Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

64. Burgers Wine

64

burgers + wine

Selah

Manhattan, NY | April 22, 2024

I feel like shit and called out of work today. If I’m not crying, I’m sleeping and Grey is on my mind every minute. Even my bed smells just like him and once I noticed that, I’ve stayed right here. I’m curled up with Peach under the covers when there’s a knock at my door. She pops her head up and looks at me with the same expression.

Who could that be?

I’m nervous that it may be Greyson, but my doorbell app proves me wrong. It’s just Estelle with wine and takeout? I press the mic to tell her I’ll be right there. When I answer the door, I’m greeted with a smile and her lovely perfume. She wants to know if I’m free for burgers and wine. I’m pretty sure if I was busy, I’d clear my schedule for that.

“Your place or mine?” she asks.

“Mine. I have something I’d like to talk to you about. So, come on in.”

She gives me an incredulous look before she enters my apartment. Once I close the door behind her, she starts whispering loudly .

“What’s going on with you? You don’t look like yourself and where’s Greyson? Is he out of town? Finally giving your body a break?” She asks playfully.

She sets the wine bottle and glasses down on my dining table, and I grab a bottle opener to get started pouring because I surely could use it after this week.

“Yeah, he’s given me a break, alright. Mostly because he told me he’s in love with me, and I panicked. I’m currently avoiding him, and it doesn’t help since I’m hiding in my house, and so much reminds me of him—Hold on. You got fries with those burgers?”

“You trying to insult me? Go get some plates and spill. I’ll pour the wine.”

I glance at my watch and wrinkle my brow in confusion.

“Um-Estelle, it’s 10 a.m.”

“Hush. I’m retired, and the cheese on the burger pairs nicely with that wine. Now hurry up with those plates, I’m hungry.”

“Fair enough,” I chuckle.

We get settled at my dining table, and I tell her everything. What’s been going on with the whole neighbors-with-benefits arrangement we created a few months back, and how things have escalated in an unexpected way. How much he’s helped me with the Fuck It List, the reading nook, the dates, and his birthday dinner. I leave the whole ‘I love you’ fiasco for last, hoping to get some advice from her on how to get through this because I don’t know anyone else who’s had a successful relationship like Estelle did with her late husband, Robert.

She gives me a knowing look for the duration of the conversation and asks to see these projects he was working on around my place. When I take her to my office and show her the reading nook, she assesses it thoroughly and even sits in my damn chair before she says anything. Then I take her to look at the mirror in my room and her silence is killing me. She walks back into my office and gets cozy in my chair. I follow behind and stand in the doorway, staring expectantly .

“So, what do you think?”

“I think that you know the answer, and you’re bullshitting me. That boy loves you a lot . He looks at you the way Rob looked at me.”

I’m taken aback by how casually she responded to that.

“I really like this chair. Could you send me the link?”

I nod. “When did you know that you were in love with Robert?”

“I trusted Robert instantly, gave it up on the first date. We said ‘I love you’ after two weeks and were married within a month. We celebrated thirty beautiful years together. I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says with a smile. “Actually, I would change something about him.”

I’m curious as I await her response.

“I wish he wasn’t allergic to fucking peanuts. I love peanut butter cups. There were so many times I almost took my husband out on accident from eating some damn candy. It was terrible.”

“I don’t know what I thought you were going to say, but it wasn’t that,” I cackle.

“I’ve always been a mess, but that man loved me tenfold,” she sighs before pointing out, “Greyson does, too.”

“Greyson isn’t Robert.”

“Tell me why you believe he couldn’t be your Robert? I hope you know whatever bullshit you try to feed me; I disagree with.”

“Damn. It’s like that?”

“Sure is. Come sit. I’ve lived in this building for many years, and I haven’t seen him with many women. He’s all about his business, friends, and Clifford, but he met you and made room. My husband was the same way with his companies and daughter when we met. He created space for me, and that was all I needed. It’s all you need, too.

What I want you to understand is that you can have it all whenever you stop standing in your own damn way. You’re in your own way, Selah. Look at everything you’ve built for yourself. Greyson doesn’t want to take anything away from you. He wants to give you more.”

I step into my office and sit at my desk, swiveling in my seat to face her.

“How do I get out of my own way?”

“I think that you need to keep your word and go to that wedding. Tell him that you do want to talk about what happened and how you feel because he deserves to know. I haven’t seen him around much. I’d assume he’s been working from home.”

That’s not like him.

“Whether you love him or not, don’t leave that boy in the wind. It isn’t right. I’d put my foot in his ass if he did that to you.”

“What’s stopping you from doing that to me right now?”

“This damn chair is too comfortable, and send me that link already,” she says with an eye roll.

I send her the link, and when her phone dings, she cheers excitedly.

“I’m scared, you know. I want to fix it. Not speaking to him has been torture. I miss him.”

“I know. You gotta get out of your own way, girl. Greyson will hear you out, but the ‘L word’ you’re so afraid of will cost you something you don’t want to lose.”

“I hear that. Thanks, Estelle.”

“Of course. Now, avoiding that sweet boy isn’t right, and based on what you told me about him, it might earn you some spankings. Sounds to me like you’re playing with fire. Unless you like having an ass that hurts to sit on.” She raises her hands in surrender. “Now you know I don’t judge.”

“I do like the spankings. He does follow up with a booty rub and a kiss,” I admit with a shrug.

“Well, I would like that too, shit.”

We break out in laughter.

I love this woman.