I put those thoughts aside to think about later.
It’s a gorgeous day in Monte Carlo, and I’m having lunch with Estelle and Giorgio. This little get together is all part of my mission to get to know them better since I have a strong feeling that the latter will eventually be part of my family.
Which is the only reason I can fathom as to how we ended up on the subject of Sloane Alexander.
“Do you love her?”
I stare at my sister and feel my brow lower with irritation.
She laughs and shakes her head at me. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“I didn’t say—”
“You don’t have to. I’ve never in my life seen you hesitate about anything, Magnus.”
“I didn’t hesitate, I just—” I stop when I see her giving me a bemused smile.
“What?” I ask in irritation.
“I wish I could just capture this moment so you could see yourself.” She rolls her eyes to Giorgio, and they both smile at each other.
“What?” I snap again with even more aggravation.
“Why do you not just admit it?” Giorgio suggests. “It is not that difficult to say I love you.”
He reaches out to take Estelle’s hand and brings it up to his lips to kiss. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“And I love you,” Estelle says, wriggling her nose at him.
For the love of…
Giorgio turns to me with a grin. “See? Is not so hard.”
“Excuse me if I refrain from professing my love in such an absurd manner.”
“It’s only because it’s such a foreign concept to you, Magnus.”
“I know what love is.”
“You loved our mother and father. You love me. You love Mona.” Estelle leans in with a taunting grin. “And face it, now you love Sloane.”
“I’m glad I have you to tell me that after I had only a month of knowing her.”
“This is how long it took your sister and me to know we were perfect for each other,” Giorgio says.
“Which only proves that it’s true.” Estelle scrutinizes me. “Why are you so reluctant to admit it?”
“Because…it’s not true.”
“There’s that hesitation again,” she says with a grin. “Now, I think I get it.”
“Is that so?” I ask sardonically, trying to regain some control of the situation.
This was supposed to be a casual lunch. How the hell did we get here?
“You’re resistant to it because you can’t control it. Love is unpredictable, and you’re worried that her affection for you may have waned since she’s been gone.”
I hate to admit that my own damn sister, the one whose love life always seemed to be in chaos, is the one to point this out to me.
“There is, of course, only one solution,” Giorgio says.
“Do tell,” I say in a deceptively droll tone.
They both look at each other, then smile at me.
The next day, I fly to New York City.
Chapter Sixty-One Sloane
I’ve spent the past week committing at least a few mortal sins, from gluttony to sloth, with a wee bit of lust thrown in thanks to modern technology. The pizza boxes and Chinese food cartons are finally thrown out. The last episode of The Office has been binge-watched on Netflix. I’m finally wearing something other than pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt.
Jamie Reaves and some of the other senior partners have constantly been trying to get in touch with me, which is surprising. I guess they finally realize what an asset to the firm I am, after all. I have to laugh at the irony, considering what I told Magnus about letting go. The only difference is, I don’t want Douglas & Foster back.
Thankfully, I have enough savings not to have to worry for a while. I also have options. I know enough people to maybe be in-house counsel at some corporation, or hell, start my own damn firm! There’s something to be said for the steadfast reliability of the old Sloane Alexander.
But the new Sloane Alexander has some ‘splaining to do right now.
I’ve washed the funk of the past week of doing nothing off my body and my brain. It was nice, but it’s a firm reminder that I need to keep both of them continuously active.
Like a shark.
Tonight, I’m having dinner with my parents. I like to do this at least once a month, both to spoil them with a nice meal and to catch up with them.
“Mom! Dad!” I call out as I exit the taxi and skip over to meet them.
We hug and make our way inside, where I have a reservation.
“So, how was Monte Carlo? I definitely chose the wrong profession if that’s where they’re sending lawyers these days, and for a whole month?” Mom asks, looking impressed.
It was a convenient lie. Obviously, neither Theo nor I could tell them the truth.
“It was great. Beautiful. You two should visit when you finally retire,” I say, winking at mom.
“Don’t you go getting her started,” Dad says. “I don’t need no month in Monte Carlo, thank you very much. What am I gonna do there? Sail around on my yacht? Drive those crazy-ass streets in my Ferrari?”
Mom and I laugh.
When the hostess finally finds our reservation, she leads us to our table. It’s a high-end Italian restaurant near Central Park, so not too much of a trek for any of us. I know my parents took the subway down from the Bronx, frugal as ever. I’ll make sure to get them an Uber back home.
“I think we should order a bottle of champagne,” I suggest. Might as well get some lubrication in my system to help me ease out the bad news. I can already predict the disappointment in them when they realize I’ve quit.
“That sounds auspicious,” Mom says, giving me an excited smile. “Does this have anything to do with that firm sending you to Monte Carlo?”
I stare at her, then give a tight smile. “Let’s get the bottle first.”
“It’s about dang time that firm took notice of you. After all those hours you been
