I rolled my eyes. “Don’t even. You know you’re crazy smart.”
She shook her head. “You’re the brains behind this business.”
“That’s so not true, Coco. I actually think you’re the more creative of the two of us. I’m good at details and organization, but you’ve got amazing vision and communication skills. I’m not planning on going anywhere at this point, but no matter what, I know you could run this business. You could always hire a new partner, too. Or just an accountant.”
“But it wouldn’t be you. What if I couldn’t find someone I could work with as well? We complement each other so perfectly.”
“That’s true, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be able to find good help. And I’m not going to leave you high and dry.”
She chewed her lip. “Promise?”
“Promise. If that were even a consideration, I’d need to think about a lot of things, but our business is at the top of the list. I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into Devine Events. My name is on it. It was my dream to start something like this—and then you had the faith in me, in us, to invest your inheritance. I don’t take any of that lightly.”
Coco shook her head. “It’s not the money. I’m just…scared.” She lifted her shoulders. “I’d feel so lost without you here.”
“Erin would still be here.”
“I know. And I love Erin. But she enjoys teaching. She’s not going to leave that to come work with me.”
“No,” I said. “But she’ll be here for you when you need help. She loves when we rope her into working at our events.”
That coaxed a rueful smile. “Right.”
“Remember the time we made her dress up as Cinderella for that spoiled brat’s sixth birthday party at the country club because the talent agency screwed up the time?”
The smiled widened. “Yeah. God, she was so mad at us.”
“Well, serves her right for being born looking like a Disney princess.”
Coco’s smile deepened, and she exhaled. “I’m sorry, Mia. I shouldn’t be in here burdening you with my worries. You need to make your own decision, I know that.”
I shook my head. “There isn’t even a decision to make yet. Don’t jinx me here.”
Coco stood up. “Ignore me, I’m just being selfish. And I have PMS. My first reaction was to panic at having to run this business by myself, but who knows? Maybe it would be good for me, just like learning to stop trying to map out every minute of your life has been good for you.”
I arched one brow. “Trying to get rid of me?”
She shrugged. “Yeah. Ten years of friendship is enough, I’d say.”
Relieved, I opened my laptop again. “Drinks after work? I’ll text Erin and see if she’ll meet us.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Hey, I’m sending over the contract to Karen White right now. Why don’t you take the lead on this one? I’m here to help, but you could see how you do on your own.”
She nodded, her smile happy if not entirely confident. “Sounds good to me.”
As soon as she was gone, I emailed the contract, texted Erin, and hopped on kayak.com to check flights to New York.
Fuck.
Flying short notice was not cheap, and flying at all for me was akin to mild torture. Should I do it? I chewed on my bottom lip as I considered the possible outcomes.
Shit That Could Happen in
New York This Weekend
1) He says no emphatically. Breaks up with me. I drink wine.
2) He says maybe someday. Wants more time to think. I drink wine.
3) He says yes whole-heartedly. We apartment hunt the next day. I drink wine.
4) He says no. I blow him in spectacular fashion. He changes his mind. I drink wine.
5) He says oh my God yes, I was just about to propose, however did you know, you sexy, brilliant, hilarious goddess of a woman, please be mine forever and wear this flawless Tiffany diamond ring as but a small token of my undying love and commitment, let’s elope tomorrow! We have wild monkey sex. I drink wine.
See? There’s wine no matter what. But my stomach would not settle down. The cursor hovered temptingly near the purchase button. I felt like I used to as a kid, standing on the high dive, looking at the pool below and daring myself to jump. It took me three summers of climbing up there, hemming and hawing, and descending the ladder in shame before I worked up enough courage to jump. And once I did it, it was so thrilling I was angry I’d waited so long.
OK. On three.
One. Two.
Deep breath.
Three.
I jumped. I had a nonstop flight from Detroit Metro into LaGuardia departing in just over twenty-four hours, and even though the grin briefly morphed to grimace when I saw the total charged to my credit card, I brushed aside any doubts.
This is the right thing. I feel it.
My phone buzzed with a text from Erin.
IDK about drinks tonight. I’m getting dick.
I burst out laughing, screenshot it, and sent it to Coco. Erin’s typos and auto-correct fails were a running joke with us. I texted her back.
Glad to hear it. It’s been a while.
OMG! I hate this stupid new phone!
I had to laugh at that. Erin was forever blaming her “new” phone, but she’d had it for months.
Sorry to hear you’re sick. How about just a glass of wine for medicinal purposes?
I guess I could. Or a cocktail.