Page 5 of Thanks for the Friendship
He shrugs. “I guess I wasn’t thinking about that. I want to live in the now and not worry about the future.”
This is why we are at a crossroads. I lived in the past for a long time and finally enjoyed every second of the present. But now my gut is telling me that I’m ready to follow a different path.
I put my hands on his cheeks. “Jordan, you are amazing. And there’s a woman out there who is going to fall so head over heels in love with you some day.”
“And you’re not her.”
I shake my head. “Believe me, I wish I was.”
He leans in and places a gentle kiss on my lips. For a second I consider just staying in the moment—but I’ve already been doing that for too long.
“I’ll really miss you, Lila,” he breathes, sending a shiver down my spine.
Ugh. I wish I’d met Jordan a few years ago when I was carefree and all about having fun.
“Can you stay for a little while?” he asks innocently. “You can finish your wine, and we can just talk.”
I smile. “I’d like to—but you and I both know that’s probably not a good idea.”
“I promise to be good. We can talk about work, and the weather.”
I place my glass down on the coffee table and push my hair over my shoulder. “I can’t.”
He nods knowingly and pushes himself off the couch. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
As I follow him to the door, a tiny spark of doubt pops into my head.Am I making a mistake?
Maybe we just need a break, maybe this isn’t over forever.
He opens the door and casually leans on it. “So, this is really it?” he asks.
I reach up and place a kiss on his cheek. “Good-bye, Jordan.”
He gives me a pained look. “Good-bye, Lila.”
My mind is spinning as I walk toward my car. I don’t look back because I already know he’s staring at me. Wow, why did I have to pick now to reevaluate my life and figure out what I really want?
As I make my way through the palm tree-lined streets, my brain flips back and forth between doubt and relief. I can’t say that I’m not sad. Any woman with a pulse would be after giving up a guy like Jordan.
I finally pull up to the gate of my neighborhood, waving to William the guard. More relief washes over me as I make my way to my house, my safe place. There’s something so comforting about being in the home I grew up in. When my parents initially told me they were thinking of selling it, it nearly broke my heart. That’s when I made the decision to leave my gorgeous beach-front condo and move back home. I told them I would find roommates and keep it up for a while. I know it won’t be forever—but with the way everything fell into place, I know it was the right decision.
As soon as I walk inside, I hear a man’s voice, and I know immediately that it’s Theo. Ugh. I promised Gabby I’d continue to try—but tonight isn’t the night.
I walk into the kitchen and find Theo and Gabby with their heads together looking at something on his phone.
“Hey, Lila,” Theo says cheerfully.
Gabby looks up and gives me a funny look. “Hey, how did he take it? Are you okay?”
I glance at Theo. If you asked me a year ago that I’d ever discuss anything personal with Theo Jorgenson, I’d say you were high.
“It went okay,” I say, hopping up on one of the bar stools. “He claimed he knew it was coming, although he tried to get me to stay.”
“Of course he did,” Theo says. “He’s probably having a hard time letting you go.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I guess. It was the right decision, and I’m sure he’ll see that soon. I can’t imagine that it will take very long for Jordan to be swooped up.”
“So now what?” Gabby asks, running her fingers up and down Theo’s back.
