Reckless Hearts Read Free Page B

you’re having a great time.”
    “The
best.” I can hear the happiness in her voice. “Finn’s
almost finished the new album, and I’m getting ready for
classes.”
    “Next
week, right?” I swivel on the chair. “You excited?”
    “Nervous,”
she replies. “I can’t believe I’m going back to
drama school after everything, but the teachers seemed really great,
and we’re studying really interesting plays this semester.”
    “You’ll
be amazing,” I tell her, for the hundredth time. “Once
you get up on-stage, that’s all you need. The town still talks
about your Lady Macbeth in tenth grade.”
    Eva
laughs. “Enough about me, what’s new with you? How’s
the empire-building?”
    “It’s
being built.” My gaze lands on a stack of magazines on Marcie’s
desk. American
Cruising , Boat & Berth . “I
think Marcie’s going to retire soon.”
    “You’ve
been saying that for years,” Eva reminds me.
    “I
know, but this time, it’s for real,” I insist. “She’s
barely in the office anymore, and when she is, all she does is talk
about their boat and the place they just bought in the Florida Keys.
She’s got one foot out the door already, I’m telling you.
Maybe she was just waiting until someone could take over . . .”
    “And
by someone, you mean you.” Eva giggles.
    “Who
better?” I grin. “It’s her name above the door, but
I’m the only one bringing in clients anymore. If she wants to
leave, I’ve got some savings put aside, I could try and buy her
out.”
    “You
think she’d go for it?” Eva asks.
    “Who
knows? But imagine if it worked out . . .” I
feel a shiver of excitement at the possibility. “I would have
my name above the door before I even turn twenty-five.”
    “If
anyone can do it, you can,” Eva says loyally. “And I’m
not just saying that because you’re my best friend,” she
adds, as if reading my mind. “You can sell snow to an eskimo.
Remember when you sold the Kellerman’s house three times in six
months—and got the buyers a profit every time?”
    “Some
people called it cursed, I like to think of it as opportunity.”
I grin. “And the commissions didn’t hurt, either.”
    “There
you go.” I hear a noise in the background.
    “What
are you up to?” I ask.
    “Just
making some dinner,” Eva says. “Finn would live on
takeout if it was up to him, but you should see this kitchen, it’s
a crime not to use it.”
    “The
photos looked great,” I say enviously. It doesn’t hurt
that her fiancé is a multi-platinum musician; number one hit
singles buy a lot of counter space.
    “What
about you?” Eva munches on something. “Hot date tonight?”
    “Only
with my conditioning hair mask,” I reply, getting to my feet
and straightening up before I flip the lights out and head back to my
desk to grab my bag. “I’m going to pick up a pizza from
Joe’s, then head home.”
    “Joe’s . . .”
Eva repeats, sounding wistful. “I miss his food.”
    “You’re
in the pizza capital of the world!” I protest, laughing. “New
York isn’t exactly hurting for pie.”
    “OK,
OK,” Eva laughs. “I can’t complain.”
    “Go
cry to your gorgeous soulmate while you have hot sex in your cool
loft apartment,” I tease. “While I eat pizza and watch Grey’s Anatomy alone.”
    Eva
laughs. “You? Alone? You’ve got every hot guy in a
hundred-mile radius on speed-dial—and you know they would all
drop everything and come running the minute you called.”
    I
grin. “I wouldn’t go that far. Anyway, you have fun
tonight. Talk soon?”
    “Call
me anytime.”
     
    I
hang up, lock the offices, and head across town to Joe’s pizza
place. I live close by, so I walk to work the days I don’t have
viewings scheduled. I like the winding route through the town square
and the bustle of Oak Harbor in the evenings, especially now in the
height of summer, when the streets are full of dogwood trees in bloom
and tourists browsing the stores after a