Tobias hands me a tray of fruit cut into small pieces and arranged to look like a huge smiley face. “Violet made this. She would have come, but she’s got a granddaughter visiting.”
I set the tray down in the kitchen and take off the plastic wrap. Kiki takes a cucumber out of the sack and starts to peel it. She looks over at me. “Guess who I ran into outside?”
My stomach knots. I know who she most likely ran into, but I play dumb. “Who?”
“Savannah. Can you believe it? She lives in the house next door.” Kiki raises her eyebrows as she continues to peel the cucumber, and I can see the wheels turning in her head.
“Really?” I say, but my acting skills stink, and Kiki gives me a look like she knows exactly what I’ve done. And she’s right. I bought the house next door to my ex in the hopes that I can have an excuse to talk to her. And now that I’ve said it like that in my head it sounds super creepy. Sheesh. I really need to get a life.
Kiki grins at me. “I invited her to our party.”
I choke on the air I’m breathing. “You what?”
“She’ll be here in a minute. She’s putting a little something together. I told her it was just an informal housewarming for her new neighbor, but she insisted on bringing some food over.”
Sweat beads up on my forehead. “Does she knowI’mher new neighbor?”
Kiki laughs. “Yes. I told her. She was quite surprised.”
Skyler runs to Kiki. “Can I help?”
“Sure.” Kiki pulls a chair over next to the sink. “You can wash the cucumbers when I’m done peeling them. It’s a very important job.”
“Great!” Skyler climbs up on the chair. “I’ll wash them good.”
I’m having trouble with simple tasks, like breathing, but I try to play it cool. “So, she knows it’s me who moved in here, and she still wanted to come over?”
“Of course.” Kiki turns on the faucet and hands Skyler a peeled cucumber before glancing at me. “She asked about you, you know. At one of our quilting meetings. I don’t know what happened between you, but I don’t think she harbors any hard feelings toward you.”
My throat grows tight, and I can’t think straight. Savannah’s coming over and she doesn’t hate me? I haven’t talked to her in seven years. Not really. Just pleasantries. I did move in here to try to rekindle something, but I wasn’t planning on seeing her today. I’m not prepared. I was going to write down a list of topics we could talk about. I wanted to think of some smooth things to say.
Tobias walks behind Kiki and puts his arms around her. He snuggles into her neck, and I remember why I decided to move into this house. I want that for myself. They’re so happy together, and my own loneliness seeps deep into my bones. I need to have that connection with someone, and I’d love to have it with Savannah.
It’s not like I haven’t tried to move on. I’ve dated women over the years, but Savannah and I had something special. None of the other women I’ve dated have measured up. Since I can’t get her out of my head, I’ve decided to actively try to get her back.
My brother steps back from Kiki and pats me on the shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a minute? In private?”
“Sure.” I follow him into the study, and he shuts the door. I stare at him, unsure of what he’s going to say that needs privacy. “What’s up?”
Tobias folds his arms across his chest. “I need you to meet me at the bank on Monday. What time is good for you?”
The bank? “I’m free around four o’clock. Why?”
“We need to sign some papers. With you moving out I feel like it’s time for me to give you your inheritance.”
My throat grows tight. I knew my parents left all of us some money. But Tobias has been using that money to raise us. I didn’t think there was much left. He’s been tight lipped about it. “How much?”
“Fifty million.”
I gape at Tobias. “What?!”
“Shh. Don’t yell.”
I hadn’t realized I’d yelled. “You mean to tell me Mom and Dad had that much money? That there’s fifty million for each of us?”
Tobias shrugs. “They didn’t when they first passed. I’ve been investing your money over the years. It’s grown quite a bit.”
I’m stunned. I knew Tobias had made a lot while investing. In the millions. But I always thought that was his own money. “Why didn’t you tell me this? I would’ve moved out a long time ago. I wouldn’t have busted my butt all these years.” My mind races with all the things I would have done differently had I known I was a millionaire.
