The five of us have spent the last thirty minutes trying to produce a plan for me to get Rose back. So far, it hasn’t been a success. I feel like all the ideas are missing the essential part: us. But my brain seems to be having a siesta and isn’t cooperating with me at all.
Garcia notices my expression and opens his mouth after being silent for the last ten minutes. “Okay, okay. Let’s take a little break and then continue,” he says and walks towards my kitchen.
A moment later, I hear Garcia opening a can of beer. It makes me laugh because we used to have brainstorming beers when we worked together. I guess some things never change.
“Hey Garcia, could you please bring us all beers? Thanks,” I shout to him.
Garcia returns with our drinks, and we take a little break from the project that is lovingly calledEli is the biggest asshole out there and needs to show the beautiful Rose that he knows it.
I open the terrace door and walk outside to the sunshine to get fresh air while Ollie and Jax argue over another idea. It’s funny how Jax suggests everything overly sexual, and Ollie tries to be more romantic with his suggestions.
The current sunny weather reminds me of Rose and how she thinks that dreadful things in her life happen on days like today. It’s silly, but there might be some evidence behind her theory.
Smiling, I think about what I would do to get her back. It kills me to be separated without knowing how to fix things between us. But she’s back in our hometown, and I’m here, so my options are limited.
And then it all clicks in place. Just like that, I know what I must do to win her back. Why didn’t I consider it earlier? I run inside and shoutI’m flying to Nebraskaat the top of my lungs.
The guys turn and look at me with various expressions. Jax looks confused, and Ollie has that face he makes when something isn’t to his liking. Garcia has spaced out like I just told them I’m going somewhere else, and Lopez nods knowingly.
“She is in Belchester and knows I’m not too fond of that place. If I visit her there, she knows that I must be serious with my apology. What do you think?” I look around at the guys.
“I like this idea because it means that I just won the bet,” Lopez says from behind his laptop screen. Jax groans and Ollie looks away guiltily while handing a Benjamin to my PR guru.
“You’re making no sense right now” I tell Lopez.
“I knew from the beginning that your final idea would have something to do with your hometown. Jax here said no way, and Ollie agreed. Garcia couldn’t tell if visiting Belchester was something you would be willing to do. So, I won,” he explains and continues typing something on his laptop.
I can’t believe it. It’s hard to control my anger right now. “Why didn’t you guys say anything before?”
“We all know you too well, Eli. That’s why it needed to be your idea, not ours. We still helped with being here, but it was all you. Don’t you get it?” Ollie asks and taps on his phone screen. “For such a smart man, you can be a bit dense at times.”
“You’re telling me that we listened to all Jax’s ideas for nothing? Even the one with a hired male escort and a hundred white roses?” I get out, barely holding in my laughter.
“His unbelievable ideas were the best part of the entire morning. I wrote all of them down to share with my colleagues.” Lopez shrugs before he starts laughing with the rest. Jax winks and makes the face that says,what can I say.
I have no idea how, but these guys did the right thing even though I can’t admit that to them.
“You all played me like a damn fiddle! I don’t know if I love or hate you right now,” I harrumph with a straight face even though my insides are screaming for me to crack up.
“Oh Eli, you could never hate us… other than Garcia, that is. Now it’s time to start packing, you’re flying to Nebraska in five hours,” Lopez says with his megawatt smile and a confirmation email of my tickets. He must have been texting Poppy all this time.
“I guess that means happy travels. Go get her, tiger,” Garcia exclaims and downs the rest of his beer.
That went well.I think?
* * *
On my way back to where I never wanted to visit again, I wonder how my life has changed. My mind replays everything I have experienced in the past seven years.
My company.
My holidays with Claire and her family.
Volunteering.
All the drama with Corinna and Garcia.
Moments with the guys.
