Page 27 of Easy Reunion

I snarl, “Don’t you have enough brothers and sisters’ lives to meddle in?”

He shrugs. “They keep telling me to stay out of their business.”

“So, you want to get your kicks off of mine?” Leaving my office, I mutter, “I don’t want to see Chinese takeout for at least a week. I also need to find a gym.”

“If we don’t say it often enough, Ry, we appreciate what you do,” Eli tells me somberly as we make our way to the elevator. A few people walk by and acknowledge us with nods, but even I notice they keep their distance. Do we really smell that bad? I’m too tired to care.

Slumping against the wall, I offer up a weary smile. “How about giving me some advice, then?”

He mirrors my pose. “Like what?”

“How do I get back into the good graces of a woman I was supposed to contact four days ago, who I was already on shaky ground with?”

An odd look crosses Eli’s face.

“Yeah, not offering me any reassurance, buddy.” I punch the button to call the elevator.

“It’s not that. It’s just I never thought I’d see you twisted up so much about a woman.”

“Since I got home from the reunion, I realized I may have been twisted up about her for fifteen years.” I’m so exhausted by the last few days I don’t realize what I’m saying.

Eli ushers us both into the waiting elevator. “Well, women are all different. What works for Kate, Charly, Van, and Gabby”—he names his wife and sisters—“isn’t going to work for your Kelsey.” At my raised brow, he smoothly continues. “I presume that’s who we’re talking about, of course.”

I don’t say a word to him for the entire ride down to the lobby.

The doors to the elevator open, and I shuffle out ahead of his laughter. “Look, come inside while I go see Charly. Then you can ask her for her opinion. She sure isn’t going to sugarcoat it for you,” I can tell he’s openly laughing at me right now, but in my exhaustion, the idea holds merit.

Swiveling my head toward his, I nod eagerly. “That’s a good idea. Thanks, man.”

Both of us descend the steps into the waiting car. We make a quick stop where Eli runs up and grabs a package from a tall, dark-haired man. He’s soon back in the car, and before I know it, the driver is pulling up to Head Over Heels. “Give me a few minutes to see what Charly wants and to make sure you’re not going to offend anyone. I’ll text you.”

I don’t even have the energy to flick him off again as he slides out of the car. I close my eyes and rest my head back against the seat.

It could be five minutes or five hours later when my phone pings with a text.Get in here. Stat!Shit! I hop out of the back and scroll through my phone to see if I missed any calls. No. I’m wondering why Eli’s message is holding such urgency. I catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the window and wince. No wonder Eli was so adamant about me not driving. I look like I’ve been run over. Wearily, I hope whatever advice Charly gives me doesn’t involve a long lecture as I’m not sure I can stay awake for it.

Before I cross over the threshold, I pause to admire the vibrant royal blue and white shoe display in the front window. It gives me the energy boost I need to call out, “Charly, tell me what a man needs to do when he has to grovel on his knees. Badly.”

I never expect to hear a familiar voice acidly answer back, “Funny you should mention that. Charly and I were discussing the kind of guy who would take a woman’s number and not call.”

I blink my eyes, rapidly certain in my exhaustion I must be imagining an infuriated Kelsey standing there before me. But no, she’s magnificent in her fury.

“Kelsey,” I breathe out. It’s heavenly to say her name even if there’s an odd fuzziness on my tongue that kind of tastes like leftover Chinese food.