With no other choice but to wait, I tuck my phone away, start my car, then head out of my parking space and the lot of the grocery store.

When I get to my cousin’s house thirty minutes later, Carly still hasn’t called me back, so I send her a text basically repeating my voicemail because if she is like some other people I know—namely myself—she won’t actually check her voicemails, but instead deletes them without even hearing what they say.

With nothing left to do, I get out of my car with my bottle of wine and head up to the front door of Aprils house and ring the bell. Not even two seconds go by before the door is open and I’m greeted by her and Malia, who has grown so much since the last time I saw her.

“You’re here.” April engulfs me in a tight one-arm hug while Malia latches onto my hair that has gotten too close to her chubby little hands.

“Oh my god, you need to put her in some Tupperware to keep her tiny, she is already so big.”

“I know.” She pouts, kissing Malia’s chubby little cheek before passing her over to me and taking the bottle of wine. “Maxim is out back on the grill.”

She leads me through the front of the house, which is absolutely spectacular, the entire place looks like it was cut right from the ad of some high-end magazine.

“I’m so glad that you were able to come over tonight,” April says as we walk into the kitchen.

“Me, too.” I bounce Malia on my hip while she babbles away. “I figured that you guys would be in Vegas for the winter.”

“If I did that, my parents might actually murder my husband. They hate their grandchild being so far away.”

“And you,” I point out.

She shakes her head. “No, I mean I know they miss me, but ever since that little one came into this world it’s been all about her. They don’t even ask how I’m doing anymore, and Maxim’s parents are not any better.” She grins. “So, tell me everything. What have you been up to? I don’t even remember the last time we really even had a chance to catch up.”

“Everything is the same. My life is definitely not as exciting as yours.” I laugh when Malia tugs on my hair to get my attention.

“So, you’re not dating anyone?”

“No.” I rub my lips together and her eyes narrow.

“You’re lying. What’s going on?”

“Well, there is someone, but I messed up, and I’m pretty sure he’s done with me.”

“If he’s done with you then he’s not the one for you.” She rolls her eyes.

“I guess you’re right.”

“Now tell me, how did you mess up?” She opens a bottle of wine and pours us each a glass.

As I tell her about Clay, how we met and everything that happened since then, her eyes widen, her lips part, then a smile curves her lips. The smile broadens when I finish with what happened today in my office.