Page 86 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

“Don’t screw this up, dude. She’s one in a million.”

Seth stared at him then stood up. “Yes, she is.”

Tom stood and held out a hand, and Seth shook.

Seth met his gaze. “Thanks a lot, dude. I really appreciate your help with the apartment—and with everything else.”

“No worries,” Tom said lightly. “I’ll see you around.”

* * *

Later that afternoon,Gia walked into her apartment after work, and her phone rang from inside her purse. She’d been planning to call her mother back tonight. They’d talked about the party yesterday after the hike, and her mother said she’d check on her today. It was probably her.

She took the phone out and saw Tom’s name on the screen, instead. “Hey, Tom.” She set her keys on the counter and a stack of mail next to them.

“Hey, Gia. How’s it going? You doin’ any better?”

“Yeah, thanks. Much better than the other night.” She told him about the new account at work and how the client had praised the way she’d handled the fiasco on Saturday. She also told him how Abigail had enjoyed the gossip they’d created and Tom laughed.

She leafed through the junk mail and bills as he talked. “I’m so glad, and congratulations on the account,” Tom said. “Hey, so I had a visit from someone you know today.”

“Oh, yeah? Who?” Gia’s brow furrowed.

“You know who.”

Gia hesitated. “Seth?” She set the envelopes back down on the counter.

“Uh-huh.”

“Really?” This was certainly a surprise. “What about?”

“The Wicked Witch of the West took to her broom and flew home today. We let her out of the lease without a fee and gave her back the rest of her money.”

Gia laughed. “Oh, wow. That was nice of you.” She walked over to the kitchen table and took a dirty plate to the sink. “So she’s really gone? Just like that?”

“Just like that. Seth stopped in to drop off the key.” Tom stopped talking for a second or two. “He’s a good dude, Gia. He did the right thing here. I know you’re upset with him, but he has your best interest at heart. I can see it now.”

“What makes you say that? I thought you couldn’t stand him?”

“Nothing really, except that we talked—just enough that I could see it in him, plain as day. When I sat down and thought about it later, I realized he didn’t do anything worse than I did. He left out some very important information to try to simplify things—he thought it was no big deal, and it backfired on him, just like it backfired on me when I didn’t tell you what I knew about the apartment. And you gavemeanother chance.”

Gia thought about that. Tom had a point.

“He seems really sorry to me, and I’m not the one dating him.”

Gia chuckled.

“You should give him a chance. As much as it pains me to say this, I think you guys are perfect for each other.”

Gia’s jaw dropped. A couple of seconds passed. This was pretty huge.

“You still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Just a little shocked you’d say that.”

“Right? Last week I wanted to strangle him. This week I’m playing Cupid for the guy.”

Gia laughed. “What’s gotten into you, Garcia?”

---