Chapter 10
TEN
Jeremy
I hate leaving Anna, but the text from Jared I woke up to leaves me no choice. If I want the key to the safe deposit box before Monday, I need to get to the airport before his 7:00 a.m. takeoff time.
Given that there’s no way in hell that I’m waiting until Monday, I haul ass to SFO and arrive in time—barely. When my brother meets me in the VIP lounge for the private terminal, he makes an obnoxious show of tapping his watch.
“Care to explain what the fuck has you flying to New York at the crack of dawn on a Saturday?” I ask by way of greeting, still pissed that he forced me to run out on Anna like that.
Jared rolls his eyes. “About as much as I’m sure you care to explain why getting your hands on Mom’s ring is suddenly an emergency when you haven’t dated since your divorce. You sure about this? A band from that awful mall store was good enough for your last mistake. This time you could afford Tiffany’s.”
“Mom was still alive the last time I proposed, asshole. And Anna isn’t a mistake.”
My brother whistles softly. “You’re marrying your fucking nanny? Sarah’s going to lose her shit.”
“The key, Jared,” I say, my impatience growing.
Shaking his head, he hands over the key to the safe deposit box. Thankfully, a crew member comes over and informs him that it’s time to board, so I’m spared any further questions.
Key in hand, I return to the parking lot, glad to have that out of the way. I love my brother, but sometimes he’s too good at pushing my buttons.
But as I’m preparing to pull out, my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I put the car back in park, then glance at the caller ID. Heather.
“I thought you said you were going to fax the damn contract last night,” I say by way of greeting.
“Wow, who pissed in your Cheerios? Good morning to you, too, boss.”
“Sorry,” I say, sighing, then add by way of explanation, “I just left Jared at SFO.”
To her credit, this is all the explanation Heather needs. “It’s a miracle Twinge exists with how you two fight. Anyway, long story, but I ran into some issues last night, and you aren’t the only one with annoying family members. But the contract is done, and I’ll fax it over as soon as I get to the hotel.”
My stomach clenches. “Are these ‘issues’ something I should be concerned about?”
“No, just lawyers being lawyers and me having a life outside of being your wing woman, speaking of...” She hesitates, and from the length of the pause, I can tell that I won’t like whatever she has to say.
“Spit it out, Heather.”
“God, you are in a mood today. Look, I was just going to ask if you’ve really thought this through... like in terms of how it will impact Elijah if it doesn’t work? Are you really gonna risk putting him through that? He’s really attached to her.”
I want to tell her that I’ve thought about nothing else for the past three years, but somehow I doubt that will reassure her. So all I say is, “I’m sure, Heather. Try to enjoy New York.”
At this, my assistant groans. “You know I hate these things. People are always mistaking me for her. I don’t know how she stands the attention. And then Mom... ugh. At least she’ll never mistake me for Holly, not when she’s so great at cataloguing all the ways I don’t compare.”
“Sorry, kid, family can be tough. Just be thankful you were smart enough not to go into business with yours.”
She laughs. “True that. Look, my car is here. Keep an eye out for the fax. I’ll send it ASAP.”
Before I can tell her that I’m not at home, she ends the call. Oh well, at least it will be waiting when I get back.
When I get back into the city, I still have over an hour until the bank opens. But I head over to West Portal, anyway, determined to be the first customer when the doors open.
Parking on a side street, I walk along the avenue the neighborhood was named after, trying to calm my nerves. What if Anna reacts to my proposal with the same misgivings that Jared and Heather did?
But she won’t. She can’t.
At this hour, most of the shops are still closed. And even if they weren’t, this isn’t really my neighborhood anymore. I’m reminded of that when I make it nearly all the way to my favorite diner before remembering that it changed owners a few years back.
You can still get breakfast, but it’s pretentious now, not real diner food. Another San Francisco institution destroyed by tech bros. I know, an ironic view for the creator of one of the hottest apps to come out of this city, but still... I miss the old San Francisco sometimes.
I’m too on edge to eat, anyway, so I just grab an Americano from a coffee shop. And then I wait.
A few times, I nearly pull up the security cameras but resist, although I do check the tracking software. Good. She hasn’t gone anywhere.
I’m unsure how I’m going to come clean about the stalking, but I’ve realized that it’s an unavoidable conversation. I meant what I told her last night. Honesty in a relationship matters to me. I didn’t have it in my last marriage, and I’ll be damned if I start this one with lies.
I only hope that she still wants to be with me after I show her the monster I’ve kept hidden all this time—and that she can forgive me for loving her perhaps a little too much.