Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
CRESSIDA
I’ve emailed Soren to let him know that I’ll start my new job next week. That gives me time to spend the rest of this week with my son. Soren responded, saying that was perfectly fine, and left it at that. I haven’t heard from him in two days. Truth be told, I’m a little surprised.
On the day of my meeting with Soren, I picked up Oliver from school, and we spent the afternoon eating ice cream and playing together. For the rest of the week, I did the exact same thing every afternoon.
Oliver usually goes to after-school care in the afternoons, so his excitement at seeing me waiting for him outside the school building makes my heart incredibly happy.
I bank those smiles to keep me company when the weekends roll around and Noah comes to collect Oliver.
It’s those times that make me wish our marriage had worked out.
Not because I want to be with Noah, but because I hate the separation from Oliver.
So, yes, on days like today, I do wish I were still married to someone I no longer love.
I watch as Oliver walks away with my ex-husband. Taylor sits in the car, never getting out to talk to me, the mother of the boy who will soon be her stepson. It irritates me to no end that Noah still hasn’t made the effort yet to introduce us.
Once Oliver is in the car, I say to Noah, “I want to meet Taylor properly.”
“Yeah, it’s probably time,” he replies, then opens the car door and says something to her before she climbs out of the car, looking down and avoiding eye contact with me. She runs her palms over her dress as she meets my eyes.
“My son likes you, so I want to tell you that if you upset him in any way, I won’t be happy. I don’t care that you’re with his father… I will find you.”
“Cressida,” Noah says, shaking his head in irritation.
“I respect that. I’ve mentioned a few times to Noah that I wanted to meet you before I met Oliver, but it never worked out that way. He’s a good kid, and has good manners. I would never intentionally do anything to upset him.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that,” I say with a smile. “Have a good weekend. Please get him to call me.” Noah just stares at me. Did he expect anything less of me?
We never really had a conversation about dating other people after the divorce.
We should have, because I don’t want Oliver to think it’s normal for his parents to bring a parade of men or women into his life.
I want him to have stability. I had that growing up, and I think it’s made me a better person for it.
I head back inside to get ready. I tend not to go out too much because Oliver is with me most of the time.
I love spending time with Oliver, but when I don’t have him, I try to catch up with friends.
And it just so happens that tonight is a celebration.
My sister, Izzy, just flew in for work, and she wants me to meet up with her once she’s done with her meeting.
She won’t be in town long, which is sad because she’ll miss seeing Oliver, but I get it.
She wants to be at home with her own family.
After quickly changing into a short red dress and my black Louboutins, I release my hair from its bun and let it fall gently over my shoulders in waves. I paint some red lipstick on my lips and add some mascara to my eyelashes before I head out the door.
When I step outside, the Uber is already waiting for me.
Getting into the car, I text my sister that I’m ten minutes out, and she replies that she’s already had one glasses of wine and is waiting for me.
She has to catch a flight out later tonight, but first we’re going to have a few drinks together.
When I arrive, I find Izzy sitting at the bar, nursing a glass of wine as the man next to her talks to her. Stepping up to her other side, I place my hand on her lower back.
She turns her head in my direction, and when she sees me, her sour expression morphs into a smile, and she pulls me in for a hug. “Gosh, Cres, I missed you so much.”
Most of my family calls me Cres.
“Same. And you should see Oliver. He’s so big now.”
She pulls back and smiles. “I’m so sad, I’m going to miss him. You must come home for the holidays. Please tell me you will.”
I’ve actually thought about going home for the holidays this year. I was hesitant because I didn’t want to take Oliver away from Noah for so long, but he just took Oliver on a week-long vacation to see his family, so I feel it’s only fair that I should be able to do the same.
“I think I might,” I tell her.
She turns back to the bar and waves the bartender over, ordering me a glass of wine.
“Good. We could use you back home.” She nudges me as I climb up and sit on the stool next to her. “How is Noah?”
“He’s doing well. He’s engaged.” Her eyes go wide as the bartender hands me my glass.
“Holy shit. For real?” she says, surprised. “I thought that man would be heartbroken for years.” She laughs. “I mean, good for him.”
Everyone in my family loves Noah, so my sister’s comment kind of throws me.
Soren also mentioned how he thought Noah was still interested in me.
But us splitting up was mutual, so when they say it, I usually just brush it off.
He’s still friends with all of my family on social media.
I see them commenting on one another’s stuff regularly, and none of that bothers me because, technically, he’s going to be a part of my family forever since we share a son.
Izzy proceeds to tell me about her business deal, then complains about how awful our airports are, which caused her to be an hour late to her meeting, and now she’s dreading flying back. I told her that the longer we stay out, the easier it will be to get to the airport, and she laughed.
“So, are you seeing anyone? It’s been two years since your split.”
“Nope, not seeing anyone.”
“Married to your work.” She shakes her head as we each take a drink.
“Actually, I got a new job,” I tell her.
“Oh, wow. Really?”
I explain how I’ll be managing the newsroom, and she remembers that I used to do that before I got heavy into investigative journalism. As long as I’m doing something with stories, I think I’ll be happy no matter what I’m doing.
By the time I give her the rundown on everything, we’re already on our third glass of wine, and it’s getting late.
Which means she’s going to have to leave me soon.
I can already feel the dread creep up in my chest at the thought of not seeing her for a while.
It’s not so bad when you don’t see your family for long periods, but it makes it worse when you see them in small increments, and then they leave again.
“Fuck it! I’m booking the vacation to see you all.” I slam my fist down on the bar top.
She laughs and agrees that’s precisely what I should do before she says, “Ummm… what about the new job?”
“Yes, what about the new job?” a dark voice says behind me, grazing my ear as he speaks.
Izzy turns around first because I know that voice incredibly well. I know how it commands me to do things. He’s very good at that.
“I’m sorry, can we help you?” Izzy asks, and at the same time, I turn around to find Soren standing there, dressed in his suit and looking way too good.
“Miss Knight,” he greets me.
“Cres, you know him?” Izzy asks, not so quietly.
“Yes.” I groan.
“Did you have something you wanted to discuss in regard to your new job?” Soren asks.
Izzy lifts her glass to her lips, watching the exchange with interest.
How do I kindly tell him to fuck off?
I’m not even sure he would listen anyway, even if I did. He’ll probably just find it amusing, as he does with everything else I fucking say.
“Nope.”
“Oh, don’t be shy, Cres,” Izzy says. “You aren’t shy.”
“No, she isn’t. But since she seems to have lost her manners. I’m Soren, her new boss. And you are?”
“Her sister.” I watch in shocked horror as Izzy offers him her hand. “Izzy.”
“He’s the enemy, Iz. Don’t touch his hand.”
“Too late,” Soren says and shakes it before letting it go and looking back at me.
“I do have to go, Cres. Should we share a cab and drop you off first?” Izzy says, standing. She checks the time on her phone and grimaces. “Actually, I might already be late. I need to go before I miss my flight. Are you good, Cres?”
“I have a car out front that can take you to the airport now,” Soren offers, and Izzy gives him a skeptical look.
“He’s really your boss?” she asks me, ignoring him.
I bet he isn’t used to that.
“Yes,” I say on a sigh.
“Okay, good. Make sure she gets home safely, bossman. And I will gladly take your car,” she says to him before she leans in and hugs me, telling me to come visit soon.
“I’ll walk you out and show you to the car,” Soren says and then leads Izzy outside.
My sister looks over her shoulder at me and waggles her brows in amusement.