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Effie mostly pushes her meal around her plate, only eating a few mouthfuls.
While I might be concerned, I don’t say anything. I know I’m driving her crazy, and I’m trying to lay off, but I hate seeing her like this.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, opting for just being upfront. On top of the recent revelation, her parents flight landed not so long ago, and I know she’s already anxious about seeing them.
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I should have seen it coming. Maybe I did…I don’t know,” she rambles, focusing on the will reading.
“Your dad doesn’t need or deserve any of it,” I state firmly.
“No, I know that. But he’ll expect?—”
“Will he?” I argue, cutting her off.
“He’s a chauvinistic man who thinks women are the lesser sex. Of course he will,” Effie says, with more than a hint of bitterness.
“Well, fuck him. He’s wrong. You’re worth two of him, if not more. You deserve everything Grams has given you and then some.”
“I don’t need any of it.”
“That’s not the point. She wants you to have it because she loves and appreciates you.”
“I work for my money. Or at least, I did.”
“You still do. You’re on a sabbatical; you haven’t left.” She looks up at me through her lashes, and my heart sinks into my stomach. “You’re not, are you?”
“Not what?” she asks, her brow crinkling.
“Leaving.”
Her eyes widen and I relax back into my seat, relieved.
“No. Not unless you want me to.”
“Hell no. Your job will be waiting for you whenever you’re ready to return.”
“As much as I appreciate that, I really hate that I get special treatment because we’re friends.”
“That’s not—” I shake my head. “I’d do the same for anyone as good at their job as you are.”
She smiles weakly at me.
It’s true, though. She’s amazing—the best thing to ever happen to the KC Foundation. Hell, it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for her. She is the beating heart of that place; it wouldn’t be the same without her.
“I mean it, Effie.”
Her lips curl up as more tears fill her eyes at the compliment.
I hate that seeing her upset and emotional is becoming normal.
She’s always been such a happy, joyful person. I miss that.
‘Thank you,’ she mouths before admitting defeat and pushing her almost full plate away before we pay the check and head out for our shopping spree.
The sun is shining when we emerge from the restaurant, and I put the windows down and turn the volume up on our playlist as I take the freeway toward the mall.
Before we exit the car, I reach into the glovebox and pull out a baseball cap. The last thing we need is someone spotting me. It’s fairly uncommon here. It’s not like being in Chicago, where everyone is on the lookout, but it does happen occasionally.After all the media attention our fake engagement has caused, it’s the last thing either of us need.
Allowing Effie to take the lead, I follow her to one of her favorite stores and give her my opinion on everything that steals her attention.