Listen to Your Heart(2)
His divorce has been rough on everyone. Nick had been completely blindsided, and my lifelong friendship with his ex-wife, Jill, will probably never be the same. But we’re all adults, and we’ll get over it eventually. I don’t know that I can say the same about my ten-year-old nephew. It’s been almost a year, and Eli still struggles with the fact that his mom and dad just don’t love each other anymore. The guitar lessons have been a complete godsend, giving him a creative outlet and something positive to focus on over the past few months.
Lynsey reaches for a nearby bridal magazine and flips through the pages. “Is Nick dating anyone?”
“Isn’t he always? This week he’s seeing one of the other detectives. Melina? Melinda? Something with an M.”
“Don’t they frown on fraternizing at the police department?”
“I asked the same thing. Apparently they only frown if they find out. Besides, it won’t last. Nick doesn’t keep a girlfriend for long.”
“At least he’s dating. It’s a shame his sister refuses to do the same.”
“You don’t give up, do you?” Lynsey’s been trying to set me up on a blind date with her husband’s friend for weeks now.
“I’m just saying it wouldn’t kill you to at least meet Alex. He’s an accountant.”
“Fun.”
“Hot. I’ve met him.”
“Then you go out with him.”
“Would it be such a terrible thing to have a good-looking accountant on speed dial? He’s cute and he could do our taxes for free. Win-win. Am I right?”
“No.”
Lynsey sighs wistfully. “Skye Douglas, you’re too young and beautiful to spend your nights alone.”
“I am neither of those things.”
“You’re twenty-four years old and have Photoshop flawless skin.”
“Whatever. Besides, I thought I’d found my happy ending, remember?
“With that jerk that cheated on you? No, Skye. He wasn’t your happy ending.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it ended.”
Stung by her words, I blink back my tears and close my laptop.
“Skye, I’m sor—“
“It’s fine.”
I grab my bag and head for the door. Lynsey stops me in my tracks.
“That was out of line. I’m sorry. I just love you and want to see you happy.”
“I know you do Lyns, but honestly, there’s nobody out there for me. I gotta go.”
Persistent as ever, Lynsey follows me into the lobby. I wave goodbye to Robyn on my way out.
“There’s a real happy ending for you, Skye. I just know it.”
Tired of arguing, I give her a hug and tell her to text me if she needs anything. I know she means well. After all, it’s easy to be a doe-eyed romantic when you’re happily married. I’m a little more realistic. Even if my ex hadn’t broken my heart to the point it’s beyond repair, I’ve been in this business long enough to understand that sometimes love just doesn’t work out. That’s the thing about being a wedding planner. You create gorgeous weddings and hope for the best. But it’s always bittersweet when a couple has a million dollar wedding only to see them end up in divorce court within a year or so. It can really make a girl skeptical about the entire institution of marriage.
Happy to be out of the office, I head down the freeway. Thankfully, traffic isn’t too terrible as I drive toward Eli’s school. Lynsey’s right about one thing. My nephew’s a great kid, and I always look forward to the nights he gets to stay with me. We eat fast food, drink orange soda, and watch Netflix into the wee hours of the morning. He’s ten, so he’s getting too old to snuggle with his aunt, but he still manages to lay his head on my shoulder when he’s just about to drift off. It’s those moments I treasure most. Eli’s probably as close as I’ll ever get to being an actual mom, so I live vicariously through my times with him.
By the time I reach the school, a cold rain has started to fall. I zip my jacket and throw my hood over my head before walking into the building. When I reach the music room, I peek through the glass to find a roomful of kids with various instruments in their hands. Eli’s sitting with the rest of the guitar students, and they’re all gazing at Ms. Carol, the music teacher, as if she hung the moon. I walk in, and the teacher waves at me as I take a seat with the rest of the parents.
The great thing about a gifted class is that the music is awesome. They might be young, but these kids are so talented. At first, Nick worried that the class might be too advanced for Eli, but he’d taken to guitar so easily that Ms. Carol was stunned to learn he was just a beginner.
I’m just getting comfortable and letting the music relax me when I get a text from Lynsey.
The accountant is twenty-eight and likes long walks on the beach.
Sounds like a personal ad.
My fingers fly across screen.
I bet he likes pin? coladas and getting caught in the rain, too.
Stumping Lynsey with random song lyrics is one of the greatest joys of my life. When she doesn’t respond right away, I know she’s totally cheating and looking it up online. It only takes a minute before she sends back a snarky response.