an Italian mother in a mafia movie cooking sauce for the boys.
I froze at the grandeur of the space. The living room felt bigger than my entire house back home. The small spaces of New York City were something I was still trying to get used to. The apartment I was subletting was a one-bedroom apartment that was only 500 square feet.
“Thank you for inviting me to dinner. This is for you.” Remembering my manners, I handed the wine to my hostess. “I’ve never tried this kind, but the store clerk said it was delicious.”
“I am so excited to finally meet you. Avery and Genevieve talk about you and Derrick all the time.” She glanced down at the bottle as we made our way to the kitchen, “Let’s put this one on ice, and I’ll pour us a glass of one that is already chilled. Then, you can give me all the Michigan secrets the girls left out.”
Again, I stopped in my tracks. The kitchen was a beautiful mix of light marble wrap counters and deep cherry cabinets. The design could’ve been overly masculine, but fresh flowers and framed family photos made the space homey.
“This is a lovely kitchen.”
Soraya smiled, lifted her finger at me to hold on a second, and then hit the speaker button on her phone. “Chloe, what’s going on, kiddo?”
“Dad said I had to ask you if it was okay to spend the night at Holly’s house. Can I please?” I smiled at a little girl’s request.
“How was your riding lesson?” Soraya moved around the kitchen, opening wine as she gestured for me to have a seat at the island.
“Good. I got to jump Daisy on the outside course. I wasn’t even scared.” She continued to share the highlights of her riding lesson.
Soraya winked at me. “Okay, Princess. Have Holly’s mom give your dad a call to work on the details. It’s fine with me. Do you have clothes with you, or does Louis need to bring some over?”
“I’m fine. I brought a bag with me to the barn.”
I quickly opened my email to check on the day’s mail from the post office and to give Soraya an illusion of privacy. I scrolled through the uploaded images of the mail.
“Alright. Have fun and behave. Love you to pieces.” Soraya smiled. “Chloe.”
“Yeah?”
Modern technology is the shit. Four clicks and my electric and cable bills were paid.
“Please text your mom, so she knows where you are and let her know you asked us first.”
“Okay. I’ll do that now. Thanks, Soraya.”
I sat my phone down on the island and took a panoramic glance to appreciate the flawless kitchen. Soraya gave me one more apologetic smile. This could be a romance novel.
“Holly’s mom also needs to contact your dad.”
“Can you call my dad–” Chloe asked someone in the background.
“Please,” Soraya added.
“Pleaseeee.” Chloe sang. “Okay, she’s going to call him now. Love you like no one else.”
“Right back at you, kiddo.” The call disconnected. Soraya apologized, but I held my hand up and shook my head.
“Please don’t apologize. She sounds amazing. How old is she?”
Soraya took a tray of cheese, grapes, and olives out and placed it on the counter in front of me.
“Chloe is almost nine. She’s amazing, and I can’t imagine our life without her. Now, let’s talk about you.”
“Me?” I nervously sipped my wine.
“Yes. You. Tell me everything.” She gestured for me to follow her into the living room, and we sat on the oversized white sofa.
“Oh my god! Look at that view.” The New York City skyline had never looked better than from my seat in Soraya and Graham’s apartment. It was like the movies. Actually, it was almost the exact view described in one of my favorite romance novels.
“Yeah, Graham won me over with that view.” She joked, but something in her words made me think that the two had gone through their own journey to happiness.
“Are the others on their way?” I asked, hating that silence bothered me.
“Avery and Genevieve are tied up tonight, so they aren’t going to make it. Avery was going to call you after the meeting, but she really couldn’t get free.” The grin on Soraya’s face puzzled me.
“Are they okay?”
“They are more than all right. The two of them are on a singles cruise, living their best life.”
“Avery is on a singles cruise? Really?”
“Yep, and not just any cruise either, it’s a BDSM cruise.” She laughed as she watched my eyes open as wide as they possibly could.
“No!”
“Yes. And from