Page 105 of Legally Ours

"Hey," I said. "It was a dumb mistake, but I bet she'll forgive you. If it's any consolation, I'm pretty sure she misses you too."

Eric peered at me between his fingers. "You think so?"

I shrugged. "I am her best friend. I have a pretty good hunch about these things."

He screwed his face up into a knot. "She just makes me so fucking crazy, you know that? When she's here, things are great. They're more than great...they're..."

"Perfect?" I suggested.

He nodded hopelessly. "But when she's gone, it's like I don't exist. This was the first time I ever saw that she actually cared about whatever it is we're doing. And now...she won't take my calls, nothing. It's like I don't exist. She's totally ghosting me."

I frowned and took a sip of my drink. "Well, I know for a fact she cares. She wouldn't have been so pissed if she didn't." I perked up. "Hey––she'll be at the engagement party. You can talk to her then."

Eric raised a skeptical brow. "Really? You think that's the best idea? I know we're friends and all, but Jane's your maid of honor. I won't be offended if I'm not invited."

I frowned. "Stop it. Of course you're coming. Plus, the wedding planner rented out a private room at the Martin. Networking central, my friend. Plus, Jane'll have nowhere to run."

"Hmmm," Eric said. "We'll see." Then he changed the subject. "So, things between you and Sterling...they're good now?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "You've seen the guy half-naked, Eric. You can call him Brandon."

"Ah, no. He's my boss. He's not Brandon until I make full partner or he's done with the firm."

"Well, we're good," I said. "Considering."

Eric grimaced. "Yeah. You guys have had a time. But he's okay with...you know?"

He didn't want to say it, but I knew what he meant. Eric had been present when Brandon had learned about the abortion, and had also watched when he'd pushed me away.

"Yeah," I said. "Mostly. It'll just take time. Luckily, he's got the campaign and divestitures to keep him plenty occupied."

"It's funny," Eric said. "I heard about all that, so I was surprised that he's not selling his shares at Sterling Grove yet."

I frowned. This was news to me. As far as I knew, Brandon had been very busy negotiating his exits from both of his companies so that he could run for office free of any ethical problems.

"Wait, what? Do you think he's having a hard time finding buyers for his stake?"

Eric shook his head adamantly. "It's not that. The senior partners were all pissed about it at the staff meeting. I guess a few of them had their eyes on his stake."

"Huh." It wasn't the first sign I'd seen that Brandon was becoming less and less passionate about his campaign. A part of me was starting to wonder if the stresses associated with public life were getting to him as much as everything else.

"I'm going to tell her again I love her, and that's it," Eric said, pulling me out of my thoughts as he slammed his empty pint glass on the table. "Stubborn woman's got to listen at some point. We're in love. She loves me––I know she does. There's got to be a way to figure this shit out."

I gave him a wry smile. Eric in love was sort of adorable––half-confused, half-determined. It was a far cry from his usually stoic persona.

"Mazel tov, friend," I said, and he gave me a weird look.

"Jesus Christ, Cros," he said with an amused shake of the head. "You're going to make the worst damn Catholic."

Filled as I was with two whiskey sodas and no longer thinking about the massive catechism book tucked away in my bag, I just raised my glass and shrugged.

"Hey, we're New Yorkers," I said. "If there's anyone who can make Jewish Catholic work, it's us."

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