as everyone else, but when my mother walks around the corner, my scowl narrows and aims at Miles instead. My mother, whom I’ve been avoiding.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“Congratulations,” I grunt. “You found me.”
“Yes, and I see you’ve decided to stop shaving again, darling.”
My head snaps up. I’m not in the mood for this shit. If they thought I was hard to be around after Caroline, they haven’t seen anything yet.
“Mother—” My voice carries a warning tone for whatever she came here to say, which she obviously decides to ignore.
“Orlando. I am your mother?—”
“Don’t even think about trying to set me up on another date. I’m done.”
Her mouth purses, and she stares at me for a second until her face softens. She scooches in next to me, and just like she did when I was younger and having a bad day, she pushes her fingers through my hair. It’s oddly comforting and lulls me into a false sense of security.
“I know I promised not to interfere, but I lied. Do not let that girl get away.”
The all-too-familiar tightening of my throat happens again, and it’s really starting to piss me off. I shift back along the leather booth.
“She broke up withme, Mum. What am I supposed to do? I can’t force her to change her mind. It was her decision, not mine,” I snap, but I can’t help it. I’m angry. I’m sad and angry with Holiday for giving up so easily. “We’re going to be on different continents for a year. There’s literally no time to see each other.”
Not sure why I’m trying to convince my mum when I can’t even convince myself.
“Find time,” she responds before standing. Helpful asalways. “Anyway, must go. I said I’d pop over to Mrs. Winston’s to discuss the Christmas fair.”
On the way out, she passes Miles, walking back to the table carrying two pints of beer, one of which he places in front of me. He pulls out the opposite chair and sits down.
“Did Mum tell you to go after Holiday?”
“Something like that.”
