19. Aiden
19
AIDEN
“ Y our chariot,” I said, pulling the passenger door of the Mercedes open for Cora. She rolled her eyes, giving me a look that said get your ass back in the car. But I’d already committed to the bit, so I gestured to her seat with a flourish. I’d hopped out, intending to ring the doorbell and maybe say hi to her mom, but Cora had darted out the door before I could, informing me that her mother had left early for work.
“If you tell me you actually have a chariot parked in some garage in Manhattan,” Cora said as I came around the other side of the car, “I wouldn’t even be surprised.”
I laughed. “You never know. Could be a custom build project.”
“God, I’m joking. Please don’t ever pick me up from anywhere in a chariot.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I said, turning to back down the driveway. “So, you said you had something to tell me?”
Cora groaned. “You’re never going to believe this. I can’t believe I fell asleep last night before I had a chance to text you.”
I grinned. “Tuckered you out, did I?”
She flushed a pretty pink. “Anyway, you know how I was worried about my mother?”
“Yes. Did you find out what’s going on?”
“Apparently, she’s been dating Mr. Cranson this whole time.”
“What?” I almost hooted. “Our old English teacher?”
“Yes, Henry .”
“Oh my god.” I drummed my hand against the wheel. “Way to go, Bonnie!”
Cora whacked my shoulder. “That’s my mother you’re talking about.”
“I know. Don’t you remember all the girls in school used to have a crush on him? They practically went feral when he started reading Romeo and Juliet in class. They all wanted to be Juliet.”
Cora gasped. “I totally forgot about that. Frankly, I think I was a little too obsessed with you at the time to notice.”
Her comment made my heart flip-flop in my chest. I’d been just as obsessed with her. “Seriously though. How are you feeling about it? Is this the first guy your mom’s been with since your dad?”
“Yeah, I think. At least, the first serious one. If there were others, she never told me about them. But I don’t think there were. Mom and Dad were it for each other, you know? I used to wonder if she’d ever find someone who would make her happy again. But it looks like Mr. Cranson does. She was happier last night than I’ve seen her in years.”
“So, you’re good?”
Cora took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “You know what? I really am. I’m happy for my mom. It’s time. And Mr. Cranson is great. It seems like he treats her well, and that’s all I could have wished for her.”
It sounded like Cora and her mother were both in a good place about the relationship. I remembered how weird it had been when my mom had started dating again after divorcing my dad. “I’m a little disappointed your alien abduction theory fell through.”
Cora whirled around. “Me too!”
We both started laughing. “I thought we’d stop for breakfast before heading back to Manhattan. You cool with that?”
“Definitely,” Cora said. “My mother offered to make me something before she took off, but she’s on some steel cut oats and flaxseed health kick that’s vaguely terrifying.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Sounds delicious.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Well, you’re in luck. Because I know exactly how to fix that.” I hit the gas, taking us across town to the parking lot of Doris’s Diner, the town’s best breakfast spot.
“Oh my god!” Cora said. “I almost forgot this place existed!” She practically dashed out of the car and through the door of the diner.
I followed her inside, inhaling the scent of black coffee and bacon grease. I hadn’t been to Doris’s since I was a teenager, but it hadn’t changed one bit. The signage on the walls was still the same. The red and white menus were still the same. Even the checkered tablecloths, booth seats, and window coverings looked like they hadn’t been updated in twenty years. It had all been preserved like in one of those weird wax museums.
We seated ourselves, choosing a booth by the window where the sunlight streamed down, painting Cora with a golden glow. She ran her finger down the menu, then shook her head, laughing.
“What?” I asked, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“This is the glamorous lifestyle of breakfast with a billionaire, huh? You gonna get the big stack like you used to?”
“Any billionaire worth their salt would know that pancakes like Doris’s aren’t to be missed,” I pointed out in a mock-pompous tone.
“You’re right about that,” Cora said, skimming her menu again.
“But,” I continued, “if it’s glamour you want, I’ll just have to take you out on the town when we get back to Manhattan.”
She narrowed her eyes, a funny little smile tugging at her lips. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious.” Did she really think Doris’s was the best I could do? The pancakes were obviously supreme, but I had a few nice places up my sleeve that would really wow Cora—and the more I thought about it, the more excited I felt at the prospect. I didn’t think I needed to impress her at this point, but I wanted to. I wanted to treat her to a nice meal in a luxury place with a private table for just the two of us.
Cora stared at me for a beat longer, then she relaxed, beaming at me. I wasn’t sure what had changed, but I was glad to see her enjoying the idea of going out with me. Despite only spending a few short hours apart, I’d missed her—the heat of her body, the feel of her tucked against my side.
She flipped her menu over, trying to sound aloof. “Are you asking me on a date, Aiden Callihan?”
“I am.”
She cleared her throat. “I’m waiting.”
“Cora Newport, would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”
“Where?” she asked.
“Can it be a surprise?”
She tilted her head. “At least tell me what I should wear.”
“Definitely a nice dress,” I said. And a pair of fuck-me heels. That part I left out, hoping the dress part would ensure that anyway.
“Then yes. I’d love to go to dinner with you,” she said. “As long as you promise not to pick me up in a chariot.”
“Got it,” I said, pulling out my phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Canceling the chariot.” Her face fell for a second before I started laughing. “I’m kidding.”
She glared at me. “Just for that, I’m ordering donuts to go. Have fun detailing your Mercedes next.”
“Is double parking just your thing now?” Cora asked as I escorted her to the door of her building a few hours later.
“Worked out for me last time,” I said.
She raised a brow.
“No ticket,” I explained. I was very much aware that the last time I walked her to her door, I’d kissed her, even if the kiss hadn’t ended quite the way I’d hoped.
“Cora!” Carlos called as we headed through the lobby. “These came for you.”
Cora walked over to the reception desk. I followed, frowning as Carlos lifted a massive vase into view, setting it down on the desk. It was filled with red roses.
“Who from?” she asked.
Carlos twisted the vase around. “There’s a card here. Nice flowers, huh?”
Cora snatched it up and read it. Her lips puckered and her nose wrinkled. I could tell she was annoyed. “From Levi,” she told me.
“Levi?” Carlos repeated. “That guy’s back? Thought he went off to California.”
“He did.” Cora grimaced. “Maybe we’ll all get lucky, and he’ll go back.”
“The guy clearly can’t take a hint,” I muttered under my breath. I wanted to find the nearest trash can and dump the entire vase.
“After the way he treated you, he thinks he can shell out for some flowers and everything’ll be okay? Pssh,” Carlos said. “What a jerk. Want me to get rid of them?”
Cora sighed, pushing the vase back across the desk. “Why don’t you take them home to your wife?” she said. “I’d hate for them to go to waste.”
“Hey,” Carlos said, clearly pleased at the thought. “There’s an idea. The wife’ll be ecstatic.”
“Good,” Cora said. “I’m glad someone will enjoy them.” She headed for the elevator. “See you later, Carlos.”
“See you,” he called after us.
I followed Cora into the elevator and up to her apartment, unable to shake the image of the massive bouquet. “So it sounds like Carlos isn’t a fan of Levi,” I said.
She snorted. “That’s putting it lightly. Though they actually got along well enough when Levi and I lived here together.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You lived here with Levi? I thought you moved here to live with Jennifer.”
“Other way around, kinda,” she explained. “I met Jenn when we worked at the same restaurant, and I helped her get her apartment here after my neighbor moved out. It’s how we stayed close even when we moved around to work at different places. When Levi left, I couldn’t afford our apartment on my own, and I was a little panicky about what I was going to do. Carlos was around to see it—it’s why he can’t stand Levi now, for putting me in that position. Jenn offered for me to move in with her, so all’s well that ends well, but Carlos still holds a grudge.”
“Sure, that makes sense.” When Cora had talked about the breakup before, it hadn’t even occurred to me that Levi’s departure would have thrown her living situation into chaos. What an asshole. He really had left her in the lurch in every way imaginable, hadn’t he? And now he was back, making a pest of himself in newly horrible ways.
What part of last night was Levi not understanding? Cora didn’t want to be with him. She was with me now. What the hell did he think sending her flowers was going to accomplish?
Because unlike Levi, Cora wasn’t the type of person to ditch her partner on a whim. He needed to back off.
“You okay?” Cora asked as she unlocked her door.
“What? Oh, yeah.”
“You kind of spaced out there for a second. I was just saying mission accomplished. You delivered me safe and sound to my door.” She smiled softly. “You should probably get back down there before you do get a ticket. Your good luck’s only going to last so long.”
“You’re right.” I leaned in, pecking her on the lips. “What time should I pick you up for our date? Seven?”
“Make it seven thirty,” she said, winking at me in a way that got my heart racing.
“I’ll be here.”
“No chariot. Remember, you promised.”
“No chariot.” I hummed. “Maybe I’ll bring the McLaren, though.”
Cora’s eyes widened. “How many cars do you…” She stopped herself mid-question. “You know what. I don’t even want to know the answer.”
“Probably for the best,” I said, backing toward the elevator. “See you tonight.”
“See you.” She waved, slipping inside.
I headed back downstairs, strutting out of the elevator, phone to my ear. “Anthony,” I said as the call connected. Anthony was the general manager of Velour & Vine. It had exquisite seafood, boasted three Michelin stars, and was consistently ranked one of the best restaurants in the world. Cora may have loved her pancakes this morning, but this place was going to give her a real dining experience. I would make sure of it. “It’s Mr. Callihan. I need a table for tonight.”
“Of course, Mr. Callihan. We’d be happy to accommodate you. What time were you thinking?”
The drive from here to La Bernardin would be about thirty minutes. “Let’s make it eight?”
“I have you in the books. Will you be wanting your usual table?”
“Yes, please.” It was located in a semi-private area, offering the intimate, exclusive dining experience I was after. I wanted this dinner to be perfect.
“And will you have any guests joining you?”
“Just the one,” I said. “And Anthony?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s pull out all the stops.” He told me not to worry about a thing, then I hung up, heading for the door of the building.
I paused before I could leave, something bothering me. I turned back to Carlos.
“All good, Boss?”
“You know that Levi guy?” I asked.
Carlos nodded.
“He was harassing Cora last night. We had our high school reunion back in New Jersey, and he just wouldn’t leave her alone.”
“The piece of scum, hassling a sweet kid like Cora. Never appreciated her when he had her, and he sure doesn’t deserve another chance now—not after what he did,” Carlos spat out.
“I know, I totally agree. That’s why I was actually hoping you’d do me a favor.”
“What is it?”
I slipped my business card from my wallet and a hundred-dollar bill, placing both on the desk. “I tried to tell Levi to take a hike last night, but I don’t think he’s gotten the message yet. If he comes by here in person to bother Cora again or if he sends her any more unwanted gifts, give me a call, will you?”
“Sure thing, Boss,” Carlos said. “But you don’t need to do this. The last thing I want is him pestering Cora.” He tried to hand the money back.
“Keep it,” I insisted. “Please.” Cora’s safety was worth any sum of money. One hundred dollars was nothing if it meant Carlos would keep his eyes peeled for Levi.
And for Levi’s sake, he’d better hope Carlos didn’t need to call me.