Chapter 6 #3
I laugh. “To be honest, I’m not sure. I think I’m somewhere in the southern part of California, but that could mean a lot of things.”
There’s silence for a few moments. “You don’t know where you are?”
With a chuckle, I say, “I know where I am, but you probably know it better.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“I’m in a place called Penrose Beach.”
“What? Are you serious right now?”
“Very serious. I got in Monday. I stayed at a bed-and-breakfast and just grabbed coffee from a local shop.” Although I feel like it’s a shop he might not know because of how new everything felt.
“Max, I’m so jealous right now. You know how much I love that place.”
Shifting from one foot to the other, I move my phone so it’s closer to my ear.
It’s harder to hear out here next to the waves crashing into the beach.
“That I do. You only talked about it for weeks after you visited every year. Also, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone where I am for the moment. ”
“Is everything okay?” Aiden asks.
I blow out another breath, my mind running through possible answers. “It will be.”
“What do you think of it? Penrose Beach, I mean.”
I glance around, taking in the ocean to my right, the small-town charm surrounding me.
“I haven’t ventured out too much, but it seems like a great place to vacation.”
Would it be worth it to live here full time, though?
I can’t quite wrap my mind around that. Not that I’m planning to stay longer than a week or two.
“It’s the best. I have some time next week—will you still be there? I can come down and show you around.”
I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not sure yet, Aiden. But I’ll let you know. Maybe call me before you head down.”
“What did you call me for?”
I almost forgot. “Do you have the address of the building I bought? I figured I’d check it out while I’m here.”
I’m already itching for a purpose. Clearly, I’m not great at relaxing. Maybe a diversion will help.
“Oh, yeah. Of course. I’ll send it to your email—”
“Can you just text it to me? I don’t want anything going through my email yet.”
“What really happened?” Aiden asks, pressing.
Do I tell him? He’s one of my oldest and most loyal friends. We’ve hung out as much as we can throughout the years while living on opposite coasts. He’s even met my parents and is still willing to hang out with me.
“My parents found me a bride.”
“I’m sorry. Did you just say they found you a ride?”
“A bride, with a B. As in future wife. Fiancée.”
“Are you struggling in the dating department, Max?”
I laugh. “What dating department? I’m lucky if I talk to anyone outside of work.”
“So…an arranged marriage?”
“Something like that. They’re big on tradition and making sure everything is locked in. Status is everything in my mother’s eyes.”
“Don’t they realize it’s the twenty-first century?” Aiden asks.
I sigh. “I haven’t shown interest in anyone, so they’re trying to help.”
“And you gave them an answer? Or just fled the state?”
When he puts it like that…
“I fled. Work was already intense, and this was one more thing I couldn’t handle. So, I took a vacation, telling no one but you.”
“That explains why your dad tried to call me today. He sent a frantic text that they think you’ve been kidnapped or something.”
I rub a hand over my face and groan. That was a lot sooner than I expected. Is there a way to send a message that I’m safe but to leave me alone for a bit?
“Maybe that’s the right answer,” I say with a laugh.
“I don’t remember asking a question,” Aiden says, sounding confused.
“You could tell him I was brought over here against my will, and I’ll contact him in a month.”
Aiden’s laugh came through the line loud and long. “That is the worst story I’ve ever heard you tell, Max.”
“Well, it’s how much I don’t want to be found right now.”
“Just a second.” Aiden’s voice sounds a bit farther away and then comes back on the line. “He must’ve known we were talking about him, because Wolfgang Bauer just called me again.”
Letting out a long puff of air, I say, “Remember when you needed help buying up buildings for your favorite beach town?”
“Yes,” Aiden says, sounding skeptical of what I’m about to say.
“Remember how your favorite person in the world willingly bought a building—”
“—Four buildings,” Aiden interjects. “And who says you’re my favorite?”
“I bought four buildings? Are they all together?” I ask, getting distracted as I turn to look at several of the ones surrounding me. “And of course I’m your favorite. How could I not be after dragging you out of Costa Rica when you broke your leg?”
“Close enough, I think,” Aiden replies, but doesn’t answer the last quip.
I go back to the issue at hand. “I did you a big favor, right?”
“I’m scared to answer yes.”
“Would you call my father and just tell him I’m okay. That I’ll contact him soon and that I’m still thinking through his offer?”
Aiden groans. “You want me to take the wrath of your father? That doesn’t sound like a fair trade.”
“You’re just lucky your parents don’t keep badgering you about your life and why you haven’t had grandchildren for them yet.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I’ve had my fair share of chats about that.
With Evan and Sophie now having their first after a few years of marriage, and my sister and Gabe pregnant with twins, I’ve had an earful lately.
” Aiden is a triplet, which he likes to complain about, but I know he loves them.
They’re a lot closer than I am with my sister.
“Then you know how I feel.”
“No, because they’re not forcing me to marry someone.”
“Exactly,” I say, moving too quickly and getting a bit of leftover coffee on my shirt. “That’s why I need your help. Just for a few days and a chance to make a sane decision without major persuasion.”
“Have you met her?”
Victoria Meier flashes through my mind, her fake smile and need for attention.
“Yes. I know her a little too well.”
“I’m guessing she’s not your childhood crush?”
I laugh. “Definitely not. If you looked up ‘high maintenance’ in the dictionary, her picture would be there.”
Sure, I’m used to nicer things now, but I don’t go overboard. We had leaner years growing up. I don’t forget that.
Victoria, on the other hand…
“That’s not all bad, right?” Aiden says. Is he trying to convince me to accept now?
“No, I never saw myself with someone like her. But am I being picky?”
“Are you seriously considering it?” Aiden asks.
“What else am I supposed to do? I don’t meet people outside of work. Maybe my parents know better than I do.”
Aiden makes a sound. “I’ll set you up with someone, or a few someones, while you’re out here. At least then you have a choice.”
“Tell that to my parents.”
“But you own your company now, right? We’re grown men. It’s okay to push back.”
Sounds great in theory. Convincing my German mother? Not so much.
“That sounds awesome until they start coming at you with words like ‘duty’ and ‘honoring the family.’ They hold those as the biggest things to a happy life. That’s why I’m here. To figure out what I want.”
“Don’t get married before I talk to you again.”
“Are you kidding? My mother will need a full year to plan the wedding.”
“Well, that’s something,” he says.
We say our goodbyes, with Aiden promising to contact my father on my behalf. I take a seat on a bench by the sand, staring out at the ocean. My phone buzzes.
Aiden sent the addresses to my buildings.
I’ll give it a few more minutes before I go find them.
For once, I feel a flicker of peace, and I don’t know if that’s because I don’t have an urgent problem, or fifty, to solve.