by Laura Burton
Emily cocks her head to the side and looks at me with pity. “Because, darling, you already found her.”
This time, I shake my head before I can think of a response, but Emily’s dark eyes turn hard and she lifts a palm at me. “Don’t deny it. You want Leila, and now every woman you date will never measure up to her. Am I wrong?”
We both know that’s not a question. I grit my teeth. The woman has a reputation for being brutally honest. I’ve never felt more called out than right now.
“So, until I’m over her, it’s best not to date for a while?” I ask, rising out of my chair. Emily shrugs. “That’s one option.”
I pause. “One option?”
Emily stands and walks over to the window. “Mr. Hopkins, as the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Just here in L.A. there are hundreds of eligible ladies who would sell a kidney to land a date with you.”
She turns to look at me again with her arms crossed. “So, you can take some time out to get over Leila, and give me another call.” She presses her lips together and appears to sense my heart sinking at her suggestion. “Or…”
“Or?” I repeat, hopeful. Oh, please let there be another option that doesn’t make me feel like trash.
Emily walks up to me and squeezes my shoulder. “Or you can go and get your partner back.”
My chest squeezes at the thought. “I can’t. It’s complicated.”
Emily laughed. “If I had a dime for every time a client told me that, I’d be richer than Elon Musk.”
I smile at her. Between her fortune and the Marks’ hotel franchise, I imagine she’s already richer than Elon Musk. Emily and David Marks are a very high-profile power couple in America.
“She comes from a broken family, and her biggest fear is being with someone who cannot commit,” I say, scratching my neck.
Emily lifts her left hand and fiddles with the shiny diamond ring on her finger. “There’s a pretty simple solution to that problem.”
I eye the ring and look at her with surprise. “You mean?”
Emily nods. “You love her, right? And clearly, you’re a total mess without her.”
I start to pace the room, my heart picking up speed. “But we’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”
“Hey. When you know, you know, right?” Emily says, drumming her nails on her arm as she watches me. I stop pacing and drag a hand through my hair.
“Maybe the real question is, is Blaze Hopkins ready to settle down and commit to one woman?” Emily asks. I look at her, but her face morphs into Leila’s, and she gives me her iconic beaming grin. The next thing I know, I’m grinning too.
“Thank you, Emily,” I say, when the image of Leila’s face vanishes. “I’m sorry I wasted your time.”
Emily looks at me like a proud parent. “Not at all. After all, it’s like I always say… It’s a beautiful day to fall in love. Or in your case, to be in love.”
I shake her hand and charge out of the office, beaming ear to ear, thinking that maybe I do like the formidable Emily Marks.
Chapter 25
Leila
I am one lucky girl.
Most people wouldn’t feel that way after my string of bad luck. I mean, it’s been one disaster after another since I lost my job at Perrier Francé.
And losing Blaze was the ultimate bad luck.
But as soon as I walked into baggage claim at New York airport, I was greeted by my two favorite people in the whole world.
Lucy and Chessy were standing arm in arm and holding up a homemade sign, that read, World’s Best Big Sister.’
Seeing my sisters again brought a flood of emotions to the surface. I crumpled in their arms and sobbed until no more tears would come out. They both held me.
I spent the next week sleeping eighteen hours a day, barely eating, and I don’t think I’ve said more than two words since I got home.
They saw Jewel kissing Blaze in a video that went viral online. Then they saw how broken and sad I was, and I guess they put two and two together.
But they don’t know the real reason I’m not with Blaze anymore.
This whole time, he was just using me as a pawn in one of his games. He didn’t have any real feelings for me. And when I told him it was over, he didn’t even fight for me. He just stood there looking at me with hollow eyes.
If he cared about me as much as he said he did, why did he just let me go?
“Leila, you know we love you unconditionally…” Chessy says in a careful voice.
I look up from the couch as she walks in, and I see her holding a bottle of bubble bath.
Lucy is mauling the buttons on her game controller and glances away from the screen long enough to give me a look. “But you stink.”
Chessy shoots Lucy a disapproving look, but she doesn’t argue, then she gives me a guilty grin and lifts the bottle. “I drew a nice hot bath for you. How about it?”
A few minutes later, I sink into the bubbles, and a flood of hot water covers my whole body, right up to my chin. Chessy sits on the toilet and starts to wash my hair. I shut my eyes, trying to ignore the deep ache inside.
“So… I was wondering what your plans are tonight?” Chessy asks.
I sigh heavily. I can’t sit around and wallow in self-pity forever. I haven’t even touched the money Josie sent me for the “work” I did. Apparently, Blaze and Harper’s people paid her invoices and Josie is thrilled.
It’s just joke money to me. I’m a fraud.
I can’t even look at my bank balance.
But sooner or later, I’m going to need to use it. And I’m going to need to get out and get a new job.
I have no idea what that job will be.
I guess I’ll be hopping from failed job to failed job for the rest of my life.
And I’ve completely lost hope in finding a guy who will stick around.
“Hey, you’re spiraling,” Chessy says, shaking my shoulders. “You’ll find love again. I promise.”
I smirk, closing my eyes. Chessy falls in love more often than Lucy goes to comic cons. “How do you do it, Chessy?” I ask, puffing air out from my cheeks. “How do you put your heart out there so much, even after getting hurt?”
“Because I know my Mr. Right is out there. So, I’ll never lose hope,” Chessy says. “Keep your eyes closed, I’m going to rinse out your hair.”
An hour later, I’m back on the couch next to Lucy, watching her battle with Orcs in some Lord of the Rings game. “What about you, Lucy? Do you think you’ll ever find someone?”
Lucy shrugs. “Sure. I like to think there’s an Aragorn out there for me. But I’m in no rush. After all, Arwen waited hundreds of years to be with her man.”
I smile at her, not following a word she’s saying. But I’m guessing she’s talking about Lord of the Rings again.
“Well, I’ve booked us all a show in the city, tonight,” Chessy says, her face beaming.
I suck in a nervous breath and Chessy gives me a hard look, sensing my hesitation. “Come on, Leila. It’s been a week now. You need to get out of the house and have some fun.”
There’s no point arguing with my baby sister. I’m just about to give in when my phone lights up with a message.
“No way…” I whisper, reading it.
“What?” My sisters ask in unison.
“I’ve got to go,” I say, jumping up from the couch. My hair is still damp, but I roll it into a tight bun, pull on my ankle boots and pick up my jacket.
“Where are you going?” Lucy calls after me as I dash to the door.
“I’ll be back tonight,” I yell over my shoulder.
“You’re not going to miss the show, are you? We’re leaving at seven,” Chessy shouts. I nod quickly and promise I’ll be back in time. Then I rush out the door and let it slam behind me.
“Thank you for coming at such short notice, Leila.”
I nod, adjusting my shirt and smoothing down my fly-aways. Olly gestures to a teenage girl with the same n
arrow features and a bright pair of blue eyes. “This is Amy, my daughter.”
I wave. “Hi.”
Olly walks us into the community center and we look around at an empty hall. “We thought this might be a good place for the Japanese themed party you were talking about,” he says.
I look at Amy. “You like the idea, huh?”
Amy’s smile widens. “Like it? You’re kidding, right? It’s going to be amazing.”
We spend the next hour talking over details of the party. Olly stops by the doors. “Alright. It’s settled, then. Can I leave it up to you to make this happen?”
I suck in a nervous breath. “You want me to organize the party?”
Olly nods. “You’ve got a good eye for this stuff, and I trust you.”
Nothing can stop me from beaming. “I would love to. Thank you so much, you’re not going to regret this.”
“So, you’re going to make it happen?” Amy asks, her eyes dancing. When I nod at her, she throws her arms around Olly in a bear hug. “Thank you so much, Dad. I can’t believe it!”
Olly hugs her back, his expression softening. Then he looks at me, gives me a grateful nod and mouths, thank you.
So, I have decided that today is a day of surprises.
When I woke up I was jet-lagged, jobless, boyfriend-less and feeling like the world’s worst adult.
Being a kid was so much easier. All this adulting is just exhausting.
But now I’ve got a job. It’s a small one, but I call it a win.
The next surprise is that Josie meets us at the theatre. She throws her skinny arms around me and gives me a big hug that knocks the wind out of my lungs.
Being back with my bestie and my sisters makes the world seem just a little less dim. How can I stay in a dull mood with these girls by my side?
After the show, we walk by Elle’s Kitchen and I peer in to see someone moving around inside.
“What are you doing? It’s closed,” Josie says, when I thump on the door.
“Leila is friends with the owner,” Chessy explains to Josie.
Elle opens the door. Her cheeks are flushed and her apron is covered in flour.
“I saw you on TV with Blaze! Come in and tell me everything!” she says, pulling us all inside the bakery.
The only thing I can think about right now is the fact that her bump is missing. I’m just about to ask when a tiny cry breaks the silence and grips my heart.
“You had the baby!” I whisper, throwing my hands to my mouth.
We crowd the baby carrier and peer in to see a pair of round blue eyes blinking up at us all, probably wondering who the heck these weird women are.
“Her name is Aurelia,” Elle says, wiping her clammy forehead with the back of her hand. My sisters coo over the baby while I follow Elle to the counter. “Shouldn’t you be home?”
Elle laughs, prompting Josie and I to exchange looks. What was funny about the question? “Enough about me. I’m dying over here. What’s going on between you and Blaze?”
I swallow and glance at Josie again, who picks up on my silent plea and fills Elle in on the whole story. Elle nods along and keeps passing me chocolate fudge squares, like a doctor handing out medicine.
“No way!” Elle says in a breathy voice when Josie tells her about Jewel trying to sabotage our relationship.
“It was doomed from the start,” I say glumly. “I mean, who was I kidding? Blaze isn’t the type to commit. Not to someone like me. I mean, he’s Blaze Hopkins… Academy Award winning actor… And I’m… Well, I'm nobody.”
The room explodes with, “That’s not true!” But then the baby whimpers and everyone starts to talk in hushed voices again.
Then a door bangs and in walks Zane Masters. He casts his eyes about the room and smiles politely at us all, but then he finds Elle and strides to her like he’s caught her red handed. “You should be resting.”
I watch, with fascination, as he cradles Elle like she’s the most precious thing on Earth. He kisses her head, but she pushes him away. “I was going stir-crazy at home. Besides, Aurelia likes it here.”
Zane gives her a lop-sided grin. “She’s already just like her mom.” He turns, lifts the child out of the baby carrier, and cuddles her up to his shoulder. All eyes are on the man and his baby, and I’m pretty sure hearts are melting all round as he holds Aurelia’s head and bounces her. “Well, it’s late. I’m going to get this little tiger home.”
Josie squeals. “Little tiger. That is too cute!”
Elle chuckles. “Her first cry after she was born sounded like a little tiger’s growl,” she explains, smoothing the baby’s romper and patting her back tenderly. “You go get her in the car, I’ll be right out. I promise.”
Zane nods and we all watch, starry eyed, as he bundles the baby up in her carrier again and leaves through the back door. Elle takes off her apron and sighs. “Well, I’m really sorry things didn’t work out with Blaze.”
All eyes are on me now, and for the first time, I sense pity from everyone in the room.
“Me too,” I say, looking at the floor. “But you know what?” I look at all of them, my heart filling with gratitude for each one. “I might not have been able to finish the press tour, or do a very good job… And yeah, I didn’t even get the guy…”
“Is there a ‘but,’ coming?” Lucy asks. We all laugh.
“Yes,” I say, scratching my arm. “I went on that press tour for the money––and because you guys forced me.” I look pointedly from Josie to Chessy, who look back at me with guilty grins. “But if I hadn’t gone on that trip, I’d never have met Olly, and he helped me realize something.”
“What’s that?” Chessy asks, looking at me with big, curious eyes.
“I think the reason why I’ve never been able to keep a job is because I need variety. I can’t stand doing the same thing every day. And he’s given me a job. I’m planning a party for his daughter next month.”
Chessy gasps dramatically. “How did I not think of that? You would be an amazing event planner.”
“Does this mean you’re not going to take on any more personal shopper jobs for me, then?” Josie asks. We all laugh at that one.
“Correct. But I want to do more than just events. I’m not sure how it’s all going to look yet, but I’m going to put all my money into setting up a business. And I’m going to work for myself.”
Elle hands me a bag of goodies. “Well, then. Sounds like you got exactly what you needed out of that trip.” She pulls me in for a hug. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to lock up and go home with my little family.”
My heart pinches at the word family and I think about how nice it must be to have that.
My mind has a sick sense of humor.
Because the next thing I know, I’m fantasizing about Blaze carrying our baby in his broad arms, singing some nursery rhyme off key, and then putting the baby in the bed between us. Soft moonlight floats over us through our sheer curtains.
The peaceful image of us snuggling in bed with a little one between us triggers a rush of emotion so intense, it makes me wince. But I shake it away and force a smile as we file out of the bakery.
For now, that life will continue to be just a fantasy. But I’m determined not to be down about it.
Chessy is right, Mr. Right is out there. I can’t lose hope.
But until then, maybe I’ll take a leaf out of Lucy’s book. I won’t rush. When the time is right, everything will fall into place. Just like it has with my work.
After all this time, I finally have clarity in that department.
And that’s enough.
For now…
After saying goodbye to Josie, and dropping Chessy off at her apartment, Lucy and I ride a taxi back to our place in comfortable silence.
“Have you seen all the lanterns in the sky?” the cab driver asks as we near our street. Lucy and I peer out of the windows and I see a few stray lanterns floating above the rooftops.
“Huh. That’s ran
dom,” Lucy remarks, taking the words out of my mouth.
“Is there some kind of festival going on?” I ask the driver, but he shrugs.
“People have been seeing them all over Newark this evening. Nobody knows what they’re for,” the driver says. But as we approach the house, I start to see lanterns floating in bigger clusters.
When we pull up to the apartment, Lucy gasps.
“No way,” she says.
I move to see what she’s looking at, but her head is in the way. “What? What is it?”
“Not what...” Lucy says, turning to look at me like she’s just seen a ghost, “...Who.”
I pay the driver and climb out of the car. First thing I notice are the rose petals on the floor. The entire path leading up to the apartment is covered in them.
“This is such a hazard,” Lucy says, grumbling. But I don’t pay her any attention. Blaze is standing at my front door.
I can’t move. Everything else fades out. He’s holding a rose and staring at me.
“How long have you been here?” I ask him, noticing that his nose is rosy from the cold.
“A while,” he says, flashing me a guilty smile. He looks at Lucy, who smiles awkwardly at him.
“You’re Blaze,” Lucy says. “Did you make this mess?”
I wince at her bluntness, and Blaze’s face reddens with a laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this one through, I guess. I didn’t know you were going to be out, and so most of the lanterns have blown away.” He gestures to the sky and the glowing lanterns floating gently above our heads. I look back down at him and our eyes meet. We just stand there in silence, looking at each other.
“I hope they don’t set fire to anything,” Lucy says, breaking the moment.
“Right, good point. Didn’t think of that either,” Blaze says, looking at Lucy again.
I snap out of my shock and gesture to Lucy. “This is my sister––”
“You’re Lucy,” Blaze says, shaking her hand. Lucy’s face lights up and she nods at me.
“He’s not very health and safety conscious, but, at least, he’s good with names,” she says quietly. Not quietly enough, apparently, because Blaze chortles like she just told him a joke.