Page 382 of Not Over You

He picked up his napkin, folding it in his lap. “I’d rather judge you on the Lori you are today than on what happened a lifetime ago. It hurt. At the time, it hurt like a motherfucker. But that’s over. You’re here, and I’m here. Time to live in the now, not the past or the future. The past is done, and the future isn’t guaranteed. All we have is this moment right here.”

His speech, unscripted, raw, and honest, lifted a weight off her shoulders. He’d nailed it, backing up the change in her mindset that had begun to develop. No one had a guarantee of anything more than the moment they lived in. She would tell Zane what happened out in India when she was ready. But for now, he’d given her permission to enjoy their time together for what it was: former lovers rediscovering that their feelings for one another hadn’t dimmed a bit. If anything, their maturity had added fuel to the fire, and she’d happily burn in the flames of Zane’s love.

The softness in his eyes melted her insides. “You’re such a special man, Zane. You always were.”

“You bring out the best in me.”

He leaned in, and she prepared herself for the feel of his lips. And then he cursed.

“Phone’s ringing.” He dug it out of his pocket and groaned. “It’s Calum. One sec. Yeah?” Zane reached for her hand, caressing her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “I can’t, sorry.” Pause. “Because I’m busy.” Another pause. “None of your business.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re not my keeper.” A nod. “Okay, see you tomorrow.” He slotted his phone back in his pocket. “Sorry about that. Now, where were we?”

Immersed in Zane’s rapt attention, Lori ignored her unsuitable attire and who might be looking and judging her. She’d forgotten what it was like to be the center of Zane’s focus, but it was all-consuming. Heady. She felt dizzy with it, like she’d been on a fairground ride and hadn’t yet regained her footing.

They were almost the last diners to leave the restaurant. Taxis whizzed by, but none had their lights on, so they walked along for a while, the evening cool, the wind mild. In response to her curiosity, Zane talked about Necron, about his vision for the company, and how he saw this partnership with Dayton working. His ideas were strategic, his mind as keen as it had always been, yet even more developed in adulthood. He talked about Calum and his girlfriend, Laurella, and Calum’s family who, it was clear to see, were also like family to Zane.

Despite her oath to live in the now, her mind wandered, throwing up what-ifs at a frenetic rate. If her dad’s company hadn’t offered him a temporary transfer to India, she’d have gone to NYU with Zane, and given how engrossed they were in each other, he might never have met Calum Brook. Mightn’t have discovered an extended family that clearly brought him immense joy. And her heart would still have failed her.

Maybe things had worked out just as they were meant to.

Zane saw her back to her apartment. She didn’t invite him in, and he didn’t ask. He kissed her goodnight and promised he’d be in touch. The second he vanished from sight, she dropped a text to her mom.

Calling by tomorrow. Need advice.

“Hello, darling.”

The familiarity of Mom’s hug coupled with the scent of her perfume and coconut shampoo felt as it always did, the warmth of home. Lori hadn’t seen as much of her parents as she’d have liked these past few years, but being back in New York and determined to settle here meant she could make up for all the lost time.

“Something smells good.” She sniffed the air. “You baked bread.”

“And I’ve made meatballs with angel hair pasta.”

Lori kissed her mom’s soft cheek. “You’re the best, Mom.”

“Every day feels like a celebration since you returned to New York.” She studied Lori, her gaze intense. “And you’re definitely staying, yes?”

“I’ve already told you I’m staying.” She followed her mom into the kitchen and hugged Dad, who her mom must have tasked with grating parmesan cheese. “Watch your fingers on that grater, Dad.”

“It’s your mother you need to give that lecture to.”

Lori laughed. Mom wasn’t the safest around sharp objects. Her fingers and hands carried multiple scars as evidence of her deadliness with a knife.

“Old news, Jim.” She flicked her hand in her favored dismissive way. “Lori, set the table, would you, darling? I’ll serve up.”

Once they sat down, and before Mom dug into the pasta, Lori took a breath and blurted, “I went on a date with Zane yesterday.”

It was a good thing she’d chosen to spill the news before her mother started serving the food, otherwise it’d have resulted in a meatball and tomato sauce disaster. Her mother’s hand flew up in the air. She let go of the spoon, and it hit the wall behind her, falling down the back of Grandma’s antique dresser. The same hand went to her mouth, eyes blown wide.

“Zane? Our Zane?”

“Not sure you can call him that anymore, but yes. That Zane.”

She flashed her eyes to Dad, who looked just as stunned as her mother, his bushy eyebrows halfway up his wrinkled forehead.

“We bumped into each other as I was leaving Dayton’s building on Friday.” Her parents knew about the huge contract she’d landed. They were the first people she’d told after Dayton confirmed she’d got the job. “He asked me to go for a coffee with him, and I did. And then yesterday, we took a boat out on the Hudson and then went to dinner, and it was… it was… like old times.”

“Oh, Lori.” Mom clasped her hand. “Look at me.”

She lifted her head, meeting her mother’s concerned gaze.

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