Last Business Lunch

Last Business Lunch

Late Friday afternoon, I sat at Rose’s Dinner, waiting for Joey and Maddie to arrive. I had spent the entire week thinking about what I was going to do, and I had finally made up my mind. That’s why as soon as they walked in that morning, I had heated up their breakfast and before I left his office, I had asked them to join me for lunch. I knew they were curious about why, but neither of them had asked. I was pretty sure that they both knew that I wanted to talk about Mason. Every time Maddie and I had spoken throughout the week, I had mentioned him, musing about what my new life was going to be like. Every day I got a little more excited, and every day I became more sure I was making the right decision.

I stood up from my table as Joey held the door open for Maddie to climb out of the car. They were so sweet together and I loved to watch them. The love they exhibited these past few weeks was incredible and gave me hope that true love still existed, even though I knew it did. I had it with Mason. I smiled as I held the small gate open for them to join me on the patio of the restaurant. Maddie beamed at me as she hurried into my arms for a hug.

“Laurel! Thank you so much for inviting us to lunch.”

“Of course! There isn’t a better pair that I would ever want to share a meal with!”

Maddie pulled back to study my face before teasing, “Even your sister and Mason?”

My heart sped up at the mention of Mason. I nervously licked my lips. “My sister is kind of pissed at me currently, so yeah.”

And she was. Every time we had spoken recently, I received a tongue lashing from her. I understood why she was so angry, but I didn’t care. What was going on between me and Mason was none of her business. Not at all. I was serious about my newfound boundaries, and keeping my relationship strictly between me and Mason was one of them.

“And what about Mason?” She asked as she sat in the chair that Joey pulled out for her.

“I do miss him,” I admitted happily. “But you know that already.”

“We do know. He seems like such a pleasant man, Laurel. He just wants to protect you. And he definitely misses you something fierce,” Joey said.

I sighed. “So, are you going to keep working with their company then?”

Joey nodded. “I’m glad that you suggested them. He didn’t even bat an eye when I mentioned that Maddie would be handling the business with them.”

Maddie giggled. “Well, we both know why now, don’t we? He was interested in asking me questions without you being there. You intimidate people, Daddy,” she purred as she moved her hand down his arm flirtatiously.

He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “Yeah, and if I had been in his shoes, I would have wanted the same thing.”

“Okay, now I feel like there was more that was said during the lunch meeting. Was there?” I inquired nervously.

“Nah. He just wanted to know what he could do to help you come back quicker, but we never quite got to that part of the conversation. He left after realizing that Caleb might be the man that saved your sister from her rapists.”

“Wait! What? Lauren might be Caleb’s mystery woman?” Joey asked, completely shocked, making me raise an eyebrow at her, while she giggled.

“You didn’t tell him? I thought you told him everything.”

“I do, but we don’t always talk when we’re together. Anyways, don’t change the topic. We were talking about Mason.”

“Well, you brought Lauren up,” I reminded her.

“Yeah, Lauren,” Maddie scoffed. “She’s very professional, isn’t she? A little too cold to be working with clients.”

I smiled fondly. “She’s always been that way.”

“Well, I like you better.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Maddie.”

We fell silent as the waitress brought the food I ordered for us while I waited for them. Maddie immediately dug into her chicken parmesan while I pushed the food around on my plate. When she had finished half her dish, she looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

I sighed again. “I really do miss him. Like really bad. I don’t want anybody else. I never will. I know it sounds stupid to love someone you know next to nothing about but I do. The little I do know about him means so much. The way we met didn’t really let us build a good foundation. When I go home, we’re going to have a lot of work to do. What if he doesn’t put the toilet roll on the right way? What if he puts the hot sauce in the fridge?! I know the bottle says to refrigerate after opening, but it doesn’t belong in there.”

Joey took Maddie’s hand as they both laughed before he said, “You know how we started, Laurel. We started off sexually, too, and look at what it turned into. We wouldn’t trade each other for anything this world could offer.”

Maddie kissed him softly, sending a pang of jealousy through my body. “I think if anybody would understand about loving someone that you probably shouldn’t love, it’s us. So, what’s the plan? How can we support you?”

I relaxed slightly. “I actually have an ulterior motive in asking you guys to join me for lunch.”

“Go on,” Joey said as he sat forward in his seat.

I hesitantly reached into my pocket to pull out the envelope inside of it before putting it down in front of Joey. He picked it up and read the paper inside before beaming at me.

“I do believe that you have two weeks of PTO, Laurel. Even if you don’t, you do now. Why don’t you put that in and go home?” He told me.

My eyes filled with tears. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Maddie can take over for you in the office. She’s there anyways everyday.”

I turned to look at her, already knowing the answer to my question before I even asked. “Are you going to be okay if I leave?”

“Of course. Jane did train me. I know the ins and outs better than anyone.”

I picked my napkin up to dab at my eyes. “I love you, guys!”

Maddie got up to hurry around the table to throw her arms around my shoulders. “We love you, too, Laurel!” She pulled back to smile at me. “Now, just remember that when you marry him. You were one of my bridesmaids, I call being one of yours.”

I laughed as I got up to hug her back. “It’ll be my honor.”

She let me go as Joey came around the table to hug me, too. “Be safe, Laurel. You always have a place with us.”

“Thanks, Boss,” I sniffled.

Maddie gave me a slight push toward the gate leading out of the patio area. “Go get your man, Laurel. We need a date night couple!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll see what I can do for you!”

“You better!”

I blew her a kiss before climbing in my car. I took a deep breath to calm my anxiety before starting my car to finally go home. I smiled at myself in the rearview mirror. It felt good to drive this path again and not because I wanted to get information on Mason to see if he was following through with what I asked him to do. I had my car call my sister and I waited impatiently for her to answer.

“When are you going to put Mason out of his misery?”

“Hello, to you, too, Lauren!” I snapped, rolling my eyes at her expected first words.

“Whatever, Laurel. He’s absolutely miserable. You need to tell him that you don’t want him. He’s not even living! His life is passing him by while he waits for you. I get it that you don’t care about him in the same way he cares about you, but damn, that doesn’t stop him from wanting you. This isn’t fair to him.”

“You’re my sister but are more worried about him! That’s not fair either!” I snarled before taking a deep breath. I was fed up with her constant harping. “I didn’t call to argue, Lauren.”

“So, why did you call?”

“I wanted to know when your next party is.”

“It’s tonight.”

“Awesome. Thanks for the information.”

“Are you coming?”

“Nope!

“Ugh. Why even bother asking then?”

“Because I wanted to know,” I told her.

“Whatever!”

She hung up and I grinned as I u-turned to go to the house that Joseph had loaned me when I arrived. Tonight was going to be a big night. Our future would start tonight without Lauren just randomly popping up. I wanted it to just be me and him. That was all either of us needed and wanted. When I arrived at the house, I hurried inside to change into the bunny costume that was identical to the one I had worn the night I met Mason. As I adjusted the little cotton ball that I still thought was stupid, I smiled at myself.

“Don’t worry, Mason,” I said as I pulled my trench coat on. “You’re the love of my life, too, and I’m coming home to you.”