Page 65 of Pucking Rebound

Hell knows what he’s going to tell me next because he just short-circuited every single one of my brain cells.

“What did you forget to add?” I lower my voice, brushing my lips against his.

“She’s not you, Lola.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jordy

She’s not you.

What the fuck made me say that last night?

I’m going to scare Lola off if I’m not careful.

It’s true though. She isn’t Sienna, which I’m fucking happy about.

Shining outward, spontaneous, and kind, Lola is everything Sienna wasn’t.

Being with Sienna felt awkward at times, and clunky. As if we didn’t fit together, and something that used to bug me, but thought I was just imagining. Lola was right, her moving to LA was kinder than telling me she most definitely didn’t love me the way she said she did or the way I wanted her to.

The sun shines through the windows, signaling another beautiful winter morning in Edmonton. Protein shake in hand, which Lola made me while I took a shower, I’m walking down the hallway leading from my bedroom to the kitchen, Lola’s sweet voice filling the space as I round the corner.

Sitting at my dining table with her laptop open and looking like a million bucks, she leads the meeting with the executive team she said her and her father appointed before he died.

It’s epic and weird because I thought she was just Wade’s assistant, but she’s more than that. She’s a businesswoman who owns a chain of restaurants and cafes.

I’m desperate to ask her about what her connection to the Eagles is, but I can’t, because I promised her I would wait, and I will. It’s sort of irritating me now though. I could be wrong, but it might have something to do with Wade. I can’t even ask Kali about any of it, because Lola and I, well, we’re a secret and if I start asking questions she might become suspicious.

“Elizabeth, can you set up a meeting with my financial advisor, please?” Lola picks up her notebook to read the list I saw her making before she jumped in the shower this morning.

“Yes, ma’am,” a woman, who must be Elizabeth, replies. “It’s Christmas next week. Joseph might not be available.”

“Try anyway and if not push it into January for me.” I love watching Lola take charge. She looks beautiful today in a pale pink silk shirt tucked into high waisted jeans, her hair fully blown out framing her face that’s covered in light makeup.

“And Henry, I just remembered. When you pull the round-robin letter together, I would like to read it before you send it out.”

“Absolutely.” A male voice sounds through the laptop speaker.

“And put a photo of Graham in it too. He’s not to take one step inside any of my establishments.”

“We have CCTV in place, Ms. Ramsay. I can assure you we won’t let that happen,” another male voice interjects.

“Thanks, Matthew.” Lola nods authoritatively. “Next on the agenda. Remodeling.” She drops her notebook onto the table. “Moose & Mug.”

She owns Moose & Mug? Holy shit. I love that place.

“Brewbear.” She keeps calling out names of the coffee shops I visit regularly.

“And Grind & Shine.”

Fuck me, Grind & Shine? Is she kidding, they make the best apple pie in all of North America.

“I want to go back to basics with their look and feel. I envision cozy, dark wood paneling, real wood fireplaces, and wood burners. If we’re doing this, I want it done right to give our customers something to talk about. Creative working spaces, charging points, maybe collaborative work pods for people to conduct meetings. Somewhere customers will come to and stay for more than just coffee. I want their quick coffee and chat to become lunch.”

A chorus of voices on the video call approve.

“Could you have Northwood Interiors draw up some plans and ideas, please, Tim? I’m thinking we get things moving after the holidays. Remodeling could start at the beginning of summer, maybe?”

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