Page 38 of More Trouble
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Tori chuckled. “Not at all! I’m getting you to think about what’s best for you and your friend. She’s going to need a hell of a lot of support.”
“She’ll have other friends.”
Lyla would help. Ianthe too. Maddox and Andre would be around. Scarlett would be fine; she wouldn’t need me as well. I’d be able to go back to work, get on with my life, away from Cali Cross.
The thought of leaving left me hollow. Walking away from everyone now would be traitorous.
“Would she want other friends though, Willa? I’ve overheard your phone calls and know how much she misses you, how much she’d love to have you back in her life full-time, rather than the fleeting visits you manage. Surely now’s the time to rethink things?”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
There was a pause and Tori sighed down the line. “Why not stay for a while? See how you fare in Cali Cross as a grown woman, not as the teenager you were when you left.”
“What about the business?”
“What about it? You know I can run it for you. We can do things remotely and I can manage everything on the day to day at this end.”
Clearly, Tori had given it some thought. I wasn’t sure whether to be pissed at her for even suggesting it or pleased.
“But what would I do here? It’s not like Cali Cross is crying out for events planners. Anyone who does usually goes to the Country Club.” The words sliced through my heart. Andre worked there. He could probably find me a job, but that would mean working near him. I wasn’t ready for that.
“You’d find something. If it wasn’t for the Country Club, there would be a million people who’d want to snap you up as a private chef.”
I laughed. “I don’t think my skills are up to that!” Although now I thought about it, I could look at Cali Heights. There were plenty of rich, privileged families in the town. Maybe there was an opportunity for me after all.
“At least think about it. Stay for the two weeks. Look after Scarlett. See how things go.”
Tori didn’t know about Andre and what he’d said, but she was talking absolute sense.
Even though she wouldn’t be able to see me, I nodded.
“Well?” she asked, when I didn’t answer straight away.
“We’ll talk over the next two weeks. You keep me up to date with what’s going on in the city, and I’ll tell you about what’s going on here.” I paused. “Then I’ll decide.”
“I’ve never been to Cali Cross. Can I come visit?” Tori spoke as if I’d already made the decisions to stay.
“You might not have to,” I said. “And you’d hate it. There isn’t enough nightlife for you.”
Tori giggled. “Hmm, maybe. Anyway, I need to get on. There’s that anniversary party tomorrow and I need to go get supplies. As per your extremely precise instructions.”
My mouth curled up. Tori would be able to handle whatever happened next. I needn’t have worried so much.
I felt better after talking to Tori. I showered and dressed, humming to myself, and made some breakfast.
There was a knock on the door. When I opened it, I shouldn’t have been surprised to find Andre on the doorstep. He’d said he’d be coming over so we could go pick up Scarlett. In his hands, he held a huge bunch of pink, yellow, orange and white gerberas. My favorites.He remembered.
“Morning,” he said, brightly, although his eyes were rimmed with dark circles. I guessed he hadn’t gotten a great deal of sleep either. “How are you doing this morning?” He thrust the flowers at me, but I ducked away as he tried to kiss me.
It would be so easy to let him pull me into his arms, but I hesitated and stiffened. We needed to talk first. This was too much. I couldn’t do it, couldn’t fall into some relationship because it was convenient. I walked towards the kitchen and Andre followed me.
“When did you find the time for all this?” He gestured to the boxes containing cookies and the sink with overflowed with unwashed pots and pans. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”
I kept my back to him as I found a vase for the flowers. “Something like that. I had too much going on and I couldn’t stop thinking.”
Andre stepped up behind me, standing so close but not touching. His breath fanned across my neck, sending tingles down my spine.
