Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Mano might’ve left us a handful of messages, putting us in our place. Does he talk to you about therapy all the time?” Dad asked.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “All the time. It turns out his generation is into fixing their mental health.”
“That’s stupid,” Dad remarked, making me laugh harder.
“Couldn’t agree more.”
“We love you, Kai,” Mom said, bringing the conversation back. “And we are sorry for anything we’ve done to cause you pain through all these years.”
“Thank you.” I meant it, too. That was all I’d ever wanted from them. An apology. Some ownership of what they’d done.
“We don’t want to stay in your hair too long, so we’ll get going. We hope that this year can bring a new relationship. It will be slow-moving, I’m sure. And we aren’t forcing anything on you. But maybe one day, we can spend the holidays together as a family. All four of us,” Mom said, standing from the table.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
They called out to Mano, and he rushed from his room quickly to say goodbye to them.
“We’ll be in town for another day before we leave if you want to talk more,” Dad offered.
I picked at my fingernails before chewing at my thumb. “Or, you can stay and have breakfast with Mano and me. I was going to make waffles.”
Mom glanced toward Dad timidly, and he nodded, turning to me. “If you have enough for us, we’ll stay.”
“Yeah, for sure. Make yourself comfortable.”
The four of us sat at the dining room table, enjoying a meal together. Mano did most of the talking, which was fine by me. It might’ve taken me some time to open up to my parents. We’d never had that type of relationship, and I was one to air on the side of caution. I knew it would take time and effort to see if they would make the changes they’d discussed regarding our relationship. It wasn’t easy to change, and at times it felt uncomfortable. Yet, I wasn’t ready to give up hope on my parents. It would just take time.
After they left, I hung out with Mano for a few hours before heading to Holly’s apartment. She opened the door wearing a coral silk top with tight-fitted jeans, looking gorgeous as ever. “Hey. How was your visit with your parents?”
“It was a step in the right direction. That’s not why I’m here, though.”
“Oh? What’s up?”
“It’s officially my turn.”
“Your turn for what?”
“A Holly date.” I pulled out a stack of books from behind my back and held them in her direction. “I watched dozens of men take you out on first dates to Mano’s—”
“—Okay, you saying dozens makes it sound excessive—”
“—it was excessive—”
“—you make me sound like a first date whore—”
“—you were a first date whore—”
“—what was your point again? Can you get to the point—”
“—I’m asking you out on a first date—”
“—oh, well, get on with it, will you?”
I shook my head at the ridiculousness in the back and forth. “Come to Mano’s with me and have dinner.”
“When?”
“Now.”
“I thought you guys were closed on New Year’s Day.”
“We are, but it turns out I know the owner.”
She sweetly smiled as she took the books from me. She inhaled them as if they were roses and happily sighed. “These are beautiful.”
“Like you.”
She cringed. “Oh my gosh, when did you become corny?”
“I started reading romance novels.”
“That will do it.” She walked into her apartment and put the books onto the coffee table. She then grabbed her winter peacoat and her keys from the counter and walked toward me. “Just so you know, I won’t be paying for this first date. My dating coach told me never to do that.”
“He sounds like a great man.”
She smiled my way and shrugged her shoulders. “He’s the greatest.”
We shared a first date sitting at the corner of the bar. I cooked the food and served us cocktails as Holly did what she did best—made my life better. Her laughter was infectious, and I was addicted to her smile. After the first date, I walked her home and kissed her good night.
Then, we made plans for a second date.
And a third one.
And a fourth one, too….
Six months later
Holly and I were glued to one another’s side since we started officially dating, except when we were working, which was a lot lately. Holly was busy typing away at her novels, and Mano’s was booming.
Holly walked me to the building on the day of my final divorce meeting. She dropped me off and wished me luck, telling me she’d be around the corner at the coffee shop working when I finished.
I was ready for the situation with Penelope to be over, and this was the final meeting between our lawyers and us to close that door forever. It was beyond time for it to be finalized.
I sat in the boardroom, across from Penelope, as the lawyers talked back and forth. I didn’t want anything from Penelope, and she didn’t want anything more from me. We left the room without many words exchanged. As we walked into the lobby to take the elevator downstairs, Penelope finally spoke my way.