“So are there anyold ladieson the horizon?”
“Why? You want to come and check them out?” he asked.
She chuckled. “No, thanks.”
“What were you doing there that night?”
“I don’t know. I was just there, I guess. I think it was one of the final decisions that made me come home.” She shrugged.
“I’m glad you’re home.”
“Being a teaching assistant wasn’t what I wanted to do. Nor was working in a law firm.” She wrinkled her nose. “It was, I guess I felt like my life was turning into something I didn’t want. I was away from home, and while I was studying, that felt right. It felt good. I know I’ve grown since being away. I’m happier in myself. You know? This is probably crazy.”
He reached out to put a hand on top of hers. “It’s not crazy.”
She smiled at him, giving his hand a squeeze. He let her go so she could finish her food.
“But I didn’t leave home to do something I hated. I hated working in a law firm. Some of the lawyers, the way they spoke and, ugh, it was just awful. Then when I was denied at the publishing house where I wanted to learn from the ground up, I fell into a routine.”
“You don’t want to work at a publishing house, Luna. You never did.”
“True.” She sighed and looked down at the table. “And now, I’m back to waiting tables. Or I am when Mac decides to actually open. I shouldn’t complain. I’m getting paid either way.”
“Mac’s paying you?” Matthew asked.
“Yeah, odd, huh?”
“Yeah, that is odd.” He looked at her computer. “So write.”
Luna looked back at him. “You think I don’t want to?”
“I think you’re scared. You’ve got a job that is paying you without doing any work. You’re stuck in a rut, and you’ve got to get out of it, so why not write.”
“You think it’s that easy?” she asked.
“I think if you want it that badly, then yeah, it’s that easy.”
“What if it sucks?”
“And what if it doesn’t?” Matthew asked. “You’ll never know unless you take that time and just do it. I know you, Luna. You are good at everything. Even this. There’s no way you’re going to be bad at anything.”
“How? Why do you have so much confidence in me?” she asked.
“Because I believe in you. That’s why.” He took hold of her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’ll always believe in you.”
****
Duke ran his hand down his face after hanging up the call. This wasn’t fucking good.
“Are you okay?” Pike asked.
Raoul was with him.
“Close the door.”
Pike closed the door as Raoul stepped further inside.
“Any news from Diaz?” Duke asked.