I sit at my desk in silence, the Newton’s cradle on my desk swinging and sending out an irritating clink, clink, clink.

Jennifer comes in to deposit a pile of papers on my desk. When she sees me sitting in the same position I was in when she left two hours earlier, she crosses her arms in front of her.

“Seriously, Ethan, it’s time you spit it out. You’ve been in a funk ever since you came back from Payson, and it’s not like you. What happened over there? What did Vincent do?”

I close my hand around the swinging metallic beads to stop them clinking, and raise my eyes to Jennifer who’s standing over me sternly. “Vincent’s the same fucking jerk he’s always been.”

“Uh-huh.” Jennifer takes a seat. “So you did track him down, then.”

“He was at the convention, but it was some pathetic little local fair. Nothing to write home about.”

“Just like I said it would be.”

“Exactly. And my question is, what was Vincent doing there?”

Jennifer throws her hands up. “Who cares, Ethan? Maybe he’s visiting his parents. Maybe he likes the local bakery. Why do you give a damn?”

I drum my fingers against my desk, then decide to let Jennifer in. “The reason I went to Arizona is because Vincent used Destiny.”

“And you’re pissed that he’s found true love?”

“He matched with my old girlfriend.”

“Which one?”

“Her name is Lily, and she’s not like the others. You could say we were childhood sweethearts.”

Jennifer’s face softens. “You’ve never told me about her.”

“We had big plans together, but I changed my mind and walked away.”

“People change.”

“She hasn’t. She’s still the same beautiful woman I left behind, full of life.”

“And Vincent’s after her?”

“He’s up to something.”

“You know he’s just trying to get a rise out of you to distract you from the defense contract, Ethan. Just let it go.”

“I can’t.”

Jennifer scrutinizes my face, trying to read what’s going on. “Is this about Vincent or about Lily?”

“Both. I won’t let him hurt her.”

“Ethan, with all due respect, I’m sure that your ex is a big girl who can take care of herself.”

“You don’t understand, Jen.” I lean back in my chair and run both my hands through my hair, letting out a long, pained sigh. “She’s not like us. She doesn’t play games. For him, it’ll be business. For her, he’ll be another guy who breaks her heart.”

“You really care about her?”

“Jennifer, leaving Lily was the biggest fuck-up of my life.”

“Then why don’t you just tell her? Win her back?”

“Because I’ve fucked up again.”

“Why, what did you do?”

I tell Jennifer what happened in Payson, and she shakes her head slowly. “You’re right. You did fuck up. Why the hell did you just leave her there, Ethan? What’s wrong with you?”

“I really don’t know, Jen. She’s too good for me, that’s why.”

Jennifer gestures around at my expensive office and premier view. “Are you kidding me? You could have any girl.”

“Lily’s not someone who's going to be won over by penthouses and limousines. She’s more than that. She wants more than that.”

“What does she want?”

I sink back into my chair. “Commitment.”

“Wow. What a bitch.”

“Knock it off, Jen.”

“What’s stopping you from committing to her? Now that you’ve kicked Lorina to the curb, you’re free as a bird. Go get her.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

I frown. “I’m not the person I used to be. I can’t see how I’ll make her happy.”

“It sounds like you’re making excuses.”

“I’m just trying to be honest with myself.”

“Jesus Christ, Ethan!” Jennifer exclaims. “This is the first time since I’ve known you that you actually care about someone, and you’re going to let her go because you feel sorry for yourself? Poor Ethan—too rich and important to get the girl. Seriously, Ethan, I love you, but you’re acting like a complete idiot right now.”

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Tell me what you really think, Jen.”

She leans forward, pressing both her palms against my desk, her voice pleading. “Ethan, please don’t do something stupid because you think you know how a woman’s mind works. Trust me, you haven’t got a clue. Remember how long it took us to convince you to give the Destiny thing a try? You’re the world’s biggest cynic when it comes to love, but it looks to me like it’s staring you right in the face. What are you still doing in New York? You’ve got over four hundred employees sitting at their desks doing nothing on your behalf. You might as well get your ass back to Payson and grovel to that girl.”

“What about the defense contract?”

“You might not be able to multitask, but I can. I’ll come with you to Arizona. I’ll arrange a temporary office space and a small team. We’ll keep working over there. You’re useless like this anyway.”

My face breaks into a smile. I can always trust Jennifer to tell it like it is. “Do you think she’ll forgive me?”

“You’ll have to go over the top to make it up to her somehow. I’d be fuming if some guy slept with me and then took off.”

“You’re not making me feel any better.”

“You said it yourself, Ethan. You fucked up. Now you need to find a way to make it right.”

* * *

Three days later, Jennifer has worked miracles.

We’re in Arizona, an office space set up on the outskirts of Payson. Key members of my team are keeping on top of the defense contract admin, and I’m available to give as many damn signatures as they need.

Jennifer has taken to wearing a headpiece like she’s working for NASA, and she’s been holding a clipboard like she gave birth to it. She’s got everything under control.

“Okay, Ethan. We’re onto the third draft of the proposal. Each department has a copy and is proofing for errors. The fourth draft should be with us by noon tomorrow. That’s the last one. You’ll need to read it and sign off before it’s ready for Healy. Next week, we’ll do the presentation.”

“I flipped through the third draft on the plane. It’s looking good, Jen, really good. I don’t want to be too optimistic, but I think we’ve got this in the bag.”

She smiles. “Didn’t I tell you it was ours?”

“Vincent won’t know what hit him.”

“Let’s keep it like that. Remember, you’re here for Lily, not for him. Don’t mention him. Don’t bring him into it. You’re winning Lily back, not stealing her from Vincent. Got it? You must take the high road here, or she’ll feel she’s being used, and Vincent gets what he wants. Just tell her how you feel without mentioning Oswald. Okay?”

“Right.”

“Go get her, soldier.”